Eden Eveleth faced that reality at Saturday’s Central Regional. Not only would she fall in the Round of 16 against state-ranked Rosa SanClementi, but the culprit was also a tiring six-period slugfest, putting the Bald Eagle senior in a tough spot as she looked to run the gauntlet through consolations.

Nonetheless, the now two-time PIAA qualifier would find a way.

With encouragement and support from teammates and loved ones regathering her focus, Eveleth would bounce back in the following bout before winning the next three to punch her ticket to states. The road posed numerous challenges, containing some of the best wrestlers in the region, but she wouldn’t let her high school career end short of Hershey.

“I had a really good talk with a couple people that were here to support me, getting me out of my head. It’s tiring, the first thing in the morning, cutting weight and stuff like that and I was just in my head,” explained Eveleth when asked what kept her composed following the loss.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bald Eagle Area’s Eden Eveleth wrestles at the Central Mountain Queen of the Mountain tournament earlier this year. Eveleth bouncd back from an opening-round loss at the Central Regional tournament this past weekend and secured her second berth to the PIAA tournament in as many years.

“Being reminded by people around me what was at stake and what was the goal was helpful to pushing through the rest of the tournament.”

After bouncing back with a second-period pin against Glendale’s Elizabeth Kaufman to kick off her run through consolations, Eveleth would advance to consolation quarters by forfeit, but that wouldn’t save her from a grueling conclusion to her pursuit of states. In the next two rounds, she’d have to dig deep to keep her run alive.

Against Punxsutawney’s Ellie Boderhorn, she found herself on the receiving end of a five-point move and went into the third period trailing 5-1. But after getting out of bottom to narrow that gap to three, she’d secure a match-tying takedown before converting it into a pin.

It’d be the same story in consolation semis, as Eveleth again faced a deficit (2-0) as the match approached short time in the second period. There, the senior would secure a takedown just before the period concluded, with her defense being the star of the show through the third as she evaded and absorbed multiple shots from top-seeded Mia Gifford to clinch a top four finish.

It wasn’t the most spotless of tournaments, marred by a tough loss to start and multiple close calls through the rest. But when push came to shove, Eveleth responded with a composed stretch of wins to keep her season alive.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bald Eagle Area’s Eden Eveleth wrestles during the Bald Eagle Area Invitational earlier this year. Eveleth bouncd back from an opening-round loss at the Central Regional tournament this past weekend and secured her second berth to the PIAA tournament in as many years.

“I didn’t start off as great as I wanted to, but I was able to pull it through and I’m going to states either way,” said Eveleth. “I have another chance to prove myself, so I’m happy with what I got.”

Through four seasons, the Eagle has compiled a 59-24 record, with 42 of those wins coming amidst the last two PIAA-sanctioned seasons. She’s medaled in all four of her regional stints, finishing fourth amidst the Central Regional’s most stacked slate yet, and she’s done the same in both district tournaments, with her latest run culminating in her highest placement in second.

Now, her focus shifts to Hershey.

Though her previous run at states was tough, as she went 0-2, she heads into this round with plenty of optimism, hoping to build off her debut at the event and cap her high school career on a high note. She’ll have to endure a tough first-round draw in defending state champion Julia Horger (Conwell-Egan), but she’s looking forward to the tournament.

“We start with our first match and keep going after that, whatever happens,” said Eveleth. “With a better mindset going into it (this season), I’m excited.”