Greater Middlesex Conference wrestlers compete in the EB Lady Bear Invitational

EAST BRUNSWICK – It was 13-something last season, maybe 13-0. South Plainfield’s Eva Altamirano couldn’t quite remember the score of her loss against Jackson Memorial’s Kamila Bieszczad in the 2022 state tournament.

Altamirano, though, kept working in the offseason and continued to improve. How’s this for a sign of her development?

In Friday’s rematch, Altamirano took down Bieszczad and led 2-0 entering the third period before falling 5-2 in the 132-pound final of the East Brunswick Lady Bear Invitational.

So while the sophomore still isn’t yet satisfied, she’s well on her way.

“She just exemplifies a lot of what we expect in our program,” South Plainfield coach Steve Johnston said. “She’s tough. She’s got an attitude to her and that’s good. That’s what we want to see. She’s confident. She feels that she can go with anybody in the state and we believe that as well. She’s a tough cookie.”

Friday’s girls tournament featured 30 teams from across the state. Jackson Memorial edged Kingsway for the team title, 168 to 160.5. Old Bridge placed fourth with 100 points and Perth Amboy finished sixth with 86 points.

The Greater Middlesex Conference and Somerset County didn’t crown any champions, but also had runners-up in Old Bridge’s Mandy Gavares (100), Perth Amboy’s Leeah Gutierrez (107) and Bound Brook’s Lennix Horsburgh (114).

Altamirano on upswing

While girls wrestling has grown throughout the state, it hasn’t fully spread thus far in wrestling-mad South Plainfield.

Johnston said some girls are in the youth program, but the high school team has just Altamirano and junior Kelsey Geurts, who is in her first season.

Altamirano started wrestling in fifth grade when her family lived in Rahway and showed up to South Plainfield’s practice last season as a freshman and the only girl.

“I think it’s important to show people that it doesn’t matter what you know or how good you are, just come and try it out,” Altamirano said. “See how you like it. Potentially you can be really good or the greatest. It just takes a little bit of hard work and dedication to wanting to do good. I remember last year was a lot. The boys were so good. It’s a lot to meet that level of expectation as a girl.

“… It definitely like drives me to want to work harder and be as good as them and get to like places that aren’t easy to get to. You have to work your butt off to get to them.”

Johnston said, “She really hit the ground running from the very first day she was here last year and she hasn’t stopped. She wrestles a ton in the offseason. She goes to clubs. She seeks out good competition. She wants to get better. She does a lot of things at South Plainfield you expect the boys to do and she does a lot of those things if not more than a lot of them.”

Friday, Altamirano advanced to the final with two pins and a 10-5 win over state qualifier Jalakia Hernandez of Pemberton. That set up her meeting with Bieszczad, who took fourth in the state last season.

Altamirano scored a takedown in the first period and rode out Bieszczad in the second period, twice bringing her back down to the mat on escape attempts. The Jackson Memorial wrestler caught her in a headlock for five points in the third period for the 5-2 win.

Altamirano is nursing an injured shoulder, so she worked with positions she felt comfortable in

“At the end of the day, I’m going to see her again,” she said. “So I think this match was good to feel it out. … Whether I win or lose, I always learn something from the match. What I can do better. What I need to work on. It’s all beneficial.”

For the record, Bieszczad actually pinned Altamirano in 2:55 in last year’s state tournament consolation semifinals at 132. Altamirano went on to place sixth and Bieszczad took fourth.

She noted she’s improved in all areas from hand fighting in neutral to her conditioning and keeping her cool.

Thursday, Altamirano won two matches to claim the title at the Brick Memorial Mustang ZOO. On Dec. 18, she placed second at the Bloomfield Tournament.

“She definitely improved,” Johnston said. “I think she feels good with her training right now and where she’s at. She knows there’s some things that she wants to improve on. She got on the podium last year placing sixth, but she wants to climb higher. She has a goal of being a state finalist, state champion and she’s working towards that.”

Perth Amboy shows potential

Perth Amboy coach Rob Morales always tells his wrestlers to keep going to the end no matter the score. If anyone was ever going to doubt coach, just look at Leeah Gutierrez’s championship match at 107.

Newton’s Gianna Simeone opened a 10-0 lead late in the third period. Gutierrez tried working an arm bar and then a cradle, and finally succeeded with a half nelson that put Simeone on her back in the last 10 seconds, nearly scoring a pin in the 10-3 loss.

The freshman reached the final with two pins and a 9-0 win to lead a young team.

“She kept battling,” Morales said. “She put a couple moves in transition and finally something worked but she ran out of time. It would have been a real good win for her. She kept wrestling to the end.”

That’s the spirt the Panthers showed. Last season, the team had nine girls led by then-senior state champ Ahsia Torres. Now, Perth Amboy has numbers in the low 20s with just a handful of seniors.

Friday, freshman Leilani Zapata (114) and junior Shalyse Fairman (235) each placed fourth and junior Elizabeth Adebola (165) took sixth.

“All the girls wrestled tough,” Morales said. “I mean, they were battling. A lot of them are first-year girls and they’re still learning along with my guys. They’re really giving me effort and they’re learning as they go. I’m very proud of the effort. That’s all they could do.”

He added, “I’m looking forward to going back in the room on Monday and get back to work.”

Old Bridge continues success

Old Bridge’s Mandy Gavares battled injuries the last two seasons after placing sixth in the state as a freshman. Friday, the senior showed she’s still going to be a contender with a good outing against defending state champion Olivia Klein of Paramus until getting caught in the second period.

In the 100-pound final, they wrestled an even first period with Klein scoring a late takedown to take a 2-0 lead. Gavares was on top in the second period and got too high and Klein got the pin in 3:33.

Old Bridge’s Emma Sagi (126) and Aurora Gardner (185) both reached the semifinals and placed third for the Knights.

Old Bridge showed its in line for a good season after winning the Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament on opening weekend.

Other area placewinners

East Brunswick’s Carmela DeMaio (120) and Metuchen’s Alex Osborn-Jones (165) each placed fourth, while East Brunswick’s Risa Ferrari (165) finished fifth.

Placing sixth were South Brunswick’s Rose Marie Pavley (107), North Brunswick’s Leslie Banos Bautista (138) and Spotswood’s Melissa Wehrle (145).

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Middlesex County wrestlers compete in the EB Lady Bear Invitational