Ridgewood wrestler stuns state champion during breakout title run at the BCWCA championship
SUFFERN – Ridgewood coach Torre Watson looked around the practice room one day last week and gave his team some personal advice.
Make sure to be in Suffern on Sunday to watch the BCWCA girls wrestling invitational. Kamila Castro was going to do something special.
"They all applauded immediately because they see the work that she puts in," Watson said. "I think they all knew that it was coming."
The Maroons' sophomore backed up her coach's promise on Sunday by winning the championship as the fourth seed at 152 pounds. She shocked Immaculate Conception state champion Jenna Filieri, 5-2, in the semis, then scored a 14-7 decision over Paramus' Emma Mees in the title match. It was hard for her to process a year after missing the podium.
"I'm so happy, I don't even know how to put it in words," Castro said. "I felt relief after all the work that I put in finally paid off. It's like payday."
Castro finished on top of the pack Sunday along with three other Bergen County wrestlers: Ridgefield Park's Theresa Zeppetelli (100), Lodi's Leeana Mercado (107) and Garfield's Taylor Peterson (138).
For Castro, her wrestling roots run deep, even though she only started competing in the eighth grade. One of the first people she hugged after the championship was her uncle, two-time state champion Mike Massenzio. Castro looks at her success and sense of belief as the result of their daily training sessions last summer.
"He's the one that first took me under his wing and treated me like I was his own daughter – taking me everywhere whether it was up in Pennsylvania or Atlantic City," Castro said. "I have a lot to give to him. I'm happy that it paid off."
Watson said Castro is the person he'll use as an example of how to do something the right way. She took control in the first minute against Mees, using a throw to get a takedown and three back points. Castro sprung a reversal midway through the second period to regain momuntum and please a crowd that included about 10 teammates.
"So well-deserved," Watson said. "She's undoubtedly the hardest working person in our room on our team. Nobody is more committed. Nobody puts in more time. She earned and deserved all of that. We could not be more proud of her."
Participation reached a new high at the fourth-annual BCWCA tournament with 193 total wrestlers, including 16 state medalists and three returning state champions: Filieri, Paramus' Olivia Klein and Bloomfield's Kira Pipkins.
Tournament directors added a new wrinkle this year by combining the boys and girls tournament into one giant weekend at Rockland Community College.
"I like it," said Mercado, who pinned in 26 seconds in the finals. "It feels nice to be in a big arena and get the same opportunities that they do."
Pipkins came up big once again and became the first girls wrestler in state history to reach 100 career wins. She hit the milestone with a 4-1 decision over Newton's Liliana Zaku-Ramos and it made her the tournament's first four-time champ.
Zeppetelli won by the same score in her final to make it two years in a row with the gold. She allowed only one point all tournament and pinned three of her four opponents.
"To be honest with you, (Klein) is literally my best friend," Zeppetelli said. "It was really agonizing that I had to go up against her. But when it came down to it, I had to do what I had to do."
Finals
100 pounds: Theresa Zeppetelli (Ridgefield Park/ Bogota) Dec Olivia Klein (Paramus), 4-1.
107 pounds: Leeana Mercado (Lodi) Fall Gianna Simeone (Newton), 0:26.
114 pounds: Lennix Horsburgh (Bound Brook) Fall Amanda Connors (Northern Highlands), 3:53.
120 pounds: Riley Lerner (Cedar Creek) Fall Kyara Montoya (Morris Hills), 5:27.
126 pounds: Kira Pipkins (Bloomfield) DEC Liliana Zaku-ramos (Newton), 4-1.
132 pounds: Kayla Vazquez (Kinnelon) F Julia Fongaro (Booton), 3:30.
138 pounds: Taylor Peterson (Garfield) F Gianna Puzycki (Bayonne), 1:41.
145 pounds: Samira Kupa (Booton) F Amaya Legra (Morris Hills), 0:28.
152 pounds: Kamila Castro (Ridgewood) DEC Emma Mees (Paramus), 14-7.
165 pounds: Kailin Lee (Newton) F Madelyn Schaper (Passaic County Tech), 1:04
185 pounds: Reno Prochilo (Bloomfield) F Jade Hahn (Donovan Catholic), 4:37.
235 pounds: Alissa Alcindor (Union) DEC Caroline Biegel (Lakeland), 1-0.
Semifinals
100 pounds
Olivia Klein (Paramus) Dec Paige Weiss (Sparta), 3-1.
Theresa Zeppetelli (Ridgefield Park/ Bogota) Fall Isabella Santos (Elizabeth), 2:34.
107 pounds
Leeana Mercado (Lodi) Fall Kate Machleder (Old Tappan), 3:52.
Gianna Simeone (Newton) Fall Paige Kirk (Ramsey), 3:00.
114 pounds
Amanda Connors (Northern Highlands) Fall Ava Krzykalski (Lyndhurst), 4:00.
Lennix Horsburgh (Bound Brook) Fall Mariah Koster (Nutley), 0:42.
120 pounds
Riley Lerner (Cedar Creek) Fall Grace Riley (Becton), 2:32.
Kyara Montoya (Morris Hills) Fall Kaylee Hughen (Booton), 1:12.
126 pounds
Kira Pipkins (Bloomfield) Maj-Dec Stacy Bloomfield (Glen Ridge), 9-1.
Liliana Zaku-ramos (Newton) Fall Shea Aretz (Buena Regional), 1:32.
132 pounds
Julia Fongaro (Booton) Dec Maura White (Jefferson Twp), 5-1.
Kayla Vazquez (Kinnelon) Dec Pasley Fox (Hunterdon Central), 2-0.
138 pounds
Taylor Peterson (Garfield) Fall Sarah Spitzer (RiverDell), 0:49.
Gianna Puzycki (Bayonne) Fall Kayla Franson (Paramus), 1:46.
145 pounds
Samira Kupa (Booton) Fall Olivia George (Depaul Catholic), 2:50.
Amaya Legra (Morris Hills) Fall Ayesha Payne-parris (Newton), 3:44.
152 pounds
Emma Mees (Paramus) Fall Ve'shae Polite (Elmwood Park), 3:35.
Kamila Castro (Ridgewood) Dec Jenna Filieri (Immaculate Conception), 5-2.
165 pounds
Kailin Lee (Newton) Fall Sonia Bawlas (Paramus), 3:49.
Madelyn Schaper (Passaic County Tech) Dec Michaela Callum (Southern Regional), 8-6 TB2.
185 pounds
Jade Hahn (Donovan Catholic) Fall Evette Colon (Morris Hills), 2:58.
Reno Prochilo (Bloomfield) Fall Ava Filieri (Immaculate Conception), 0:57.
235 pounds
Leeana Mercado (Lodi) Fall Blair Rodriguez (Columbia), 1:07.
Caroline Biegel (Lakeland) Dec Kelly Herrera (Passaic County Tech), 2-1.
Alissa Alcindor (Union) Dec Ashanti William (Newark Collegiate Academy), 2-0.
Quarterfinals
100 pounds
Olivia Klein (Paramus) Fall Aitana Lozano (Lyndhurst), 0:56.
Paige Weiss (Sparta) Dec Sophia Lentine-Turner (Depaul Catholic), 4-0.
Isabella Santos (Elizabeth) Tec-Fall Olivia McCormick (Lakeland), 21-5 4:00.
Theresa Zeppetelli (Ridgefield Park/ Bogota) Fall Gretchen Quast (Ramsey), 1:28.
107 pounds
Kate Machleder (Old Tappan) Fall Annemarie Thompson (Hunterdon Central), 1:02.
Paige Kirk (Ramsey) Fall Masin Maugeri (Southern Regional), 2:09.
Gianna Simeone (Newton) Fall Brianly Baez (Newark Collegiate Academy), 1:33.
114 pounds
Amanda Connors (Northern Highlands) Fall Reese Rotonde (Ramsey), 0:11.
Ava Krzykalski (Lyndhurst) Fall Kristina Gerndt (Newton), 0:10.
Mariah Koster (Nutley) Fall Kameko Sibblies (Newton), 1:58.
120 pounds
Riley Lerner (Cedar Creek) Fall Carly Poggio (Hunterdon Central), 1:36.
Grace Riley (Becton) Fall Miranda Peralta (River Dell), 3:47.
Kyara Montoya (Morris Hills) Fall Carmela Velasco (Immaculate Conception), 0:47.
Kaylee Hughen (Booton) Fall Isabelle Yukselen (Paramus), 2:42.
126 pounds
Kira Pipkins (Bloomfield) Fall Ava Hosonitz (Morris Hills), 1:32.
Stacy Bloomfield (Glen Ridge) Fall Amia Martinez (Elizabeth), 2:30.
Liliana Zaku-ramos (Newton) Fall Catherine Weigel (Rutherford), 2:12.
Shea Aretz (Buena Regional) Fall Kylie Wright (Egg Harbior Twp), 2:37.
132 pounds
Julia Fongaro (Boonton) Maj-Dec Dalia Tsyrlin (Fair Lawn), 15-3.
Maura White (Jefferson Twp) Fall Isabella Bobadilla (Nutley), 2:58.
Pasley Fox (Hunterdon Central) Dec Eva Barry (Newton), 4-2.
Kayla Vazquez (Kinnelon) Fall Vanessa Feola (Passaic County Tech), 1:03.
138 pounds
Taylor Peterson (Garfield) Fall Marvely Fermin (Manchester Regional), 0:40.
Sarah Spitzer (River Dell) Fall Madelyn Mclaughlin (Bloomfield), 3:06.
Kayla Franson (Paramus) Fall Jackalyn Campos (Ramsey), 1:53.
Gianna Puzycki (Bayonne) Fall Brisa Munoz (Passaic), 0:24.
144 pounds
Samira Kupa (Booton) Fall Samantha Henrich (Southern Regional), 0:52.
Olivia George (Depaul Catholic) Maj-Dec Paige Decaro (Newton), 16-5.
Ayesha Payne-parris (Newton) Dec Kaylyn Juarez (Passaic County Tech), 8-6 SV.
Amaya Legra (Morris Hills) Fall Mackenzie Finn (Bayonne), 2:34.
152 pounds
Jenna Filieri (Immaculate Conception) Fall Jocelyn Fredricks (Booton), 1:06.
Kamila Castro (Ridgewood) Fall Leanna Noel (Bloomfield), 5:49.
Ve'shae Polite (Elmwood Park) Fall Emma Kremper (Holy Cross), 0:49.
Emma Mees (Paramus) Fall Jayleen Barrett (Elizabeth), 1:44.
165 pounds
Kailin Lee (Newton) Fall Bakaima Kanabia (Bayonne), 2:32.
Sonia Bawlas (Paramus) Fall Christine Ahmad (Newton), 1:50.
Madelyn Schaper (Passaic County Tech) Fall Carina Rivera (Nutley), 4:58.
Michaela Callum (Southern Regional) Dec Marley Jackson (Immaculate Conception), 3-1 SV.
185 pounds
Evette Colon (Morris Hills) Fall Victoria Pereira (West Orange), 0:27.
Jade Hahn (Donovan Catholic) Fall Saharia Quamina (Bloomfield), 1:31.
Reno Prochilo (Bloomfield) Fall Vaughnicia Cox (Ramsey), 3:27.
Ava Filieri (Immaculate Conception) Fall Kaitlyn Aguila (Nutley), 5:08.
235 pounds
Caroline Biegel (Lakeland) Fall Christine Pierre-louis (Union), 4:21.
Kelly Herrera (Passaic County Tech) Fall Evelyn Rivera (Passaic County Tech), 0:25.
Ashanti William (Newark Collegiate Academy) Fall Julissa Gil (Passaic), 0:30.
Alissa Alcindor (Union) Fall Jade Cruz torres (Passaic), 3:20.
Round of 16
100 pounds
Aitana Lozano (Lyndhurst) Maj-Dec Izzy Timonera (Nutley), 14-4.
Gretchen Quast (Ramsey) Fall Madison Rider (Morris Hills), 1:03.
Theresa Zeppetelli (Ridgefield Park/ Bogota) Fall Ava Novello (Mahwah), 0:51.
Sophia Lentine-turner (DePaul Catholic) Fall Sophia Salazar (Morris Hills), 1:34.
Isabella Santos (Elizabeth) Fall Maria Jose martinez (Clifton), 4:09.
Olivia Mccormick (Lakeland) F Kailee Montanaro (Southern Regional), 0:26
Paige Weiss (Sparta) Fall Gianna Hernandez (Lakeland), 4:28.
Olivia Klein (Paramus) For Laila Henson (Immaculate Conception), 0-0.
107 pounds
Blair Rodriguez (Columbia) Fall Kiara Chac (Bound Brook), 1:03.
Annemarie Thompson (Hunterdon Central) Fall Kelly Marquez (Dwight Morrow), 4:45.
Kate Machleder (Old Tappan) Fall Sidney Figueroa (Booton), 3:36.
Paige Kirk (Ramsey) Fall Allyson Palomino (Elizabeth), 0:36.
Masin Maugeri (Southern Regional) Fall Tavi Unnithan (Leonia/PP), 3:00.
Brianly Baez (Newark Collegiate Academy) Fall Daniela Hidalgo (Morris Hills), 0:47.
Gianna Simeone (Newton) Fall Ashley Hammerele (Lakeland), 1:17.
114 pounds
Reese Rotonde (Ramsey) Fall Kyara Olivera (Morris Hills), 3:15.
Jazzi Lopez (West Orange) Fall Alison Benitez (Lodi), 3:53.
Kameko Sibblies (Newton) Fall Jeanette Mejia (Elizabeth), 3:49.
Ava Krzykalski (Lyndhurst) Tec-Fall Havana Acevedo (Montclair), 16-1 5:21.
Kristina Gerndt (Newton) For Fiona Gough (Wayne Valley).
Lennix Horsburgh (Bound Brook) Fall Drew Bonnet (Morris Hills), 0:59.
Amanda Connors (Northern Highlands) Fall Chelsie Dedios (Passaic), 0:17.
Mariah Koster (Nutley) Fall Kailey Mount (Becton), 0:46.
120 pounds
Riley Lerner (Cedar Creek) Fall Sabikha Olimjanova (Fort Lee), 1:02.
Carly Poggio (Hunterdon Central) Fall Romina Sanchez (Elizabeth), 1:04.
Grace Riley (Becton) Def Abby Bloxham (Newton), 2-1 1:37.
Miranda Peralta (River Dell) Fall Diana Kowal (Montclair), 0:36.
Carmela Velasco (Immaculate Conception) Dec Emma Eigner (Newton), 9-4.
Isabelle Yukselen (Paramus) No contest Olivia George (Depaul Catholic).
Kyara Montoya (Morris Hills) Fall Victoria Sabatelli (Lakeland), 0:50.
Kaylee Hughen (Booton) Fall Angelina Mejia (Elizabeth), 1:36.
126 pounds
Ava Hosonitz (Morris Hills) Fall Emma Reder (Sparta), 1:04
Amia Martinez (Elizabeth) Fall Sylvia Faragalla (Hunterdon Central), 3:32.
Catherine Weigel (Rutherford) Fall Silvia Gonzalez (North Bergen), 1:56.
Shea Aretz (Buena Regional) Fall Mariana Puzycki (Bayonne), 3:35.
Kylie Wright (Egg Harbor Twp) Fall Amahara Flores (Nutley), 0:12.
Kira Pipkins (Bloomfield) Fall Megan Risteski (Elmwood Park), 0:51.
Stacy Bloomfield (Glen Ridge) Fall Karley Perrini (Southern Regional), 0:42.
Liliana Zaku-Ramos (Newton) Fall Adrien Carter (Columbia), 0:50.
132 pounds
Dalia Tsyrlin (Fair Lawn) Fall Samantha Goworek (Indian Hills), 0:35.
Maura White (Jefferson Twp) Fall Phoebe Abboud (Morris Hills), 1:30.
Eva Barry (Newton) Fall Jaelyn Karwoski (Hasbrouck Heights), 1:25.
Vanessa Feola (Passaic County Tech) Fall Angela Gjini (Ramsey), 4:39.
Julia Fongaro (Booton) Fall Hannia Garcia (Southern Regional), 0:27.
Isabella Bobadilla (Nutley) Fall Madison Quince (Montclair), 1:10.
Pasley Fox (Hunterdon Central) Fall Jennifer Torres (Elmwood Park), 0:42.
Kayla Vazquez (Kinnelon) Fall Leydi Maya (North Bergen), 1:59.
138 pounds
Marvely Fermin (Manchester Regional) Fall Miranda Barahona (Morris Hills), 0:16.
Madelyn Mclaughlin (Bloomfield) Fall Aydibel Mejia (Elizabeth), 0:54.
Jackalyn Campos (Ramsey) Fall Alicia Julmisse (Passaic), 1:50.
Brisa Munoz (Passaic) Forfeit Linda Barrera (Passaic County Tech).
145 pounds
Samantha Henrich (Southern Regional) Dec Valeria Ramirez (Elizabeth), 6-0.
Paige Decaro (Newton) Fall Cristina Pariona (West Orange), 0:45.
Mackenzie Finn (Bayonne) Fall Sofia Hernandez (Elmwood Park), 1:19
Olivia George (Depaul Catholic) Fall Yohail Taapia (Morris Hills), 0:40.
Kaylyn Juarez (Passaic County Tech) Dec Chloe Windsor (Holy Cross), 4-3.
Amaya Legra (Morris Hills) Fall Hillary Toro medina (Ridgefield Park), 3:23.
Samira Kupa (Booton) Fall Celine Lantigua (Passaic), 0:09.
Ayesha Payne-parris (Newton) Fall Serena Wood (Fort Lee), 1:09.
152 pounds
Jocelyn Fredricks (Booton) Fall Marian Ibrahim (Bayonne), 4:48.
Jayleen Barrett (Elizabeth) Fall Katelyn Sperry (Passaic County Tech), 1:08.
165 pounds
Michaela Callum (Southern Regional) Fall Luna Bayless (Morris Hills), 3:45.
Bakaima Kanabia (Bayonne) Fall Mariangel Henriquez (Passaic), 2:52.
Madelyn Schaper (Passaic County Tech) Fall Khristine Torres (Lodi), 2:40.
185 pounds
Victoria Pereira (West Orange) Dec Leslet Rodriguez (Passaic County Tech), 7-4.
235 pounds
Christine Pierre-louis (Union) Fall Zamiya Wright (Newark Collegiate Academy), 2:43.
Evelyn Rivera (Passaic County Tech) Fall Aubrianna Mckinnis (Manchester Regional), 1:14.
Kelly Herrera (Passaic County Tech) Fall Vivian Almiron (Passaic), 1:35.
Ashanti William (Newark Collegiate Academy) Dec Talisha Lewis (Bayonne), 1-0.
Julissa Gil (Passaic) Fall Ronicha Morvan (Elizabeth), 0:10.
Jade Cruz torres (Passaic) Fall Gabriella Guridy (Morris Hills), 0:55.
Alissa Alcindor (Union) Fall Tracy Najarro (Manchester Regional), 2:36.
Opening round
100 pounds
Laila Henson (Immaculate Conception) Dec Nyronda Crandol (Manchester Regional), 8-7.
Gianna Hernandez (Lakeland) Fall Isabella Santanocito (Ramsey), 4:49.
Sophia Salazar (Morris Hills) Fall Naomi Nachmias (Fair Lawn), 3:13.
Maria Jose Martinez (Clifton) Fall Aracelis Soto (Newark Collegiate Academy), 1:00.
Kailee Montanaro (Southern Regional) Dec Gianna Cedeno (Manchester Regional), 7-1.
Ava Novello (Mahwah) Fall Sofia Antinora (Southern Regional), 3:23.
107
No matches
114 pounds
Chelsie Dedios (Passaic) Fall Alexa Sholtz (Jefferson Twp), 0:25.
Kristina Gerndt (Newton) Fall Roselyn Zometa (Dwight Morrow), 0:32.
Havana Acevedo (Montclair) Fall Kylie Gianotto (Bound Brook), 1:36.
Drew Bonnet (Morris Hills) Fall Bella Tsang (Leonia/PP), 4:20.
Kailey Mount (Becton) Dec Kayla Janis (Lodi), 8-3.
120 pounds
Sabikha Olimjanova (Fort Lee) Dec Sahasra Shyam (New Milford), 6-2.
Victoria Sabatelli (Lakeland) Fall Karlee Reid (Newton), 1:18.
Angelina Mejia (Elizabeth) Fall Syndey Ward (Southern Regional), 2:37.
126 pounds
Megan Risteski (Elmwood Park) Fall Kate Bello (Passaic County Tech), 3:06.
Karley Perrini (Southern Regional) Fall Cindy Huezo (Elizabeth), 0:34.
Adrien Carter (Columbia) Fall Kimberly Leal (Passaic), 1:09.
132 pounds
Hannia Garcia (Southern Regional) Fall Emily O'Day (Booton), 1:08.
Madison Quince (Montclair) Fall Paige Berger (Ramsey), 2:19.
Jennifer Torres (Elmwood Park) Fall Gabriela Mulet (North Bergen), 0:39.
Leydi Maya (North Bergen) Fall Nilcoline Jelici (Passaic County Tech), 5:13.
138 pounds
No matches
145 pounds
Celine Lantigua (Passaic) F Natiya Carson (Newark Collegiate Academy), 1:47
Serena Wood (Fort Lee) Fall Clara Rodriguez (Columbia), 2:56.
Sofia Hernandez (Elmwood Park) Fall Ashna Patel (Hunterdon Central), 1:22.
152 pounds
No matches
165 pounds
No matches
185 pounds
No matches
235 pounds
No matches
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Top performances, results from the BCWCA girls wrestling tournament
