Michael Holcombe

Princeton

Sports Writer at The Trentonian

Featured in: Favicon

trentonian.com Favicon

msn.com

nj.com

lehighvalleylive.com Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

ourcommunitynow.com

Articles

CVC Wrestler of the Year and other postseason honors, 2025

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

It was a year of firsts in the Colonial Valley Conference this year. Blase Mele became the first state champion in the 60 year history of the Princeton High School program, while the CVC held its first annual conference tournament after the dissolution of the Mercer County Tournament Committee at the end of the last school year. Trenton won the girls team title in the CVC Tournament, as it had in 2024’s first ever Girls MCT Tournament.
Ramsey’s Anthony Petrock is the Girls Wrestling Coach of the Year, 2025

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

Anthony Petrock has been the coach of the Ramsey boys wrestling program for 16 years. But his association with the girls program has been significantly shorter. The team has been able to conduct duals for just three seasons and the program didn’t have its first girl wrestler until the 2021-22 season, when one of the team’s stat keepers, Reeve Faluova, expressed an interest in competing for her senior year.
No. 1 Jackson Memorial is the Girls Wrestling Team of the Year, 2025

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

After finally showing some vulnerability last season, Jackson Memorial went back to its unbeatable ways this year, winning absolutely everything in sight, placing five individual wrestlers at the state tournament, capturing the first NJ Girls Duals championship and finishing the season ranked No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 10. That is why Jackson Memorial is the NJ.com Girls Wrestling Team of the Year for 2024-25.
Ella Poalillo of High Point is the Girls Wrestler of the Year, 2025

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

This year, girls wrestling participation spiraled once again, as 1,033 wrestlers were entered in the four region tournaments. But of all of them, not one approached the kind of season that High Point’s Ella Poalillo had. The 152 pound sophomore moved up two weight classes this season, yet still won back to back state titles.
Thrive Charter advances to Group I final with crushing semi win over Woodbury

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

THERE WILL BE ADDITIONS TO THIS STORY LATER THIS EVENINGThrive Charter went on a 21-0 run through the second quarter and never looked back, defeating Woodbury 77-24 in the NJSIAA Group I state semifinal at Monroe Tuesday night. Thrive Charter will now play in the final at Rutgers on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Newark Tech, a 60-47 winner over Paterson Charter.
NJSIAA wrestling final, 144: Mele wins Princeton’s first ever state title

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

When Princeton’s Blase Mele defeated Pope John’s Donny Almeyda 7-1 in the final of the NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 State Wrestling Championships Saturday in Atlantic City, he did more than simply become the first state champion in the history of Princeton High School. To be sure, no other Princeton wrestler in the program’s 60 year history has stood at the top of the podium as Mele did on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall.
NJSIAA girls wrestling final, 107: Conte repeats as state champ with finals tech fall

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

Since the day she arrived on the scene as a freshman in the 2023-24 season, Hanover Park’s Gabriella Conte has proven to be an unstoppable force against New Jersey opponents.
NJSIAA girls wrestling final, 165: JFK Paterson’s Paul makes school history

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

For JFK Paterson’s Solaris Paul, it has been a long, hard season. She has waged some epic battles against some of the best wrestlers in the state, all while fighting off injury and illness. But on Saturday, on the floor of Boardwalk Hall, Paul made it all worthwhile as she defeated Newton’s Paige DeCaro 7-1 to become the state champion at 165 pounds in the NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 Girls Wrestling Championships. Paul is tough on her feet, employing a very physical style.
NJSIAA wrestling semifinal recap, 165: Perentin, Falcone score narrow wins to advance

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

In what may have been the most competitive semifinals of any weight class on Friday night, Delbarton’s Alessio Perentin and Christian Brothers Academy’s AJ Falcone advanced to the finals of the 165 pound class at the NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 Wrestling Championship in Atlantic City.
NJSIAA wrestling semifinal recap, 113: Esposito to take on Sontz in final

1 month ago | nj.com | Michael Holcombe

Since both had reached yesterday’s semifinals in Boardwalk Hall, there was a chance that Delbarton’s Cameron Sontz and Southern’s Anthony Mason might be staging a rematch of last year’s 106 pound final this Saturday at the NJSIAA/IBEW Local 102 State Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City. But it turns out that the top seeded Sontz is going to have a different opponent, because 2-seed Charles Esposito defeated Mason 2-1 in their semifinal Friday night.