HERSHEY — She didn't feel all that well, but a PIAA gold medal goes a long way to making one forget about an illness.

"I've been sick, but nothing that bad," Conwell-Egan sophomore Julia Horger said. "But this just makes me feel great."

The "this" was the gold medal at 106 pounds in the first PIAA-sanctioned state tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey. The 9-3 win also made Horger, who finished her season 21-0, the first Bucks County female to win a PIAA title.

And, a few minutes later, Palisades junior Savannah Witt, undefeated like Horger at 30-0, would become the second gold medalist from the county when she captured the crown at 118 pounds with a 13-7 victory in the finals.

"This is just amazing," Witt said. "It feels really sweet. To see girls wrestling get this much appreciation with all these people here is great for the sport."

Bucks County area state champs: Gold standard: Here are all of the Bucks County area PIAA wrestling champions

On the boys side, Faith Christian, which won the Class 2A team title for the second straight year, had two champions in unbeaten freshman Joey Bachmann (38-0 at 107 pounds) and sophomore Adam Waters at 172 pounds.

Plus, in Class 3A, Hatboro-Horsham freshman Dom Morrison claimed a gold medal at 107 pounds.

Quakertown's Ziegler out for gold medal: Quakertown's Mason Ziegler seeking elusive PIAA wrestling title; check individual rankings

For Bachmann, the hype began before the season as he was ranked No. 1 in the state in his weight class and No. 1 in the nation, yes, nation, too.

"I did feel the pressure a little bit," Bachmann said. "Like what would happen if I lose, but this season was really fun.

"And I can't wait to do it again."

Six others from Bucks County area came so close

Three other area girls and three boys reached the title matches in their weight class but came up just short.

Neshaminy's Grace Nesbitt (100), Bensalem's Maya Krieger (170), Souderton's MacKenna Atkinson (235), Quakertown's Collin Gaj (152) and Faith Christian's Max Stein (152) and Cael Weidemoyer (160) all earned silver medals.

What to watch for in Hershey: What to know, who to follow from Bucks County area at PIAA wrestling championships in Hershey

Bucks County finally has another "two-time" state wrestling champion

It took nearly nearly two decades, but Bucks County finally has a two-time PIAA champ, with a chance for a couple of more.

Faith Christian sophomore Adam Waters again won a PIAA title in style by picking up a pin in the final for the second-straight year. This time, he stuck fellow-sophomore Luke Fugazzotto in 1 minute, 41 seconds to secure his second gold at 172 pounds in Class 2A.

"I always try to go for a pin," said Waters, who finished his season with a 43-4 record and was undefeated against Pennsylvania wrestlers.

"And I was able to work an arm bar and turn him. This one feels really good. The first one, last year, might have felt a little better, but I'll definitely take this one. One of my goals is to win four, so I need two more."

Quakertown junior Collin Gaj (152), who won a PIAA title last year, nearly matched Waters, but was edged 3-2 in the Class 3A final by Bethlehem Catholic's Kollin Rath.

The last Bucks County wrestler to win two PIAA titles was Council Rock South's Mike Rappo in 2005 and 2006.

Pennsylvania has another "four-timer"

Frazier senior Rune Lawrence joined an exclusive club by winning his fourth PIAA title, making him just the 14th wrestler to ever do so.

Lawrence, a West Virginia commit, defeated Muncy senior Austin Johnson, a PIAA champion in 2023, 6-2 in the Class 2A final at 215 pounds and was named Class 2A Outstanding Wrestler for his efforts.

Bucks, Montco freshmen wrestlers add to short PIAA list

Well, add Hatboro-Horsham's Dom Morrison and Faith Christian's Joey Bachmann to the short list of freshmen that have won PIAA titles in their first crack at the championships.

Both did it at 107 pounds to become the 54th and 55th ninth graders to accomplish the feat in the 85-year history of the PIAA tournament.

Morrison, the Hatters' first PIAA champion since Dennis Merriam in 1975, finished his season 47-2, including a 2-1 win in the final over fellow-freshman Aiden Herndon of Cedar Cliff, while Bachmann (38-0) handed Chestnut Ridge's Dominic Deputy his first loss of the season in the final 6-1.

"I've never met him, but I'm really happy to be a part of him," said Morrison of Merriam. "We're not a big, powerful wrestling school, but I have great teammates and I love wrestling for Hatboro-Horsham.

"To win this, in my first year, is something that I'll never forget."

Super showings at Southeast Regional: Big group of Bucks County wrestlers punch ticket to PIAA state tournament in Hershey

Big number of medals for Bucks County's best

Besides the 11 area wrestlers that made the finals, there were a whopping 28 others that brought home PIAA medals by finishing in the top eight in their respective weight classes.

In Class 3A:

Alexander Diaz, Council Rock North (third at 107); Connor Lenahan, Council Rock South (fifth at 114); Mason Ziegler, Quakertown (third at 121); Cole Coffin, Pennridge (sixth at 121); Eren Sement, Council Rock North (third at 127); Quinn McBride, Pennridge (sixth at 127); Chris Dennis, Central Bucks West (sixth at 133); Patrick Kelly, Central Bucks West (fourth at 139); Gavin Carroll, Quakertown (fifth at 145); Sam Kuhns, Pennridge (fifth at 152); Talan Hogan, Pennridge (seventh at 172); Bek Sadriddinov, Council Rock South (eighth at 172); Andrew Brennan, La Salle High (seventh at 285); Calvin Lachman, Quakertown (eighth at 285).

Quakertown's Gaj seeking second title: Quakertown's Gaj out to snag another PIAA state title; also see our latest team rankings

In Class 2A:

Thomas Boyce, Conwell-Egan (third at 107); Gauge Botero, Faith Christian (sixth at 121); Charlie Robson, Conwell-Egan (third at 133); Chase Hontz, Faith Christian (fourth at 145); Cody Wagner, Faith Christian (eighth at 189); Jason Singer, Faith Christian (fourth at 215); Dante Burns, Conwell-Egan (fifth at 215); Mark Effendian, Faith Christian (third at 285).

Girls:

Payton Hinkle, Bensalem (fifth at 100); Emily Sarr, Souderton (eighth at 106); Kayla Husti-Luca, Souderton (eighth at 130); Bryce Snyder, Palisades (fourth at 190); Caroline Hattala, Quakertown (sixth at 190); Peyton Fries, Quakertown (seventh at 235).

Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: It's a medal haul for Bucks County wrestlers at PIAA championships