Wrestling: Swan song? Poalillo in HP's 3xers club

ATLANTIC CITY  -- High Point star Ella Poalillo always wanted to be among the greats at High Point from the time she stepped on a mat as a freshman. If this was the end to the high school portion of her stellar career, mission accomplished. 

Poalillo is the 19th HP wrestler to log 100 wins

Poalillo capped her junior campaign with a third consecutive state title by pinning Pennsauken senior Fatina Lozier in 2:33 at 152 pounds in the final bout of the New Jersey Girls Championships on Saturday afternoon at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

"I don't think I'm going to wrestle next year in high school," said Poalillo, who won her 100th career bout in the finals, turning Lozier with a first-period armbar and then a headlock to earn the fall. "I'm just going to focus on freestyle and getting better going into college and wrestling in college opens. It feels really nice to be here, but I'm looking forward to bigger things. Coming out here and dominating is cool, but I think this is probably it."

Poalillo (36-0) was one of four wrestlers from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area as teammate Elle and sophomore sensation Chanagris made it 2-for-2 for High Point in the finals by capturing her second title, while Newton senior Eva Barry and Lenape Valley-Hopatcong junior Angelina Qualitieri each won their first. In all, 15 area girls brought home state medals.

Changaris (3rd from BR) and Poalillo (3rd from TL)

Poalillo, a three-time region champion, extended her win streak to 79 in a row following a second loss to Barry during a freshman campaign that saw Poalillo reel off eight straight victories en route to that first state title. Barry (two pins) and Boonton's Julia Fongaro (2-0) are the only blemishes on Poalillo's 103-match slate. Both are state champions, as Barry won her first on Saturday after two straight finals losses. 

"All these girls work really hard, so I don't want to say that I outgrew them," said Poalillo, who is Sussex County's first three-timer on the girls' side. "But I think moving on from this and looking toward my future in freestyle and making world teams and the NCAAs, and going to college, is more important than making a bigger name for myself at High Point."

Who could blame her? 

In 10 career bouts in AC, Poalillo logged seven pins (four this year in a total time of 6:28), two technical falls and a 3-1 win over Barry in the 2024 finals -- the only bout that went six minutes. Poalillo also joins Nick Francavilla (2009-11) and Brian Soldano (2020-22) as the only three-time state champs for the Wildcats. But it seems she won't pursue her goal of being the first High point four-timer and only the second female to four-peat in New Jersey (Kira Pipkins of Bloomfield).

"It's really cool to be up there with them," Poalillo said. "I worked really hard for this so I feel when it all comes together like the last two years it's really exciting. But I'm moving toward different things."

Poalillo has already made a name on the international scene as a World Team Trials U17 champion and she represented the United States in the Pan-American Games and at the World Championships.

Poalillo went 71-0 over the past two seasons

High Point legend and head coach John Gardner, who was the second male state champion for the Wildcats (189 pounds in 1990), was proud to see the program add two more names to the list. He has now coached wrestlers to 17 of the program's 19 state titles, including six on the girls' side.

"It's funny, that was a long time ago that I won, but having the opportunities that I've had, first with the boys and now with the girls, to be around some really special men and women, it's awesome," Gardner said. "High Point has always been really important to me and the young kids just keep proving that so it's a pleasure to be a part of it."

"Coach Gardner is amazing," Poalillo said. "He's the most supportive person and he helps me more on a deeper level and understanding myself and life as wrestler. He's super technical and has a lot of insight. He's there for me every step of the way. I love all my coaches."

Perhaps fittingly, Barry and Poalillo were the last two bouts among the 12 contested on Saturday. The two clashed six times during the 2023-24 season, with Poalillo winning four, including region and state finals victories.

"I'm really happy for her, she worked so hard and she finally got it," Poalillo said. "She dominated."

Championships

165 -- Sr. Olivia Georges (24-1), DePaul, md. Sr. Liliana Alicea (36-3), Central Regional, 17-6.
185 -- Sr. Jade Hahn (15-0), Central Regional, p. So. Aryana Osorio (25-4), St. Mary-Rutherford, 1:30.
235 -- Sr. Saharia Quamina (39-0), Bloomfield, p. Sr. Giavonna Farrell-Byers (45-3), Howell, 2:36.   
100 -- Jr. Angelina Qualitieri (42-1), Lenape Valley-Hopatcong, d. Jr. Gabriela Giacone (30-10), Watchung Hills, 7-0. 
107 -- Jr. Gabriella Conte (32-1), Hanover Park, md. So. Adrianna DiGregorio (34-7), Williamstown, 14-2.
114 -- Jr. Jocelyn Danbe (40-1), River Dell, d. Sr. Kylie Gudewitz (47-5), Howell, 4-2.
120 -- So. Elle Changaris (38-1), High Point, md. Sr. Emma Peake (21-2), Hunterdon Central, 12-3.
126 -- So. Lucia Ranieri (44-1), Roselle Park, d. Sr. Reagan Roxas (37-5), Kingsway, 7-0.
132 -- So. Sheyna Cruz (31-2), Paulsboro, p. Jr, Lamiah Berry (27-5), Absegami, 5:08.
138 -- Sr. Valeria Ramirez (36-3), Elizabeth, p. Sr. Mariana Puzycki (38-8), Bayonne, 1:31.
145 -- Sr. Eva Barry (29-1), Newton-Kittatinny, p. Sr. Shea Aretz (41-2), Buena-Vineland, 1:37.
152 -- Jr. Ella Poalillo (36-0), High Point, p. Sr. Fatina Lozier (36-4), Pennsauken, 2:33.
Outstanding Wrestler Award -- Angelina Qualitieri, Lenape Valley-Hopatcong.