Girls wrestling team takes down opponents, stereotypes

EDISON — The varsity girls wrestling team at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in its brief history.

In January, at the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament, the host Trojans scored 164 total team points to outpace second-place Perth Amboy’s 124 and claim their second consecutive title.

Saint Thomas Aquinas had two repeat champions in seniors Julianna Van Ness at 114 pounds and Apryl Coffman at 185. They also boasted two first-time winners in 152-pounder Makayla Decker, who finished second a year ago, and Saniyah Queen.

The program’s success is even more impressive considering until five years ago, when girls wrestling was sanctioned in New Jersey — the first state in the Northeast to do so — girls had to wrestle on boys teams, said Saint Thomas Aquinas coach Nicholas Tonzola, who also guides its boys squad.

And, while girls could wrestle on boys’ teams, very few participated because of factors such as physical strength and the stigma associated with competing in a sport that was largely considered male territory.

At a recent practice, senior co-captain Julianna Van Ness said, “I was told, ‘Girls can’t wrestle. They are not strong enough.’

“I started off wrestling boys in eighth grade.  I got a lot of negative comments from outside people…but there was some positive stuff coming from family and coaches, too, which was very important. That was the glue.”

Senior co-captain Apryl Coffman faced her own challenges. “I did receive negative feedback when I wanted to wrestle, but not so much because it was considered a male dominated sport but more because I was heavy set at the time,” said Coffman, who wrestles at 185 pounds. “There was some commentary that I couldn’t do it and that I wouldn’t last the entire season. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done that freshman year.”

At Saint Thomas Aquinas, the boys’ and girls’ teams train together, but they do individual drills with members of their own gender.

The boys team had already established a solid program. This season, it finished third in the GMC Tournament and advanced to the semifinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) team tournament, Non-Public Group B, before losing to Camden Catholic Feb. 9.

On Feb. 19, the girls team competed at the NJSIAA North Region, Section 2 tournament in Union. Sophomore Saniyah Queen (145 pounds) and Coffman (185) placed first. Sophomore Makayla Decker (152) placed third. The NJSIAA Girls Wresting State Championships will take place on Feb. 26 at Phillipsburg High School.

Coffman noted that being a female in a male-dominated sport might threaten some people.

“Imagine if you are a guy wrestling a girl and she ends up beating you. That is like a slap across the face to a guy,” she said.

For Coffman, wrestling has paid dividends for her both in mind and body.

“I lost over 60 pounds since I started wrestling,” Coffman said.

“It really helps you get through anything in life,” she continued, “because if you can’t handle the highs and lows of wrestling then what makes you think you can handle real life?”

Van Ness agreed. “I love the adrenaline you get from wrestling. It helps you focus and learn how to handle problems and hiccups you face in life. As long as you are there mentally you can do anything. It is not necessarily about beating the other wrestler it is about what you get out of it, what you take from it.”   

The number of girls participating in wrestling nationwide has increased from 112 in 1990-91 to 16,562 in 2017-18, according to the National Federation of High School Associations. Tonzola, who has coached wrestling for 33 seasons, and who has piloted the girls’ program rapid growth with assistant coaches Tina Raspa and Jason Kearns, sees the sport as a great opportunity for females to make their way into a college or university.

“When we started, I wasn’t sure there would be interest,” he said. “Since that first year, we’ve built a really good program here. We were county champs this season.

“Women’s’ wrestling is growing across the nation… I think it opens a lot of opportunities for girls to pursue wrestling and a college education.”

As for what advice Van Ness would give to a girl considering wrestling, she said, “Have the most fun you possibly can. Don’t make it a job. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Be positive.”

Coffman offered similar advice.

“Don’t give up,” she said. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do this sport. My freshman year I lost every match. Every match. This year I am 26-2.”