DAHLONEGA — Pierce County’s Lady Bears first quest for a state duals championship ended with a fourth-place finish here at Lumpkin County High School.
PCHS’s historical season, which included winning an Area title for the first time, ended Friday, January 23 with a 2-2 record at the 2026 GHSA “Elite 8” Girls D2 State Dual Championship.
Lumpkin County defended its title overwhelming Long County 66-17 in the championship. The event was moved up from Saturday with the threat of a potential winter storm passing through north Georgia.
The Lady Bears began the tournament with a 45-36 win against Gilmer. Long County knocked off PCHS 53-29 in a semifinal pairing.
Pierce County bounced back capturing a 42-39 decision over Ridgeland in the consolation bracket. Jordan, the 2025 runner-up, eliminated the Lady Bears 54-29 in the third-place match.
Jayden Altman and Joselyn Barrera each went 4-0 to lead PCHS. Altman won all four matches by pin while Barrera recorded three pins and a forfeit. Ella Davis (two pins, forfeit) and Josie Insalaco (two pins, forfeit) posted 3-1 marks.
Quarterfinals Lady Bears.....................45
Gilmer County ...............36
PCHS captured six of its eight wins via pinfall in turning back the Lady Bobcats.
The nine-point difference came via a forfeit and a decision.
Recording pins were Ella Davis (100 lbs.; 55 seconds), Jayden Altman (110; 35 sec.), Holly Gibbs (120; 3:13), Josie Insalaco (130; 28 sec.), Joselyn Barrera (145; 4:32) and Zinique Hightower (155; 1:30).
Robi Milsom (105) posted a 13-10 decision while Alyssa Vail won by forfeit.
Losing by pinfall were Amaralis Gomez (125; 5:25), Meagan Stanley (135; 34 sec.), Elizabeth Insalaco (140; 1:32) and Isabella Harvey (170; 1:38). PCHS forfeited the 190-lb. and 235-lb. weight classes.
Semifinals Long County ..................53
Lady Bears.....................29
The Lady Blue Tide dominated Pierce County posting six pins and a technical fall among their 10 victories.
PCHS notched three wins via pin. Davis (100; 1:20), Altman (110; 55 sec.) and Joselyn Barrera (145; 3:58) recorded pins. Elizabeth Insalaco posted a 238 technical fall with Josie Insalaco picking up a forfeit win.
Suffering pins losses were Vail (115; 1:53), Gibbs (120; 48 sec.), Gomez (125; 31 sec.), Stanley (135; 27 sec.), Hightower (155; 1:13) and Harvey (170; 2:53). Milsom lost a 17-1 technical fall decision.
PCHS forfeited the 190-lb. and 235-lb. weight classes.
Loser’s bracket Lady Bears.............42
Ridgeland ..............39
PCHS added three pins to four forfeits with the difference being a threepoint decision among the seven Lady Panther wins.
The Lady Bears received pin victories from Milsom (105; 1:05), Altman (110; 2:34) and Josie Insalaco (130; 42 sec.).
Forfeit wins were recorded by Davis (100), Elizabeth Insalaco (140), Joselyn Barrera (145) and Valarie Barrera (190).
Ridgeland’s pins came against Vail (115; 20 sec.), Gibbs (120; 1:30), Gomez (125; 19 sec.), Stanley (20 sec.) and Jessie Reed (235; 3:09).
Hightower (155) fell 8-1 with the Lady Panthers getting a forfeit in the 170lb. weight class.
Third-place match Jordan ...................54
Lady Bears.............29
The Lady Red Jackets of Columbus put together a seven-pin performance winning two other matches via forfeit to beat PCHS.
The Lady Bears did notch four pins in their five victories. Posting pins were Altman (110; 1:15), Gomez (125; 1:27), Joselyn Barrera (145; 1:38) and Hightower (170; 1:45). Vail (115) won via forfeit.
Losing by pin were Davis (100; 1:45), Milsom (105; 2:38), Gibbs (120; 1:27), Joise Insalaco (130; 5:05), Stanley (135; 1:38), Elizabeth Insalaco (140; 1:54) and Harvey (155; 36 sec.).
PCHS forfeited the 190lb. and 235-lb. weight classes.
