POWERFUL DEBUT: Meet the 2021-22 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Girls' Wrestling team

Myer Lee, St. Augustine Record
·3 min read

Female wrestlers across the area finally got their chance to shine this season.

The state sanctioned girls’ wrestling ahead of the 2021-22 season, which allowed girls to win medals and stand on their own podiums for the first time this year.

Not surprisingly, the tri-county area saw plenty of talent on the mat, including two state champions and one runner-up.

The six nominees of the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Girls' Wrestling team are up for Girls' Wrestler of the Year. The winner will be announced at the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns High School Sports Awards this May, which is produced with support from Halifax Health.

During the live show, these nominees will be honored, and the Player of the Year will be selected. All official nominees can receive a free ticket. More details about the program are coming soon.

The Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns High School Sports Awards is part of the USA TODAY Network, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

DOMINANT DOZEN: Meet the 2021-22 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Boys' Soccer team

LOADED FIELD: Meet the 2021-22 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Girls' Soccer team

MAX OUT: Meet the 2021-22 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Girls' Weightlifting team

Matanzas freshman Mariah Mills spent much of her first season at the top of the podium.
Matanzas freshman Mariah Mills spent much of her first season at the top of the podium.

Nominees

Tianna Fries, Matanzas (110 pounds): As a freshman, the Lady Pirate had a huge year that culminated with a state title. She also won regional and district titles. During duals season, Fries helped the team advance to the Sweet 16 with two wins at regionals.

Olivia Richie, Ponte Vedra (140): Prior to the start of IBTs, Richie promised to deliver a state championship and did it. She pinned her opponent to win her first gold medal despite being down in the final match. She also won a district championship and was third at regionals.

Dianna Pineda, Deltona (105): The senior finished 30-4 this season to end her fabulous career at Deltona. She placed fourth at state, won a district title and was a runner-up at regionals.

Brielle Bibla, Tocoi Creek (120): The star junior had an unbelievable year for the upstart Toros, going 22-1. Bibla finished as a state runner-up and won both district and regional titles.

Mariah Mills, Matanzas (105): In her first year of wrestling, the freshman finished 17-4. She placed third at state and regionals, and won a district title. Mills, like Fries, also notched two wins for the Pirates to help them advance to the Sweet 16 during duals season.

Jah’Mya Hill, Mainland (155): The Bucs’ star wrestler ended the year with a fourth-place finish at states, a district and regional title. Hill went 25-6 on the year.

Ponte Vedra's Olivia Richie won Ponte Vedra's first-ever wrestling title.
Ponte Vedra's Olivia Richie won Ponte Vedra's first-ever wrestling title.

Other athletes of note

Erin Rizzuto, Ponte Vedra (115): Rizzuto earned district and regional titles this year and also won bronze at states.

Katherine Stewart, Bartram Trail (145): Stewart helped the Lady Bears make noise this season with district and regional titles and finished seventh at states.

Kendall Bibla, Tocoi Creek (130): Tocoi’s outstanding freshman finished as a district runner-up, took fourth place at regionals and placed fifth at state.

Cheyenne Wigley, Mainland (235): Mainland’s young star finished the year 22-6, was a district champ and regional third-place finisher. She finished seventh at state.

Hannah Matalobos, Bartram Trail (170): Matalobos was a district champ, regional runner-up and finished sixth at state for the Lady Bears.

Claire Holt, Tocoi Creek (170): Holt, a freshman, qualified for states after a fourth-place finish at regionals and a district championship.

Matanzas head coach TJ Gillin and the Lady Pirates won districts, regionals and had a state champion.
Matanzas head coach TJ Gillin and the Lady Pirates won districts, regionals and had a state champion.

Top coach

TJ Gillin, Matanzas: Gillin’s Lady Pirates featured several talented young wrestlers who won a district and regional championship as a team. Gillin had six state qualifiers, two district champions, two regional champions and a state champion.

Five of his six state qualifiers were freshman.

Honorable mention

Matanzas: Saiomy Cabrera, Nahilha Lubin, Christina Borgmann, Isabelle Tietje

University: Katy Roche, Bryanne Kaminsky

Ponte Vedra: Cynthia Kowitski, Natalie Choquegonza,

Mainland: Abby Couillard, Eva Rojas

Tocoi Creek: Saniyah Callahan, Julia Rich

Nease: Olivia Carr

Flagler Palm Coast: Ana Vilar

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: High school wrestling: Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area girls team