Nanticoke Area’s Sierra Ripka holds up the 2025 HERizon Award. First row (from left): Jimmy T. Martin, Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame; Sierra Ripka; Harold Shotwell; Nanticoke Area coach. Second row (from left): Josh Ryan, Nanticoke Area coach; Ken Bartuska, Nanticoke Area athletic director.
Submitted photo
Sierra Ripka of Nanticoke Area was recently presented with the 2025 HERizon Award, noting her as the outstanding girls wrestler in the Wyoming Valley Conference for the second consecutive year.
Wrestling in the 170-pound weight class of the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships, Ripka finished with a fifth place for her efforts.
The award is given annually by the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame to the highest placing District 2 girls wrestler from the WVC.
“The HERizon Award symbolizes the development of women’s wrestling,” Hall of Fame president Jim Martin said. “The exponential growth of the sport is allowing young women to continue to compete well beyond the high school level.
“This award is the new measure of scholastic female excellence in wrestling locally. The award was developed to promote gender equity in recognition of athletic achievement on the mat.”
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