There was once a time when the idea of starting a girls’ wrestling team was out of the question at Bernards High School. There simply was not enough interest to field a team. However, as this year’s winter season begins, what seemed impossible is becoming reality as Bernards debuts its first-ever girls’ wrestling team. Although the team consists of just four athletes, this year’s introduction of the team hopes to be a crucial step in setting the foundation for a successful girls’ wrestling program in the future.
The decision to introduce girls’ wrestling is a result of happenings at both the state and school levels. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) recognized girls’ wrestling as an interscholastic sport years ago, which influenced its growth across the state. Still, the development of a girls’ wrestling program at Bernards did not truly begin to take off until two years ago, when current junior Gabrielle Ruedy joined the program as a freshman and became the sole girl wrestler on the team.
Ruedy was the only girl on the team at the time. Still, her presence and passion for wrestling showed that there was interest in girls’ wrestling at the high school. BHS’s athletic director, Mr. Hoppe, talks about Ruedy’s influence on the team, “Gabi’s sort of paving the way. She’s really good, she’s a competitor, and she’s making us do everything right.”
Ruedy has been wrestling for the past two seasons, practicing with and competing against boys. However, entering the 2025-26 season, the NJSIAA changed its rules regarding girls’ wrestling, now prohibiting girls from competing against boys in all tournaments. It was this new rule, preventing girls like Ruedy from wrestling boys in competition, that served as the final push for Bernards to try to introduce a girls’ team.
Mr. Hoppe explained that forming an official girls’ wrestling team ultimately came down to testing interest. “We just decided to open up, see how many girls would actually come out for wrestling. We went from one to four, and as more girls understand the rules and understand that [the program] is for them, I think it’s going to be a slow process, but we’ll get there.”
Although the team is small, its creation represents a larger step in fostering a prosperous girls’ wrestling program. Immediate growth of a program like this does not happen overnight, but simply having the team as an option to athletes lays the groundwork for future participation.
Coach Nadolny shares his hopes for the program’s future: “In recent years, girls’ wrestling has come a long way in terms of numbers and participation, both in New Jersey and around the country. Hopefully, this year’s team will encourage even more people to wrestle next year.”
The program’s long-term goal is to establish a wrestling culture for girls at Bernards, but it begins by focusing on the essential short-term goal of its first season: build the program. This year, the team aims to build fundamental skills, deepen athletes’ understanding, and support each wrestler in achieving their individual goals while enjoying the process and fostering a positive environment. Creating a successful program takes time, and this inaugural season is meant to set the foundation for growth by building a committed, motivated, and radiant team that will not only show girls that wrestling is an option but also excite them at the possibility of becoming part of it.
Sam Scarinzi ‘27, an athlete on the team, shares her excitement about the season starting: “I’m most excited about my upcoming matches and spending more time with my team.”
The team is set to compete in its first competition on December 13th at North Hunterdon. With this debut, the team will do more than compete to win, but pave the way for a strong future girls’ wrestling program by laying the foundation for a future filled with possibilities with every step onto the mat.
