Pittsburgh:  Nine candles will top the birthday cake of a local elementary school student in the third grade at DuBois Central Christian later today. A quick glance at her in her academic attire might not signal to you that a warrior hides inside that child's frame. Trips to the very top of two separate podiums on back-to-back Sunday afternoons, however, serve to help tell such a tale. If that doesn't do it, the six competitors that she defeated, in order, these last couple of weekends, could likely attest to her superior wrestling prowess.

Saturday kicked off the first day for Marley Dixon at the Petersen Events Center this weekend where Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling held its annual Pennsylvania youth championship tournament. She was to face just one opponent to move on to Sunday's action and continue her Pittsburgh pursuit. Having taken third place in this event just last year, her goals had changed and there was only one thing on her mind. . . first place. The goal was to improve. Because of the nature of youth wrestling in Pennsylvania, competing organizations each have their own separate schedule and titles and tournaments (as well as slightly different weight classes). Marley competes in both (Keystone and PJW). Fresh off her convincing win in Indiana last Sunday to claim the Keystone title, she wanted to affirm her position by also winning in Pittsburgh (PJW) so there would be zero questions as to who rules the mid-fifty-pound mats on the ladies' side in the Keystone State. In Saturday's action, she had one match to win. . . and she won it, pinning Harper Downey of Avella in under 30 seconds. It was time to eat and rest and focus her mind on the day ahead. What happens Sunday determines where one stands on the podium. She didn't want to take third again. She didn't want to do worse than last year. Second, while it would be an improvement, would mean someone performed better. Having had a taste of the top, she didn't want to have to look up on either side and see any other faces.

Sunday would be the more difficult feat. She needed to win her first match of the day to earn entry to the championship bout. . . and she won it, topping Jocelyn Hack of Hughesville 6-3. This has been the theme. There was just one more to go. There would be less than nine hours of being an eight-year-old. . . and just this match.

Harper Humphries of McGuffey would be the final challenger. She was all that stood in the way of another gold medal. Marley didn't let her score a single point. The victory was hers and hers alone and it was a convincing one. The final score was 4-0. She had done it again. Marley Dixon was a state champion for the second straight Sunday.

To get a bigger, better picture of the dominance she has exercised, you are invited to delve into more background by reading our previous article published last Sunday evening where her chase (and capture) of state titles, plural, began.

Congrats Marley. Our entire region is very proud of you!