Valley Central girls make Eastern States wrestling debut

By Kyle Adams
Posted 1/22/25

The Valley Central girls’ wrestling team is looking to make the most out of its inaugural season, and over a recent weekend, that included a trip to Clifton Park for the Eastern States Classic …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Valley Central girls make Eastern States wrestling debut

Posted


The Valley Central girls’ wrestling team is looking to make the most out of its inaugural season, and over a recent weekend, that included a trip to Clifton Park for the Eastern States Classic on Jan. 11.

The Vikings sent a trio of their most experienced wrestlers to the highly-competitive event at the Impact Athletic Center, consisting of 107-pounder Olivia Schmidt, 138-pounder Rilee Kinsley and 152-pounder Arica Pearson-Leary.

“We’ve definitely been training for this for a while. We all put in a lot of hard work to come here,” Kinsley said of the trip to the Eastern States Classic. “From the beginning of the year we’ve been talking about this.”
Kinsley and Pearson-Leary were both able to secure spots on the podium, earning fourth place finishes in their respective weight classes.

“I got fourth today, our first time ever here,” said Kinsley, acknowledging that there were some jitters before her first match. “There were a lot of nerves, I was a little scared, but I was able to get through.”

Kinsley dropped her first match 10-0 to Bellmore JFK’s Gabriella Schechtman, before collecting a pair of victories in the consolation bracket – one via a pin and the other due to an injury forfeit.

In the third place contest, once again facing Schechtman, Kinsley was able to secure a series of takedowns in the rematch, but was eventually pinned late in the first period.

“It was a big goal, especially since I’ve never been here before,” Kinsley said of getting on the podium. “It helped me a lot, getting to come here. It really boosted my confidence and I think it’ll prepare me for sections, and hopefully states.”

Arica Pearson-Leary also picked up a fourth place finish in the 152-pound bracket. In her first match, she secured a 15-4 victory, but fell in the semifinals.

In the consolation round, Pearson-Leary won a 6-2 decision, but was pinned in the third place match.
While Kinsley and Pearson-Leary both went 2-2 overall, Schmidt was 0-2 at the event.

The Vikings were scheduled to hit the road again this week spending Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Binghamton area at a tournament at Windsor High School.

The trips around the state are something that Kinsley certainly enjoys.

“We’re all very close and it’s like a sisterhood,” she said. “We’re really tight, and have been wrestling together for a long time.”