CLIFTON PARK — Local wrestling fans packed the Impact Athletic Center on Saturday, January 11, to witness the 21st Eastern States Classic, where top competitors from multiple states converged to battle for titles. Among them was Shenendehowa’s own Ava Guilmette, a freshman phenomenon with extensive international experience and multiple All-American honors under her belt even before starting high school.
Seeded No. 1 at 145 pounds, Guilmette took a methodical approach to the competition, dominating each match en route to the finals. In the title bout, she faced off against Shaker’s Kiara Richard, the No. 3 seed, and finished the match with a pin just 1:16 into the first period—securing the only championship win by any Section II wrestler at the tournament.
“I am a little banged up, but you have to fight through those situations,” said Guilmette, who’s dealt with an AC joint separation, rib cartilage issues, and even a fresh scratch on her face. Despite these setbacks, she described the feeling of victory in one word: “amazing.”
Guilmette is a decorated competitor with six national titles and an international crown at the Pan Am Games. She missed some matches earlier this season due to injury but has now notched back-to-back tournament wins, cementing her status as a rising star in girls’ wrestling. Last year, she finished second at 138 pounds in the 2024 Girls’ State Invitational. Looking ahead to the first-ever full girls’ state tournament at MVP Arena on February 27, Guilmette said, “Girls’ wrestling is not the biggest sport, but tournaments like these show why you wrestle.”
Other Local Highlights
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake/Ballston Spa’s Mia Collins (132 pounds) made it to the finals but fell to Blair Academy’s Corynne McNulty. “I wish I had been a bit more offensive,” Collins said. She’s confident that competing against elite-level opponents will sharpen her skills for the rest of the season.
Shaker’s Emily Dudar (185 pounds) also reached a title match before eventually dropping her contest.
Boys’ Results
No Section II boys advanced to a championship match. Top finishers included Colonie’s Vincent Mastrianni (124 pounds) and Cobleskill-Richmondville’s Ashten Haley (138 pounds), each claiming fourth place. In the battle for fifth at 138, Hudson Falls’ Justin Mullis edged Saratoga Springs’ Taylor Beaury 5-3. Additional sixth-place finishes went to Ichabod Crane’s Peter Filli (108 pounds), Beaury (138), and Shenendehowa’s Greg Green (138).
