Eight Varsity wrestlers have advanced to the inaugural NYSPHSAA Girls Wrestling Championship following their successes at the Feb. 17 Section IX Championship held at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh.
Winning individual Section IX championships in their weight classes were:
114-pound weight class
Keira Filip
126-pound weight class
Sara Pauls
145-pound weight class
Jaida Macaluso
185-pound weight class
Caitlin McIlroy
235-pound weight class
Patricia Deslandes
Also earning the opportunity to compete in the NYSPHSAA Championship with strong placings on the podium were: Kolbie Furman (94-pound weight class), Sophia Franco (114-pound weight class) and Vanessa Tepper (120-pound weight class).
Minisink Valley also placed first for the total number of points earned by a team: 230 points, followed by Middletown with 173.5 points and Port Jervis with 112.5 points.
After several years of being classified as an emerging sport by the NYSPHSAA, 2025 is the first year NYSPHSAA will host a state championship tournament for girls wrestling. This state championship will be held Thursday, Feb. 27 at the MVP Arena in Albany.
“Everyone at Minisink Valley is thrilled to see these young women compete in the first-ever state championship for girls wrestling,” said Athletic Director Tim Bult. “This is a physically demanding sport that builds confidence, resilience, and self-esteem, while teaching valuable life skills like discipline, self-defense, and leadership. We know this sport positively challenges traditional gender norms and creates a supportive community for female athletes. We also know it opens up a new avenue for girls to achieve personal growth and athletic potential. Congratulations to these athletes for being the inaugural participants in this state championship. We wish them the best of luck and we’re proud they are representing Minisink Valley.”