Girl power: Norwich sixth-grader captures New England wrestling title. Next up? Nationals
NORWICH ― A Kelly Middle School sixth-grader is making waves athletically as Norwich Youth Football U10’s most outstanding defensive lineman and a fourth-place finisher in the boys state wrestling tournament.
As impressive a double-feat this is, consider the two-sport standout is a girl: Zsofia Quiles.
Quiles often finishes first – she used the boys wrestling tourney experience to prep for her second straight New England girls wrestling title at 101 pounds for U12 last month.
"I love contact," Quiles said. "I love to tackle people in football and love to try to beat up my older brother – a seventh-grader who has 50 pounds on me."
Legendary coach
T.J. MarcAurele, a wrestler who knows a thing or five about championships after his legendary local high school and world championship amateur career, watched Quiles wrestle as a 5-year-old for the Windham-based Silverbacks club. He later became her coach.
"I could tell she had raw athletic ability and desire," said MarcAurele, who won four State Open championships, two each at NFA and Ledyard, a generation ago. “Nobody can score on her defense. If someone shoots on her, she can sprawl and has enough strength to gain the upper hand. Her potential is through the roof."
MarcAurele, who trains Quiles three days a week at the family-owned MarcAurele Wrestling gym in Niantic, believes a future college scholarship "is a certainty." He doesn't rule out a possible Olympics berth if she develops on the path that she's shown during her first seven years of wrestling.
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Fast-growing sport
The CIAC offers a state girls wrestling championship, while individuals wrestle against boys during the regular season.
At the collegiate level, women’s wrestling is designated as an “emerging” sport and is on track to become a championship-level sport in 2026, the NCAA said.
Quiles loves playing linebacker in football but figures she will focus on wrestling as she enters high school. The family lives only a couple of blocks away from NFA where she hopes to earn championship medals in a few years.
What's ahead
Quiles won her second straight Girls New England Wrestling Championship and was named the most dominant wrestler among 12 weight classes two weeks ago.
Last week, she won her division at the King of the Mat Nationals in Hampton (N.H.). She went 4-0 with pins in the semifinals and finals.
Last year, Quiles finished third in the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Association National Tournament tourney. The nationals this year will take place on May 4 in Maryland.
"Winning the nationals is what I have my eyes on now," Quiles said. "I feel wrestling in the states against boys and wrestling against my older brother prepares me well. I also have a great coach who makes me what I am today."
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MarcAurele doesn't doubt Quiles can be No. 1 in the country.
"If Zsofia wants X, Y, Z, she has the mindset to get the job done," MarcAurele said. "I'd put her against anyone in the country."
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich's Zsofia Quiles wins Girls New England Wrestling Tournament
