Girls Wrestling: Horsburgh wins fourth region title, Somerset highlights from North 2
UNION TWP. – This is what happens when you win, people notice. That’s just the way it is. Lennix Horsburgh, though, could do without all that fanfare, the spotlight, the target on her singlet.
The extra stuff got to the Bound Brook senior at the beginning of the season.
“This year starting off was really rocky,” she said. “It was hard because there was a lot of pressure behind it. There was a lot of people having expectations for me and it was worrying for me just seeing all these things like, ‘Oh, you’re expected to do this. You’re expected to do that. Watch her.’ And it’s just a little nerve-racking when you’re first feeling it.”
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Horsburgh soon navigated those pressures and she’s been grooving of late. Sunday, the 120-pounder captured the North 2 Region crown for her fourth region title. She’s the state’s second four-time region champ joining Bloomfield’s Kyra Pipkins, the only four-time state champ.
That’s exclusive company.
Horsburgh topped Bloomfield’s Ahlexa Montalvo, 8-0, in a high-level final between state medalists. Horsburgh beat Montalvo, 6-4 SV-1, on opening weekend.
Now, she’s able to embrace the expectations as her high school career wraps up.
“It definitely went from nerve-racking to feeling more like, wow, I’m somebody that somebody watches,” Horsburgh said. “I can be somebody that somebody looks up to.”
She’s not the only one attracting attention.
Somerville’s Valarie Maldonado had a dominant day in winning her second region title (114). The star senior picked up her 95th career pin – an incredible accomplishment – with four first-period falls on the day, including pinning Madison’s Avery Hines in 1:20 in the final.
Maldonado, a returning state finalist at 120, is looking for her fourth state medal in Atlantic City.
North Plainfield’s Naylani Delvalle (185) had two pins and became the Canucks first region champ, boy or girl, since Joe Keane won Region 3 at 171.
Watchung Hills’ freshman Gabriela Giacone had a stunning run in winning at 107. She beat the first and third seeds with four pins in the tournament.
Horsburgh rolls
To think, Horsburgh wasn’t even supposed to wrestle in the North Region as a freshman in the Covid-shortened 2021 season. The eight qualifiers were chosen largely based on previous success. She didn’t have much criteria as a rookie and earned the No. 9 seed.
When the top-seed withdrew, Horsburgh got in and the rest was history.
Back then, nobody knew her. As she kept winning, though, her name became quite familiar. She earned her third state medal last year with a run to the finals at 114.
She said overcoming the early-season pressures “was a little process to deal with” but had the help of her coaches and support of her teammates.
Horsburgh noted a key was keeping everything consistent and her coaches helped her realize she needed to keep things fun and not worry about her matches.
Head coach Manny Kakas, who coached her in middle school, credited assistants Kenny and Nestor Taffur, Ryan Doerr and Rob Murray.
“I’m so appreciative of what she’s given to the program from recreation to high school,” Kakas said. “She gave us so much. … It brings tears to my eyes to see the success that she had today. Makes me happy.”
Most of the Bound Brook boys wrestlers were on hand cheering, which Horsburgh said was a motivation help. Horsburgh (26-6) advanced to the finals with pins in 22 seconds, 1:10 and 1:29.
While she has a big week ahead, has being a four-time region champ sunk in yet?
“I don’t think I've fully taken it in yet, but it’s exciting to know that I’ve done it,” said Horsburgh, sporting a red cut by her left eye. “I think that it’s a very honorable moment for myself just because I almost didn’t make it my freshman year and now I’m here being a four-time region champ.”
So, does winning the fourth title ever get old?
“No, it definitely doesn’t,” she said with a smile. “It definitely still feels the same as it did my freshman year. It still feels, like, amazing.”
Other area qualifiers
The top three finishers in each of the 12 weights qualified for the state tournament on Feb. 29 and March 1 and 2 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Here are the advancers from Somerset, Hunterdon and area Union.
Franklin: Citlaly Condado (152); Hunterdon Central: Carly Poggio; Scotch Plains-Fanwood: Jaliyah Richards Richards (120), Helene Velecela (165); Somerville: Harlee Stracuzzi (100), Emme Hoarle (126)
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Girls Wrestling: Somerset highlights from North 2 Region
