Girls wrestling: Bethpage's Gabrielle Severin, Hicksville's Haley Gonzales secure state titles
From left: Haley Gonzales of Hicksville and Bethpage's Gabrielle Severin win state title at the girls wrestling championships in Albany on Thursday, Feb. 26. Credit: Thomas A. Ferrara
ALBANY — On two occasions, Bethpage’s Gabrielle Severin has been close to reaching the pinnacle. She sought a third chance at becoming a state champion, but that was in serious doubt late in the second period of the final at the girls state wrestling championships Thursday.
“I’ve taken second in this tournament the last two years, and I wasn’t going to let that happen again,” Severin said. “Time was running out and I knew I needed a takedown. I saw the opportunity and just took it.”
Severin scored three points in the final 10 seconds to earn a 6-4 decision over Monroe-Woodbury’s Gail Sullivan at 120 pounds at MVP Arena.
“More than anything, losing the past two years really crushed me,” Severin said. “To come out here and do it against the best girl I’ve wrestled in the finals felt amazing. All the hard work finally paid off.”
Severin trailed 4-3 midway through the second period. The senior appeared to score a point to tie it with 24 seconds, but the call was reversed.
“The biggest thing for me was to not go out there and immediately try to go crazy,” Severin said. “I knew it was going to be a tough six-minute match and I was going to give up points. I just let the match go as it did and it finished in my favor.”
Severin, still trailing, was on the attack and managed to score with seconds remaining before leaping into her father’s arms in celebration.
“That kid has worked so hard for so many years to put herself in this position,” said Gabrielle’s father, Bethpage coach Sean Severin. “She came so close the last two years and she had to beat one of the best girls in the country to earn this.”
Severin was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. She earned shutout victories in each of the first three rounds before the final.
“I told her she had to be ready to wrestle six tough minutes against a girl of that caliber,” Sean Severin said. “I know Gabrielle is in very good shape conditioning-wise, and she’s worked to be that way. The longer the match went on, the more confident I got that she would win it.”
Hicksville’s Haley Gonzales became a two-time state champion after defeating Groton’s Carmen Bishop by technical fall, 10-0, in the 132-pound final.
“When I started wrestling, I was a nobody. I wasn’t even going to wrestle,” Gonzales said. “But I wrestled and it changed my life. I’m so happy to have won this year and be champion alongside my first partner, Gabby Severin.”
The senior won by tech fall in her opening-round bout against Averill Park’s Isabel Moore and her quarterfinal matchup against Niagara Wheatfield’s Alexa Doxey.
“I just leave it all on the mat because I don’t want to regret not trying my hardest,” Gonzales said. “In a match like the finals, whoever wants it more is going to win. I wanted it bad.”
Gonzales’ toughest bout came in the semifinal against Bellport’s Caitlin Maragioglio. Gonzales led 2-1 before scoring two points in the closing seconds to earn a 4-1 decision.
“I wrestled her before and that time I won 10-0,” Gonzales said. “Obviously, you know when you wrestle someone again, they’re going to know what you’re trying to do. I had to change my game plan, but my mentality was the same.”
Calhoun senior Reese Adams earned a spot in the 126-pound final, losing by pin in 5:44 to Sara Pauls of Minisink Valley. The senior won by tech fall in the semifinal against Glens Falls’ Gabriella Frankian, punctuating an impressive return season after suffering a torn ACL last year.
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
