On January 23rd, the Rancocas Valley girls wrestling team took the mat in a competitive tri-meet against Collingswood and Riverside – delivering an energetic and hard-fought performance that highlighted the team’s depth and determination!
For readers unfamiliar with wrestling, the meet followed a traditional tri-meet format, featuring the three schools competing back-to-back in a series of matches organized from the lightest to the heaviest weight classes. Each match lasts six minutes, divided into three two-minute periods. Wrestlers can earn points for their school through takedowns, escapes, and reversals, while a pin –holding an opponent’s shoulders to the mat for at least two seconds – results in an immediate victory worth six team points. If a school does not have a wrestler for a certain weight class, the opposing team is awarded a forfeit win.
Rancocas Valley first faced Collingswood in a closely contested matchup that remained competitive from start to finish. Despite early complications in the first two matches – including forfeits due to missing wrestlers– RV kept pace with multiple significant wins. Pins from Ava Sweet, Abbigale Dudley, and Jeveah Turner proved critical for the team, while Joslyn Hancock added a key forfeit victory. More matches with Olivia Berberabe, Annlimary Montalvo, Ava Crain, Tierney Butler, Hailey Price, and Cailyn Gardner reflected the girls’ thrilling determination against harsh competition, ultimately ending with points for RV due to disqualifications against their Collingswood opponents. Rancocas Valley walked away with a victory of 10-2, an impressive feat that reflected both preparation and skill in the team.
The final portion of the tri-meet featured RVRHS against Riverside, where RV demonstrated a dominant fight. The RV Devils dominated the mat, earning several pin victories and benefitting from multiple forfeits across multiple weight classes. Wrestlers such as Nina Deery, Hailey Price, Jordan Royce, Annlimary Montalvo, and Ava Sweet each contributed crucial standout performances by winning with a pin against their opponents, while additional victories came from Abbigale Dudley, Jeveah Turner, Joslyn Hancock, and Olivia Berberabe due to Riverside forfeits. Reflecting on the team’s hard work, varsity freshman Nina Deery said,
The matches ultimately ended in a whopping 9-2 win for Rancocas Valley Regional High School, showcasing the team’s ability to finish strong!
Overall, the tri-meet served as an impressive showing for Rancocas Valley girls’ wrestling. With multiple pins, full-team contributions, and a winning record against tough opponents, the devils left the mat with momentum, confidence, and a clear message that their presence in the sport continues to grow.
Special thanks to wrestling manager Madelynn Logan for her assistance in compiling wrestler names and match statistics, and to my ‘partner in crime’ Isaiah Bull, who attended the meet with me, helped with data organization, and captured photos used in this article.
