Last season, Johnae Drumright was one of the the last girls to come out for wrestling at Trenton High. Yet, with a mere 10 weeks of experience, Drumright was athletic enough to take a fifth at the first NJSIAA Girls State Championships in Atlantic City.
Now a junior, with an off-season full of training and wrestling, the expectation level has increased significantly for Drumright.
Saturday, showing a varied and relentless attack, Drumright had two, first-period pins and an 11-1 major decision on her way to the 107-pound Buc Girls Classic title at Red Bank Regional in Little Silver.
A total of 170 girls participated in the tournament, wrestling 270 bouts.
In her title-bout victory over second-seeded Julia Manolas of Manalapan, Drumright showed her ability to score with low single-leg shots and big-reward, upper body throws.
Drumright pinned Manolas in the state tournament last March.
Though no team title was awarded in the girls tournament, Trenton would have placed fifth as a team.
Jackson Memorial, which did not have an individual champion, was the unofficial girls team champion with 134 points. Kingsway (126) was second, West Orange (112) third and Warren Hills (101) fourth.
A pair of defending state champions -- Manalapan’s Jessi Johnson (151) and Jewel Gonzalez (161) of Phillipsburg won individual titles. Both Johnson and Gonzalez pinned their ways to their respective championships.
“I’m very thankful for the way this season has started,” said the soft-spoken Drumright. “Last year, placing in the state tournament, was not something I was really going for when I started. But after going year-around, I feel like I have a better chance of placing higher.”
Drumright went on the offensive from the opening whistle. She scored her first points off a high-single and trip, which sent Manolas to her back for a rapid, 5-0 lead.
“If you set the pace, you have the control,” Drumright explained. “My goal is to score the first points in the match and the last points of each period. When you start with a good pace, you set yourself up for a good finish.”
Drumright had a 7-2 lead when she went up top and hit a textbook hip toss.
“I’m a person who prefers double-legs, but if I can get a hip toss I’m going for it,” Drumright said.
“I’d like her to go with more leg attacks,” said Trenton head coach Rob Pernetti. “I feel like she goes up top too much. It seems like she gets too happy going for those upper body throws.”
Drumright scored a fall in 1:30 in her first bout and then a 16-second pin in the semifinals.
“Because of what she accomplished last year, she got the opportunity to train and Princeton (University) during the off-season. She trained, did some freestyle and has really gotten into the sport.”
While Drumright’s skills were sharp, her patience was also impressive. When Manolas played the edge in the second period, Drumright didn’t force bad shots and give up sloppy points.
She close out the bout with a powerful double-leg takedown.
“We want her to use the double-legs because those throws will only get you so far,” Pernetti said.
Trenton also received a fourth-place finishes from Kanelys Reyes (135), Iwaini Arguedas
(143).
In other girls tournament highlights:
• Jackson Memorial had the most balanced performance of the tournament.
The Jaguars took two seconds, three third and a fourth.
Chloe Lawler (128) and Jordyn Katz (161) both lost in the finals. Avery Meyers (128), Skyelar Smith (135) and Ally Mayer (143) placed third. Gia Tandar (107) was fourth.
• Warren Hills had a good day at the Shore. Warren Hills sent three wrestlers to the finals and won two titles. Delilah Died (100) and Courtney Hoff (121) placed first while Katrina King (114) was second.
• Kingsway also send three wrestlers to the title-round. All three -- Peyton Rieger (135) Kyla Norman (143) and Olivia Heyer (151) -- were second.
• West Orange sent a three to the finals. Daniela Tecauri was a 6-5 winner at 114 and Sandra Guerrero pinned her way to the championship at 215 pounds. Esther Gratia (180) was a runner-up.
• Elmwood Park, New Providence, Kittatinny and Raritan had one winner apiece. Noran Elmahroukey (125) won for New Providence, Natalie Vega (135) for Elmwood Park, Angelina Dawson (143) for Howell, Kierra Hubmaster (180) for Kittatinny and Markaysha Anderson (260) for Raritan.
Joe Zedalis may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephzedalis. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.