20 Area Girls Earn State Wrestling Medals

Giacone and Peake lead the group of medalists from Central Jersey

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:19am

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Twenty female wrestlers from the Central Jersey area earned medals at the state wrestling tournament in Atlantic City. The group was led by standout performances from Samantha Giacone and Jada Peake, who have competed internationally in the offseason to improve their skills.

Why it matters

Girls' wrestling has seen a surge in popularity in New Jersey, with the state tournament expanding to accommodate the growing number of participants. The success of local wrestlers like Giacone and Peake helps inspire more young women to take up the sport.

The details

The 20 medalists from Central Jersey competed against the best wrestlers from across the state, with many having gained valuable experience by wrestling abroad in the offseason. Samantha Giacone and Jada Peake were among the top performers, using their international competition experience to peak at the perfect time and earn state medals.

  • The state wrestling tournament took place in Atlantic City on March 12-14, 2026.

The players

Samantha Giacone

A standout wrestler from Central Jersey who has competed internationally in the offseason to improve her skills.

Jada Peake

Another top wrestler from Central Jersey who has gained experience by wrestling abroad in the offseason.

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The takeaway

The success of local wrestlers like Giacone and Peake demonstrates the growing popularity and competitiveness of girls' wrestling in New Jersey, as more young women are inspired to take up the sport and compete at the highest levels.