Wrestling: Gaffney state title a slam dunk for Sussex

High Point senior Noelle Gaffney traded in her well-traveled basketball sneakers for wrestling shoes. That proved to be a history-making decision.

Though far from being a shoe-in to win a state title when the season began in December, Gaffney pinned Brick Township's Jade Huerta at 165 pounds to become Sussex County's first female champion on Saturday in the NJSIAA Girls State Wrestling Championships at Phillipsburg High School.

John Gardner and Noelle Gaffney (courtesy of Rhonda Gaccione).

"It's very cool," said Gaffney, a No. 5 seed who had three pins on the day and completed a trifecta by giving the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area a champion in all three counties as she joined two-time winners Jewel Gonzalez of Phillipsburg (Warren) and Stephanie Andrade of Hunterdon Central. "It still doesn't feel real. It's awesome."

High Point, which has crowned 12 male state champs, is now building a female dynasty under coach John Gardner. The 'Cats have logged an area-best 11 medals in the four-year history of the girls tournament, including senior Sophia Lombardo, the program's first three-time placewinner. Lombardo, who was third in 2020 and fifth last season, finished fourth at 145. Junior Carney Wyble (sixth at 138) made it three on the day for the 'Cats with her first medal. Randi Miley, a two-time placer and a runner-up at 105 pounds in 2019, was the program's first finalist.

In all, HWS collected 10 state medals (six from Sussex schools). Hunterdon Central and Kittatinny, which are next behind High Point with five placewinners each, added to their collections on Saturday. Evelyn Andrade (fifth at 107) and Paisley Fox (fourth at 138) earned medals for the Red Devils, while Kierra Hubmaster (sixth at 165), a two-time finalist, became the first four-time medalist for HWS. Newton senior Aaliyah Payne-Parris took home her second third-place medal at 100, while North Hunterdon senior Jodi Holder, a runner-up last season, was third at 152. Freshman Caitlin Hart, who placed fifth at 185, is Vernon-Wallkill Valley's first medalist. Warren Hills senior Katrina Kling (third at 120), a two-time runner-up who went 2-3 against three-time state champ Kira Pipkins of Bloomfield this season, is the Blue Streaks' first three-time placer.

Gaffney, who attempted a headlock and then landed on top of Huerta to record the pin in 4:17, battled back from a 2-0 deficit when she gave up a reversal while going for a cement mixer. Gaffney escaped and converted the first of three takedowns (two in the second period), giving up two escapes, one while attempting a power half and another with 10 seconds to go, to take a 5-4 lead into the third period. She escaped right away and then hit the winning move -- more of a hip toss, according to Gaffney.

"She had a good day," said Gardner, a state champion for High Point at 189 pounds as a senior in 1990 and New Jersey's all-time wins leader upon graduation with a career mark of 131-8-1. "Noelle wrestled really good. She was 5-5 last year and 26-5 this year. She works hard and is in great shape, and she listens."

Before reaching the finals, Gaffney had a bit of unfinished business with Hubmaster, the No. 1 seed and state title favorite, who was 5-0 (three pins) against Gaffney dating to last season, including two pins this season. But in their previous two meetings before Saturday's semifinals, Gaffney drew closer, dropping a 4-3 decision in the North Region final last weekend at Franklin High School.

Down, 1-0, heading into the third period on Saturday, Gaffney got a reversal and then applied a power half to pin Hubmaster (18-1) at the buzzer.

"We had lots of history," said Gaffney, who was pinned in their 2021 region semifinal clash and finished fourth before going 0-2 in her first state tournament appearance. "Our goal was not to beat her at regions [this season], but beat her at states. She's a very good opponent. I've been practicing some different moves. I usually don't shoot [for takedowns], but I can't snap down every time. I hit a few singles [in the finals] that I practiced on Thursday."

Gaffney went 31-10 over two seasons for HP.

Gaffney also lost to fifth-place finisher and No. 2 seed Kyla Norman of Kingsway, 6-3, on Jan. 22, but she went 12-1 from that point on. Gardner said keeping things basic was the key to a state title run.

"She really responded to everything we tried to get her to do," said Gardner, who will enter the 2022-23 boys season four wins shy of 400.

Gaffney said her conditioning really paid off as Huerta seemed to tire in the second period. In addition, Gaffney wisely used what she learned from Gardner and Brian Soldano, who just won his third district title and is looking to become the second three-time state champion for the 'Cats. 

"It was very nice to pin her there," Gaffney said. "I felt like I had more endurance. Wrestling takes a lot out of you. Coach Gardner is a good coach and he knows what he's talking about. I always listen to him. He makes people love wrestling and draws people back to the program. [In practice] I ask Brian questions and he helps me. Everyone [in the program] supports everyone."

Gaffney, a basketball player since second grade, was first introduced to wrestling a year ago during the pandemic, which allowed athletes to participate in two winter sports. When the hoops season ended, Gaffney, a starting point guard for the 'Cats, took to the mats and has been hooked ever since.

"This may sound bad, but beating people up is fun," Gaffney said. "There's always something new to learn in wrestling and use in life. It's not the whole team. Only you are to blame. If you do something wrong, it's all on you."

Now, Gaffney faces another decision -- whether to continue playing basketball, where she's drawing a lot of interest on the college level, or wrestle. SUNY Morrisville is a suitor and offers a construction management program, her major of choice.

"I'm still talking to schools for basketball," Gaffney said. "It's a very tough decision. I dreamt of [winning a state title]. I never thought it would actually happen."