Split decision for Trinity’s Ashby twins
Jonathan Guth/For the Observer-Reporter
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newwsroo@observer-reporter
HERSHEY – When you look at Elaina Ashby, you might think you’re seeing double.
And you’d be right.
Elaina Ashby and Alexia Ashby are twins on Trinity’s girls wrestling team.
And they have been providing a powerful punch to the Hillers all season.
The twins have combined for 105 victories, which includes 83 pins.
In Thursday’s first round of the PIAA Girls Championships at the Giant Center, the two twins went their separate ways. Elaina won her first-round bout 16-1 against Gabby Bamberger of West Branch at 148 pounds. Alexia fell to second-seeded Sayona Harris Haye 11-0 and was eliminated by Laila Colon 4-2 at 142.
“She wrestles one weight class below me,” said Elaina. “Twins don’t run in our family. It’s probably just us. Maybe it happened a long time but not recently. We used to dress alike. We’ve always been real close.”
And both share a love for wrestling.
“Elaina is a very powerful wrestler,” said Trinity head coach Grant Lowther. “She’s comfortable in all situations but she likes to wrestle upper body. At first, it was hard to tell them apart. But they’ve been wrestling for me for three years and I can tell them apart. I think both of them can do well no matter what happens up here.”
The area had a strong opening day in Hershey. Of the 11 local wrestlers who came to the Giant Center, seven came away with first-rounds victories.
Abigail Dolanch of Avella pinned Avery Earnest of Hughesville in 5:38 at 142; Canon-McMillan’s Marlee Solomon had a first-period pin over Alysiana Ierley of York Suburban at 112; Evangeline Gray had a third-period pin over Myah Miller of Bishop McCort; and Natalie Rush had a first-period pin over Lizkarla Grullon Vasquez of Parkland. Fort Cherry’s Ella Trahan won a 15-3 decision over Taylor Keckler of Gettysburg at 106. Peters Township’s Liliana Giulianelli had a first-period fall against Mauura Case of Easton at 190.
Canon-McMillan is tied with Montgomery for the lead in the team scoring, each with 13 points.