A pair of returning state champions advanced to the finals at 152 pounds at the NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 Girls State Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City on Friday.
High Point’s Ella Poalillo, the 138 pound state champion a year ago, and Middletown South’s Thea Rowland, who won the title at 145, both scored semifinal victories to advance.
The top seeded Poalillo remained undefeated with a no-doubt-about-it win over 4-seed Anshul Kumar of Somerville. Poalillo won by fall over Kumar but was completely dominant in the match, rolling up a 9-0 lead before delivering the crushing blow in 3:02.
Poalillo is a nationally recognized freestyler who finished second at Fargo in 16U last summer, so her rather impressive high school wrestling exploits are just the tip of the iceberg. But she is looking forward to competing for another state title in Saturday’s final.
“It’s like a milestone to what I’m working for in the off season,” Poalillo said after her win over Kumar. “It’s a big tournament and I’m really excited to be here. I’m excited to be in the finals again like last year.”
Poalillo will be squaring off on Saturday against the 2-seed Rowland, who earned her spot in the final with a hard fought 5-0 win over 6-seed Abbigale Dudley of Rancocas Valley.
Rowland got a first period takedown and never looked back, fighting off a determined effort by Dudley, who had previously placed twice at the state tournament.
“I have to get the first takedown,” Rowland said after the win. “Otherwise, I feel like they’re going to get a lead on me and get some confidence. I knew in that match, when you get to the semis and the finals, it’s important to get that first point, even if it’s just like a stall call.”
For Rowland, who had placed fourth in 2023 before winning the title last year, being a returning state champ is nice, but it doesn’t change the mission at hand.
“It’s definitely different,” she said. “I think pressure is a privilege. It’s my senior year, and I’m always glad to be down here. I’m just giving it a good run. I’m not really focused on the result. I just focus on scoring points and having fun.”
Poalillo will be the odds on favorite in Saturday’s final, having already defeated Rowland by technical fall in the final of the Central Regional Golden Eagle Grapple in late January. But Rowland is looking forward to squaring off for the title.
“I’m not favored in the final,” Rowland admits. “But I like it that way. Last year the girl beat me 10-1 the month before (Boonton’s Julia Fongaro, who she defeated 8-4 in the 2024 final) and then I beat her in the final, so anything can happen.”
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Michael Holcombe can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com