Wrestling: Andrade, Gonzalez go back-to-back in AC

ATLANTIC CITY -- The only thing better than one state championship for a pair of girls wrestling trailblazers is winning a second.

Hunterdon Central senior Stephanie Andrade and Phillipsburg senior Jewel Gonzalez added to their legacies by becoming the first Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area females to go back-to-back in the second New Jersey Girls State Championships on Saturday afternoon at Boardwalk Hall.

Stephanie Andrade (far left] among the girls champions.

Andrade, who won her first title at 127 pounds last season, captured her second at 128 pounds with style by hitting a throw to deck Jackson Memorial's Avery Meyers in 1:06. Gonzalez, a repeat winner at 161 pounds, became the state's first two-time winner and Outstanding Wrestler by pinning North Bergen's Amanda Pace with a half and a bar in 4:21 to open the championship round.

"It feels amazing ... surreal honestly," Andrade said of repeating as a state champion. "I was very excited about the first one, but then to get two, it's even more exciting."

Andrade, who has not made her college decision and may have the opportunity to join the women's team at East Stroudsburg University, wasted no time in the finals as she countered Meyers' takedown attempt early in the match.

"That's kind of one of the moves that I know -- if a girl tries to go [for a takedown] and sometimes she shoots too far out," said Andrade, who recorded a technical fall victory over Morris Hills' Kyara Montoya in Friday's semifinals. "I usually pay attention and [underhook] before they can get my leg. I usually catch them most of the time."

The winning move, according to Andrade, was learned under the tutelage of longtime assistant coach Leigh Hall, a former district champion for Delaware Valley in 1985.

"Coach Hall is a great coach, and coach [Mark] Wroblewski taught us a bunch of new moves [in practices]," Andrade said. "Coach [Jon] Cantagallo-Rohm is also a big supporter, too."

Crowning Jewel

Gonzalez recorded two falls in the tournament, including her semifinal win over Kittatinny sophomore Kierra Hubmaster, who finished third after reaching the finals at 235 in 2019, while beating Pace for the third time this season, including a 21-8 major the North Region finals.

Gonzalez with the OW Award.

"Great opponent, [Pace] has some big wins -- same with Kierra. They're great people. Right now, I'm just filled with excitement," said Gonzalez, who is the first two-time champ at P'burg for boys and girls since Pete Poretta won consecutive titles in 1993 and '94.

"It means a lot to me, but I hope it means more to those little girls to look and say, 'That can be me.' And it absolutely can be if they put the time in."

Gonzalez was humbled to take her place among the 33 male state champions in such a historic program.

"There's so many great wrestlers to come out of [Phillipsburg High School]," she said. "It's just an honor to even be compared to them.

"When Brandon Hull won his state title [the last for the Stateliners on the boys side at 220 pounds in 2012], he made it a tradition to dip into the [Atlantic Ocean]. I'm ready to dip in that ocean."

Such a dominant force, Gonzalez said her training exclusively with the boys on the P'burg team and against other male opponents on the junior varsity, helped her excel on the female side.

"I've been wrestling [against] guys my whole life," she said. "So wrestling with girls has almost been ... I don't want to say easy, but it's really, really prepared me well in the sense to go out and compete against females who haven't gotten the opportunity to train with the people I have."

True to form, P'burg coach Dave Post said Gonzalez was looking to cap her career with another dominating performance after working for six takedowns against Pace, a dangerous mat wrestler, before cranking her over in the finals.

"She wanted to go out with a fall," Post said. "She's been that dominant."

Even more important is that Gonzalez is a special person to Phillipsburg off the mat.

"What gets overlooked is how much she's done, not just for girls wrestling, but how much she means to kids in our town," Post said. "She volunteers, every single day she goes down the to youth center in town and she gives back because she realizes the position she's in. She grew up in town and all those kids look up to her. She's a really positive influence to not just wrestlers, but to kids in general.

"She was just [recognized] in our town as the youth volunteer of the year. She's just a really cool kid. We're going to really miss her."

Kling makes history

Warren Hills sophomore Katrina Kling, the only other area finalist, made some history in becoming the first to reach the girls finals for the Blue Streaks. Kling, who lost a tough 6-4 decision in sudden-victory overtime to Bloomfield freshman Kira Pipkins at 114 pounds, is also the wrestling program's first finalist since Justin Colaluce won his second straight title and the school's last in 1998.

"It was really cool," said Kling, who also lost a 5-2 decision to Pipkins when they met at the Raritan Tournament the week before regions last Sunday.

Kling appeared to be on her way to the state title when she converted a go-ahead takedown with 33 seconds left in the third period. But Pipkins, after getting a brief reprieve when the two went out of bounds with about 12 seconds to go, escaped to tie it at 4 with just two ticks left on the clock. In OT, Kling got in on Pipkin's legs twice, but she couldn't finish.

"They weren't the greatest shots that I know I could have taken," Kling said. "They were decent, but they weren't good enough. We have to make sure that I every shot I take is perfect. I didn't set up as confidently as I should have.

"In overtime, I was like, 'It's go time.' I really, really wanted it. I was proud of that [takedown in the third period]. In a match it was probably one of my best."

Kling vowed to get that elusive title for the Streaks in 2021.

"I was hoping to do it this year," she said. "It's coming ... next year."

CHAMPIONSHIPS

161: Jewel Gonzalez (Phillipsburg) p. Amanda Pace (North Bergen), 4:21.

180: Kerly Borbor (New Brunswick) d. Amirah Giorgianni (Mainland Regional), 9-5, ultimate tiebreaker.

215: Sandra Guerrero (West Orange) d. Joelle Klein (Lower Cape May), 7-0.

100: Sydney Petzinger (Parsippany) p. Ava Rose (Princeton), 5:01.

107:  Chloë Ayres (Princeton) d. Johnae Drumright (Trenton Central), 4-3.    

114: Kira Pipkins (Bloomfield) d. Katrina Kling (Warren Hills), 6-4, SV.

121: Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence) p. Kalli Roskos (Delran), 1:33.

128: Stephanie Andrade (Hunterdon Central) p. Avery Meyers (Jackson Memorial), 1:06.

135: Emma Matera (Delran) d. Gabby Miller (Monroe Township), 5-4.  

143: Alexis Rosano (Overbrook) d. Jordyn Katz (Jackson Memorial), 9-4.

151: Jesse Johnson (Manalapan) d. Precious Opara (West Orange), 7-2.

Outstanding Wrestler Award -- Jewel Gonzalez, Phillipsburg

THIRD-PLACE CONSOLATIONS

100: Alisa Safforld (Belleville) d. Jasmine Aizley (Allentown), 5-1.

107: Izabella Frezzo (Henry P. Becton Regional) md. Randi Miley (High Point), 11-2.

114: Samantha Larsen (Wallkill Valley) p. Estefani Cortez (Lakewood), 1:28.

121: Emily Klein (Paramus) d. Courtney Hoff (Warren Hills), 7-2.

128: Karielys Reyes (Trenton Central) injury, Kyara Montoya (Morris Hills), 4:16.

135: Skyelar Smith (Jackson Memorial) p. Natalie Vega (Elmwood Park), 1:07.

143: Jayla Hahn (Central Regional) p. Angela Valle (Lodi), 0:55.

151: Sophia Lombardo (High Point) p. Goodness Okoro (Newark Collegiate Charter), 5:29.

161: Kierra Hubmaster (Kittatinny) p. Ana Gonzalez (Lakewood), 1:16.

180: Maria Taseva (Elmwood Park) p. Haylee Adorno (Delran), 0:46.

215: Valery Alcantara (Perth Amboy) forfeit over Kaila Mungo (Rancocas Valley).

FIFTH-PLACE CONSOLATIONS

100: Isabella Santos (Elizabeth) p. Mandy Gavares (Old Bridge), 6:19.

107: Ahsia Torres (Perth Amboy) d. Julia Manolas (Manalapan), 9-4.

114: Tatiana Walker (Pennsauken) d. Danica Haines (Palmyra), 10-7.

121: Angelina Romero (Notre Dame) forfeit over Jessica Rivera (Lakewood).

128: Jade Gasper (Lenape) by forfeit over Amanda Connors (Northern Highlands).

135: Carley Anderson (Mount Olive) p. Brooke Tulloch (Saddle Brook), 2:50.

143: Qua-Niesha Young-Cruse (Elizabeth) p. Lilly Ahrendt (High Point), 4:51.

151: Rachel Forsman (Eastern) d. Abigail Stanberry (Jackson Memorial), 6-0.

161: Olivia Heyer (Kingsway) d. Madison Pesavage (Jackson Memorial), 4-3.

180: Lacey Hums (High Point) by forfeit over Gina Novello (Jackson Memorial).

215: Naliya Rivera (Kingsway) by forfeit over Donna Walker (New Brunswick).