Wrestling: 'Cats 'wild' about Changaris' 1st state title

ATLANTIC CITY -- High Point freshman Elle Changaris wouldn't have it any other way. The crazier a match is the better in her mind. Who can argue with the end result? 

True to form, Changaris won a 19-14 thriller over returning Howell champion Kylie Gudewitz to capture the 114-pound title in one of the most entertaining bouts of all time in the New Jersey Girls State Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

Changaris earned HP's 15th state medal overall

"I wanted it to be wild," said Changaris (37-1), who finished her rookie season with a 30-match win streak after being pinned by Calli Gilchrist of Choate Rosemary Hall in the Girls Beast of the East finals on Dec. 20. "I wanted to put her down and I sort of did, I guess. I knew it wasn't going to be as easy as my matches from [during the season]. I knew if I continued to work hard and put my mind to it, and don't think about it too hard. Just do it."

High Point pulled off a program and Sussex County first on the girls' side with two winners in a single state tournament as sophomore sensation Ella Poalillo started off the finals by pinning Middletown South's Thea Rowland with a vicious arm bar in 3:17 to become the Wildcats' first two-time female champ. Noelle Gaffney won the first of four gold medals (165 pounds in 2022) for the 'Cats, while Sparta's Paige Weiss (100 pounds in '23) is the only other female Sussex wrestler to win a state title.  

Changaris (37-1), a North 1 region champ, visualized adding her name to a list that includes 13 boys championships, including girls head coach John Gardner (189 pounds in 1990), when first arriving at the high school.

"I'm so excited for my name to be right there," Changaris said. "Since I first came to high school and walked past that wall [outside the gym] where all the plaques are, I knew my name was going to be on there. Now, it's going to be there."

Changaris came out blazing with a five-point move to put Gudewitz (36-1), who won at this weight class in 2024, in an early first-period hole. Up 7-0 in the third, Changaris hit a headlock for seven more and was on the verge of a technical fall when Gudewitz reversed Changaris to her back and cut the gap to 14-7. An escape for Changaris and a takedown for Gudewitz made it 15-10, as Changaris got two more reversals in the third to help seal the win.

"I knew there was a chance she could come [back] because I don't always wrestle the third period," Changaris said when asked why she opted to go for big moves despite a commanding lead. "It's very rare that I do. My breathing, my wind is not fit for three periods, yet."

Changaris and Poalillo (2nd and 4th from right) with the other champs

That's understandable considering that Changaris went the full six minutes for only the second time this season and first in nearly three months (7-3 win at the Beast of the East). In all, she racked up 29 pins, five technical falls and two regular decisions to go with two forfeit victories.

"I knew if I had the mindset of I'm going to win ... I'm going to win," Changaris said. "I came out on top and it feels awesome."

Poalillo, who could stake a claim as the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the girls tournament, became a role model for Changaris, who credits her teammate for helping to make her title dream a reality.

"During the season, I was trying to focus on myself and not look to other people," Changaris said. "We were the only ones [who qualified for High Point] and we shared a [hotel] room. When we first got to the room, I realized this was real and I wanted to be like her, and use her freshman year as an example for myself. 

"She helped me through almost everything -- directions on where to go and how it is [being in AC], and what's going to happen. I think if I didn't have her here, it would have been way more stressful."

Wrestling has its share of sacrifices, none greater perhaps than refraining from indulging on favorite foods. So what else does one do after satisfying a hunger on the mats? 

"I think I'm going to go eat a cheeseburger," she said. "The weight cut was worth every minute of me standing on that podium and wrestling in that match."

Championships

152 -- So. Ella Poalillo (35-0), High Point, p. So. Thea Rowland (26-2), Middletown South, 3:17.

165 -- Sr. Solaris Paul (24-1), Paterson Kennedy, d. Sr. Paige DeCaro (35-3), Newton-Kittatinny, 7-1.

185 -- Sr. Shaelie Young (30-3), Gateway-Woodbury, p. Jr. Jade Hahn (26-2), Central Regional, 4:41.

235 -- Sr. Caroline Biegel (10-3), DePaul, md. Jr. Saharia Quamina (28-4), Bloomfield, 9-1.

100 -- Jr. Francesca Gusfa (17-1), Ridgewood, d. Jr. Madison Rucci (42-2), Jackson Memorial, 11-5.

107 -- So. Gabriella Conte (15-1), Hanover Park, tf. Jr. Princessstorm Woody (21-1), Trenton Central, 16-0, 3:49.

114 -- Fr. Elle Changaris (37-1), High Point, d. Jr. Kylie Gudewitz (36-1), Howell, 19-14.

120 -- Jr. Reagan Roxas (33-0), Kingsway, d. So. Jocelyn Danbe (20-3), River Dell, 7-4.

126 -- Sr. Jada Pichardo (32-0), Pennsauken, d. Sr. Alexa Cilliotta (22-3), Montville, 1-0.

132 -- So. Lamiah Berry (24-5), Absegami, p. Fr. Lily Massenzio (19-1), DePaul, 2:39.

138 -- Sr. Saniyah Queen (32-2), St. Thomas Aquinas, d. Jr. Eva Barry (31-2), Newton-Kittatinny, 12-6.

145 -- Jr. Olivia Georges (18-0), DePaul, p. Sr. Sonia Balwas (20-5), Paramus, 3:08.

Outstanding Wrestler Award -- Gabriella Conte, Hanover Park.

Coach of the Year Award -- Eric Bollette, Newton-Kittatinny.