Three Shore Conference girls reach NJSIAA wrestling finals

ATLANTIC CITY – Three Shore Conference girls will wrestle for the title of state champion on Saturday afternoon.

Jackson Memorial’s Avery Meyers and Jordyn Katz and Manalapan’s Jesse Johnson each won their semifinal bouts on Friday afternoon to advance to the state finals.

Meyers, the No. 2 seed at 128 pounds, won by 10-4 decision over Northern Highlands’ Amanda Connors with two takedowns in the first period, another in the second and another in the third. She will Hunterdon Central’s Stephanie Andrade, the No. 1 seed, who won by 19-4 technical fall in the other semifinals.

At 143, Katz pinned the No. 1 seed, High Point’s Lilly Ahrendt in 1:53 to reach the state final. She will take on Overbrook’s Alexis Rosano, who scored a late pin over Central Regional freshman Jayla Hahn in the other semifinal. Hahn was up 6-3 late in the third period when Rosano hit a headlock for a five-point move to win 8-6.

Johnson, a returning state champion, was dominant in the semifinals. She built an 8-0 lead on High Point’s Sophia Lombardo before winning bay fall in 2:49. Johnson will attempt to become a two-time state champion when she faces West Orange’s Precious Opara in the 151-pound championship bout.

Other state qualifiers who will finish in the top six are Manalapan’s Julia Manolas at 107, Lakewood’s Estefani Cortez at 114, Lakewood’s Jessica Rivera at 121, Jackson Memorial’s Skyelar Smith at 135, Hahn at 143, Jackson Memorial’s Abigail Stanberry at 151, Lakewood’s Ana Gonzalez and Jackson Memorial’s Madison Pesavage at 161 and Jackson Memorial’s Gina Novello at 180.

The girls wrestleback semifinals will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday night. The third and fifth place bouts will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the state finals will be on the center mat at 1 p.m.

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.