HISTORY BECKONS
Princeton’s Ayres, Allentown’s Aizley grab regional titles as group of five CVC wrestlers clinch spots at inaugural girls wrestling state tournament
RED BANK >> While it’s not a regular thing for Colonial Valley Conference boy wrestlers to make a major impact on the statewide level, its girls have wasted no time showing they are the real deal.
In what can only be described as an unqualified success in the Southern Regional at Red Bank Regional High School Sunday, CVC girls captured two individual titles and advanced five wrestlers in all to the first ever state tournament that will be held on March 1-2 in Atlantic City.
The champs were Allentown junior 100-pounder Jasmine Aizley and Princeton sophomore 105-pounder Chloë Ayres.
In the second spots were Trenton junior Johnae Drumright (105) and Notre Dame junior Angelia Romero (118). Also advancing to AC by finishing third was Ewing senior Devon Kueny at 118.
“I think it’s awesome that all of us made it,” said the top-seeded Ayres, who had two first-period pins prior to a 9-0 decision over Drumright in the final. “I wasn’t sure what to expect and you don’t want to go in overconfident. She (Drumright) is also a tough wrestler.”
Said Princeton coach Rashone Johnson after watching Ayres beat Drumight for the second time this year: “Chloe looked great out there. She dominated.”
When you include the boys, Ayres is the fifth wrestler in the history of the Princeton program
to win a region title. Last summer she lost in the blood round of Junior Nationals in North Dakota.
A transfer from Princeton High, Aizley became Allentown’s fourth region champion with two pins and then a 4-3 decision over Pennsauken’s Anmarie Lebro in her championship match.
A member of the Team New Jersey summer club along with Ayres, Aizley will receive a first-round bye in states along with the other champs from Sunday’s South and North regions.
In addition to Drumright, Romero advanced to the final before getting pinned by Olivia Mena of Pinelands in the time of 5:16. Romero was a bit of an unknown with a low seed coming into the tournament, but quickly opened some eyes by pinning Ewing’s Kueny midway through the second period of a quarterfinal round match.
“I kind of put myself in a bad position, but she’s a good wrestler and caught me,” said Kueney, who will follow in the footsteps of her sister Killian and play softball at Dickinson University next fall.
Not to be deterred, Kueny roared back with four straight wins in the wrestle-backs with two majors and two pins that included a fall in 1:27 of the consolation final.
“I would have preferred to win (the weight), but the goal all along was to get to Atlantic City,” said Kueny. “I was able to accomplish that. My shoulder (collarbone injury) is all better. I’m ready to go.”
Trenton’s Seqayia Gilmore just missed advancing when she finished fourth after losing to Rancocas Valley’s Kaila Mungo in the third-place final. Also from the area, Delran’s Emma Matera was second at 136 and Rancocas Valley’s Madison Trotman was third at 127.