Kisselbach Wins Region 2 Title, Two Pburg Girls Wrestlers Head to States

Phillipsburg sophomore Ellie Kisselbach dominates to claim regional wrestling crown, teammate Gabriella Santos also qualifies for state finals.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Phillipsburg High School sophomore Ellie Kisselbach won the NJSIAA Region 2 wrestling title, going 6-0 with five pins and a major decision. Teammate Gabriella Santos, a junior, also qualified for the state championships in Atlantic City after finishing fourth in the 145-pound weight class.

Why it matters

Kisselbach and Santos' success highlights the growing strength of the girls wrestling program at Phillipsburg High School, which has seen multiple wrestlers advance to the state tournament in recent years. Their performances also showcase the talent and dedication of female wrestlers in New Jersey.

The details

Kisselbach, the top seed at 114 pounds, pinned her first opponent in 59 seconds and won her semifinal match by major decision before pinning the second seed in the final. Santos, seeded third at 145 pounds, reached the semifinals before finishing fourth overall. Three other Phillipsburg wrestlers also competed at the regional tournament.

  • The Region 2 tournament was held over the weekend at Union High School.
  • Kisselbach and Santos will compete in the state championships in Atlantic City next week.

The players

Ellie Kisselbach

A sophomore wrestler at Phillipsburg High School who won the NJSIAA Region 2 title at 114 pounds, going 6-0 with five pins and a major decision. She qualified for the state championships last year as a freshman.

Gabriella Santos

A junior wrestler at Phillipsburg High School who finished fourth in the 145-pound weight class at the Region 2 tournament, qualifying for the state championships.

Brett Hyland

The wrestling coach at Phillipsburg High School, who praised the performances and progress of Kisselbach and Santos.

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What they’re saying

“Ellie is 100 percent healthy. She's in a great place mentally and her confidence is sky high. She's wrestling the best I've ever seen her wrestle. Which is the point. You want to peak at the right time and she's really doing that.”

— Brett Hyland, Phillipsburg High School Wrestling Coach (tapinto.net)

“Like I've said before, Gabby has always been athletic but she's now really putting more technique into her wrestling. She's more confident in her shots which has been a real key to her success the last couple weeks. She is able to get a takedown almost any time she needs it.”

— Brett Hyland, Phillipsburg High School Wrestling Coach (tapinto.net)

What’s next

Kisselbach and Santos will compete in the state championships in Atlantic City next week, where Kisselbach will look to improve on her fourth-place finish from last year.

The takeaway

Phillipsburg High School's girls wrestling program continues to produce top-tier talent, with Kisselbach and Santos leading the way. Their success highlights the growth of the sport and the dedication of these student-athletes.