Girls Make History With Cherry Hill West Wrestling Program

CHERRY HILL, NJ - Three girls have joined the annals of Cherry Hill High School West wrestling this week.The names of Liz Santana, Lia Amante and Skyy Hills are etched on a wall in the team’s wrestling room, according to coach Zach Semar.

They were winners at the Garden State Classic at Barnegat on Saturday, Dec. 15. They are among 11 girls who came out for the team after the announcement was made that girls wrestling is now an official high school sport in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) unanimously approved the creation of a state wrestling tournament for girls in October.

The girls' tournament will consist of eight weight classes, and will be held in Atlantic City the first weekend of March, along with the boys' tournament. It will begin at the regional level, with locations to be determined. There will be a North Jersey Region and a South Jersey Region.

Until now, girls have had to wrestle boys, but the NJSIAA believes more girls will be interested in wrestling if they can compete against other girls. Girls also still have the option to wrestle against boys.

Girls are permitted to compete in dual meets against other all girls teams, but the results of those matches don’t count for the team. Cherry Hill West doesn’t have any girls dual meets currently scheduled, but they could be added if it makes sense, Semar said.

In the meantime, the girls will compete in two more tournaments, including the Hall of Fame tournament and a tournament Cherry Hill West will host later this season.

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