Upper Dauphin Girls Claim Top-10 Finish in Massive 59-Team CoalCracker Field

Staff Writer
4 days ago
2 min read

LEHIGHTON, PA — In a weekend defined by endurance and explosive finishes, the Upper Dauphin Area girls’ wrestling team proved they belong among the state's elite. Competing in a staggering field of 59 teams at the 2026 CoalCracker Invitational, the Trojans secured a 7th-place team finish, powered by six individual podium appearances and a tournament-high "pin parade."

Upper Dauphin finished the weekend with 118.0 team points, narrowly trailing powerhouse programs like Owen J. Roberts and Hughsville, while comfortably outperforming over 50 other schools.

Ratcliffe and Henninger Lead the Charge

The Trojans were anchored by two standout performances in the upper weight classes.

At 192 lbs, Chloe Ratcliffe put on a clinic of efficiency. Ratcliffe pinned her way through the first three rounds—including a victory over teammate Lydia Engle—to reach the championship finals. Though she ultimately fell to Quakertown’s Caroline Hattala, Ratcliffe’s silver medal and 28 team points set the tone for the squad.

At 144 lbs, Jacelyn Henninger emerged as the team’s highest point earner (30.0). After a tough quarterfinal loss, Henninger showcased incredible "bounce-back" mental toughness. She tore through the consolation bracket with four consecutive wins, culminating in a dominant fall over Hughsville’s Avery Earnest to claim 3rd place.

Strength in Pairs

What separated Upper Dauphin from the pack was their unusual depth. In two different weight classes, the Trojans managed to land two wrestlers on the podium—a feat rarely seen in a 59-team bracket.

At 144 lbs: While Henninger took 3rd, Marjorie Hoffman-Long secured 7th place. Hoffman-Long provided the highlights of the opening round, recording two pins in just 15 seconds each.
At 192 lbs: Following Ratcliffe’s silver, Lydia Engle battled back through the "blood round" to take 7th place, ending her tournament with a resounding 60-second pin over Wilkes-Barre’s Avah Jobarteh.

The Marathon and the Grinders

The most grueling performance of the weekend belonged to Jada Dillard (126 lbs). Dillard wrestled a total of eight matches over two days, recording five pins and showing remarkable conditioning to earn an 8th-place medal in one of the tournament's deepest brackets.

Kristen Rosado (150 lbs) rounded out the placers with a 7th-place finish. Rosado showed her technical prowess in the final round, edging out Crestwood’s Alexis Richmond in a 7-6 decision that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.

While the six medalists took the podium, the 7th-place team finish was a total roster effort. High-impact pins from Cambrie Herb (102), Kaia Snyder (132), and Calli Clark (138) ensured that even in the consolation rounds, the Trojans were racking up the "bonus points" necessary to climb the leaderboards.

As the girls’ wrestling season moves toward the post-season, Upper Dauphin has sent a clear message: they have the talent to medal, and the depth to compete with anyone in the state.