UDA Girls Wrestling Poised for Next Level in 2025-26 Season

Upper Dauphin Area High School Girls Wrestling, led by Head Coach Todd Rupp, is looking to build on their past success as they enter the 2025-26 season. After finishing the last season as League Champions with an impressive 6-0 overall record and a 4-0 league record , the team is focused on taking "steps forward to the next level". Competing in the Tri Valley League and District III Class AAAA.

Team Composition and Strength

The squad currently boasts 19 wrestlers on the roster. Coach Rupp is confident they will be able to fill all weight classes this season. The team's biggest strength lies in the girls' eagerness to learn new techniques and their willingness to embrace hard work. However, the team will face the challenge of inexperience in several weight classes, despite having a "nice solid core group" of returners.

Key Returning Wrestlers and Leadership

The core group of returning wrestlers includes several athletes with significant accomplishments from last season:

• Jada Dillard (11th Grade, Projected Weight 130/136): A Returning State Qualifier who placed 4th at Regionals with a 29-11 record.

• Chloe Ratcliffe (11th Grade, Projected Weight 190): A Sectional Champion with a 28-6 record.

• Lydia Engle (11th Grade, Projected Weight 170/190): Finished 2nd at Sectionals with a 16-8 record.

• Jacelyn Henninger (12th Grade, Projected Weight 148/155): Finished 4th at Sectionals with a 19-13 record.

• Maggie Hoffman-Long (12th Grade, Projected Weight 136/142): Finished 4th at Sectionals with a 19-13 record.

• Kristen Rosado (11th Grade, Projected Weight 136/142): Finished 3rd at Sectionals with a 12-10 record.

On-mat leadership is expected to come from two seniors who lead by example:

• Jacelyn Henninger (12th Grade)

• Cambrie Herb (12th Grade), who is in her second year of wrestling and improved during the offseason.

Impact Newcomers

Several newcomers are poised to make an impact, including Isabella Latshaw (9th Grade), a seasoned wrestler who looks "primed to earn a varsity spot". Other promising new athletes include Cali Clark (9th Grade), Myleigh Gannunis (10th Grade), and Alivia Conrad (11th Grade), all noted for their ability to quickly grasp techniques.

Season Outlook and Key Competition

The coach believes that the school's first state medalist is on this team and that the squad can "compete with the top teams in our area". The primary team goal is to remain competitive in duals while seeing significant individual growth from the athletes.

Schedule Highlights

The schedule is competitive and includes facing one of the top programs in the state, Cumberland Valley, in a highly anticipated dual meet in February. The season opens by hosting the UDA Lady Trojan Duals. Key tournaments for the team include the BAGUBA Brawl in Elizabethtown, the Coal Cracker Tournament, the Bald Eagle Area Tournament, the Lady Trojan Invitational, and the Southern Huntington Tournament.

Contenders

As the returning champion, Upper Dauphin is expected to be in contention for the league title again. They anticipate strong competition from Susquenita and Line Mountain, which have both made "great gains". The District III AA is cited as being "loaded with talent," listing Gettysburg, Central Dauphin, Cumberland Valley, and Big Spring as teams ranked in the state's top 10 last season.

Coaching Philosophy and Off-Season Work

Coach Rupp's philosophy is rooted in Discipline & Accountability, Mental Toughness, and Work Ethic. He emphasizes that success is earned through consistent effort and teaches athletes to manage stress, never quit, and view adversity as an opportunity for growth.

During the off-season, a solid group was consistently in the weight room, focusing on building core strength. Technically, the team will continue to build on the foundation from the past two seasons, aiming to "remain solid from all positions".

Beyond wins and losses, the coach hopes the wrestlers understand that effort and discipline are direct levers for success in all areas of life, and that they "fall in love with the sport".