By Ashley Pavlakis
Wrestling is a unique sport in that two people use different techniques to pin each other to the mat. The sport is largely popular among males, but it’s growing in the female sports world recently. The Rocky Point Eagles girls wrestling team is making a name for itself on Long Island.
The Eagles are members of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and compete in League I. The school is one of five in Suffolk County to offer wrestling as part of their athletic offerings. The squad finished the regular season with a 5-3 record.
The squad is coached by second year head coach Anthony DeVito, who is joined by assistant coach C.J. Archer. In January, the Eagles competed at the 2025 New York State Girls Duals Journeymen in Albany. The road trip back to Long Island was a happy one as they returned with the title in hand.
“It means everything. The girls having the opportunity to compete and wrestle against other girls is great to see. The sport of girls wrestling has been going in this direction for a while now, and it is fun to watch Rocky Point compete in the first sanctioned season of girls wrestling. I am grateful to be in this position and to be able to coach a sport that is considered to be one of the fastest growing sports in the country,” said DeVito.
The Eagles entered the tournament where they competed in three matches. They took on the Phoenix and won 39-25, moved on to Minisink Valley and trounced them 45-17, and went on to finish their run with a 38-18 win over Shenendehowa to claim the championship.
“It was an amazing experience to be involved in this event and wrestle alongside some of the top teams in New York State. The girls realizing that they can compete at a high-level was something to definitely take away from this,” said DeVito. “The main concept for them to take from that weekend is the understanding that they can compete with anyone, just put your best foot forward and focus on the controllables. This has definitely helped our mindset as well. Wrestling is a mental game with highs and lows, and this is something that we have used to help us prepare for the post-season and to reach individual goals.”
Before the season, four Eagles were named to Newsday’s Top-Thirty female wrestlers list. Junior Angelica Smiech, freshman Julianna Hernandez, sophomore Madison Hernandez, and senior Ava Capogna. While it’s a nice accolade to receive, the girls more than proved themselves with their hard work on the mat.
Most notably, Capogna, who has been wrestling since she was a young girl, has been competing at the varsity level since she was in seventh grade. The varsity captain has won at least thirty-eight bouts in her high school wrestling career. In November, she announced her verbal commitment to East Stroudsburg University where she will further her athletic and academic careers at the next level.
Freestyle wrestling was implemented for the 2024-25 season in New York State by the NYSPHSAA in their executive committee meeting in October 2023. This style of wrestling is also used at the women’s collegiate level. In addition to the transition from folkstyle to freestyle, the board also permitted a girls’ wrestling state championship to take place this month for the first time.
“One word to describe them is ‘Selfless’. They are willing to do whatever it takes for the cause of the team, and they are constantly there for each other. The way they have come together and work together as a unit is bigger than just the wrestling itself. We wrestle to make memories and create friendships that can last a lifetime. I believe the reason we have found success on the mat is because of how close this team is and how they support one another,” DeVito told The Messenger.
