Gonzalez, the biggest title favorite among the 10 weight classes, used a cement job to deck Millville senior Diane Johnson in 53 seconds to become the first female champion from Warren County and earn the Outstanding Wrestler Award for her efforts at 161 pounds on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall.
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| The first 10 girls state champs in New Jersey history. |
Hunterdon Central junior Stephanie Andrade became the first champion from the entire Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area when she pinned Jackson Memorial's Kayla Gregory in their final at 127 pounds -- three bouts before Gonzalez. Sussex County had two finalists as High Point's Randi Miley (105) and Kittatinny's Kierra Hubmaster (235) were runners-up, while Hunterdon Central's Melanie Sancho (127) finished fourth.
"It feels really good," said Andrade, who helped Central go 2-for-2 in the championship rounds as sophomore Brett Ungar won the 106-pound title to become the first male winner for the Red Devils since 2010 and the program's 13th overall.
Gonzalez, who also has competed with the boys team for the last three seasons, fashioned a 16-6 mark on the junior varsity level. A former starter on Phillipsburg's middle school team, Gonzalez benefited from competing with the boys and in the practice room for the Stateliners.
"I've been wrestling for eight or nine years, and [wrestling against the boys] prepared me a lot," she said. "They are a lot stronger -- and that makes me tougher, too."
In typical P'burg fashion, Gonzalez will get the customary escort back into town and a celebration in her honor, just as Brandon Hull did in 2012, when he captured the 33rd title overall for the boys with his victory at 220 pounds.
"She's as much of a member our team as [three-time state placewinner] Cody Harrison," said coach Dave Post, who now has two state champs in his nine seasons at the helm. "This has been all in the making for her -- even before this was an idea at the state level. This state title is just as enjoyable."
Gonzalez was untested on the girls side, rolling to a region title last weekend and pinning her way to a state title. She admitted to being a little nervous to be in the last bout of the championship round, but she settled right in after taking the mat for an opportunity to make history.
"We always tell her before every match that she's the baddest girl on the planet and to go out and show it," Post said. "She practices every day with our 182-, 170- and 160-pounders, and she never backs down. Last year, she injured her shoulder and refused to stop practicing. She entered a JV tournament at North Penn with a 32-man bracket and took third. She's been through a lot."
Gonzalez got a quick takedown and immediately took a wrist to Gregory's back in an attempt for a turn, but a potentially dangerous call stopped that momentum.
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| Jewel Gonzalez is presented with the OW Award. |
"I knew I'd be able to get it again, and I just keep running my feet," said Gonzalez, who will next focus on softball as a catcher for the Stateliners team. "I never go into a match thinking to pin. I just go after it. I knew I had to live up to that expectation [of winning] and I just wanted to finish it. And that's what I did."
Andrade, who transferred in from Bound Brook prior to this season, built a 9-1 lead early on the strength of a successful headlock attempt.
"I don't normally do it, but I saw an opening," Andrade said. "Her head was down and I took it. I usually do a single-leg or double-leg. But I went for it. I just wanted to stay in the lead and not do anything stupid."
Both Andrade and Gonzalez will have the opportunity next season to become the first two-time champions on the girls side.
"Hopefully, I'm going to try my best," Andrade said. "I'm happy about [winning this one]."
CHAMPIONSHIPS
185 -- Erin Emery (Teaneck) p. Mia Lazaurs (Raritan), 2:47.
235 -- Kaila Mungo (Rancocas Valley) d. Kierra Hubmaster (Kittatinny), 2-1, tiebreaker.
100 -- Sydney Petzinger (Parsippany) md. Jasmine Aizley (Allentown), 10-0.
105 -- Chloe Ayres (Princeton) md. Randi Miley (High Point), 13-2.
111 -- Bella Serrano (Manasquan) d. Daniela Tacuri (West Orange), 6-4, sudden victory.
118 -- Cristine Gavasheli (Raritan) p. Angelina Romero (Notre Dame), 2:31.
127 -- Stephanie Andrade (Hunterdon Central) p. Kayla Gregory (Jackson Memorial), 1:48.
136 -- Jesse Johnson (Manalapan) p. Jaala Williams (Montclair), 1:39.
147 -- Gabby Miller (Monroe Township) d. Amanda Pace (North Bergen), 6-3.
161 -- Jewel Gonzalez (Phillipsburg) p. Diane Johnson (Millville), 0:53.
THIRD-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
100 -- Anmarie Lebron (Pennsauken) p. Alisa Safforld (Belleville), 1:45.
105 -- Johnae Drumright (Trenton Central) d. Isabel Saire (Rahway), 6-3.
111 -- Najee Cuevas (Elizabeth) p. Katy Ayala (New Brunswick), 1:47.
118 -- Devon Kueny (Ewing) p. Casandra Auletta (Raritan), 1:23.
127 -- Natalie Vega (Elmwood Park) d. Melanie Sancho (Hunterdon Central), 7-6.
136 -- Veronica Whitacre (Monroe Township) p. Emma Matera (Delran), 2:59.
147 -- Brandi Rado (Jackson Memorial) p. Paige Colucci (Williamstown), 3:54.
161 -- Donna Walker (New Brunswick) p. Madison Pesavage (Jackson Memorial), 3:26.
185 -- Kerly Borbor (New Brunswick) d. Sandra Guerrero (West Orange), 3-0.
235 -- Joelle Klein (Lower Cape May) p. Elise Harrison (Dwight Morrow), 0:22.
FIFTH-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
100 -- Quanizja Legagneur (Asbury Park) p. Breanna Cervantes (Secaucus), 1:21.
105 -- Julia Manolas (Manalapan) d. Shannon Gulick (Hackettstown), 11-6.
111 -- Mia Bruno (Kingsway) Rebecca Brown (Kingsway) 0-3 (Dec 6-3)
118 -- Alexandra Johnson (Toms River South) p. Sheridan Torres (Red Bank Regional), 5:31.
127 -- Madison Trotman (Rancocas Valley) d. Angelina Vitola (Manalapan), 6-5.
136 -- Hailey Budney (Parsippany) md. America Garay (Manasquan), 11-1.
147 -- Sarah Ilori (Union) p. Olivia Heyer (Kingsway), 5:55.
161 -- Katherine Bott (Kingsway) d. Bri Simsic (High Point), 9-3.
185 -- Maria Taseva (Elmwood Park) p. Jordyn Katz (Jackson Memorial), 0:11,
235 -- Elin Santos (Bergenfield) p. Sarah Mireles (Pennsauken), 3:06.
CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
100 -- Alisa Safforld (Belleville) p. Breanna Cervantes (Secaucus), 3:39; Anmarie Lebron (Pennsauken) p. Quanizja Legagneur (Asbury Park), 1:16.
105 -- Isabel Saire (Rahway) md. Shannon Gulick (Hackettstown), 11-1; Johnae Drumright (Trenton Central) p. Julia Manolas (Manalapan), 1:53.
111 -- Katy Ayala (New Brunswick) p. Mia Bruno (Kingsway), 2:48; Najee Cuevas (Elizabeth) p. Rebecca Brown (Kingsway), 2:44.
118 -- Casandra Auletta (Raritan) p. Sheridan Torres (Red Bank Regional), 4:32; Devon Kueny (Ewing) p. Alexandra Johnson (Toms River South), 2:30.
127 -- Natalie Vega (Elmwood Park) d. Madison Trotman (Rancocas Valley), 10-8; Melanie Sancho (Hunterdon Central) d. Angelina Vitola (Manalapan), 4-3.
136 -- Emma Matera (Delran) d. America Garay (Manasquan), 8-5; Veronica Whitacre (Monroe Township) d. Hailey Budney (Parsippany), 3-1, sudden victory.
147 -- Paige Colucci (Williamstown) p. Sarah Ilori (Union), 3:22; Brandi Rado (Jackson Memorial) d. Olivia Heyer (Kingsway), 2-1, sudden victory,
161 -- Madison Pesavage (Jackson Memorial) d. Katherine Bott (Kingsway), 3-2; Donna Walker (New Brunswick) p. Bri Simsic (High Point), 4:31.
185 -- Kerly Borbor (New Brunswick) d. Jordyn Katz (Jackson Memorial), 6-3; Sandra Guerrero (West Orange) p. Maria Taseva (Elmwood Park), 4:08.
235 -- Joelle Klein (Lower Cape May) p. Elin Santos (Bergenfield), 3:02; Elise Harrison (Dwight Morrow) p. Sarah Mireles (Pennsauken), 2:42.
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