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WAYNE, NJ — Saying that Wayne Hills senior Ava Connolly is athletic would be an understatement. She is a three-year varsity softball player (her fourth season coming up this spring), she played basketball for a season as well as flag football last year for the Patriots. But what she’s done this winter season is remarkable. It’s what has earned her the December 2025 Athlete of the Month honors for her school and demonstrates amazing versatility.
Connolly, after not wrestling since elementary school, decided that her senior year of high school would be a good time to get back into the sport. It seems to have been the right decision, because she has excelled.
Among a field of over 460 New Jersey girls in the recent Lady Minuteman Tournament at Elizabeth High School, Connolly placed in the top 10.
“This is one of the largest and most competitive tournaments in the state,” explained Hills wrestling coach Brian Basile. “Despite being seeded 18th, Ava fought her way to a 7th-place finish, proving that rankings don’t define her resolve. Her journey to the top of this prestigious tournament speaks to her skill, heart, and relentless drive.”
As the Wayne Hills Athlete of the Month, Connolly has earned some prizes from generous local businesses. Sunrise Bagels has a $10 gift card for her; Anthony Franco's Pizza is offering a $20 gift card and the Outback Steakhouse has a $25 gift card as a prize for each Hills Athlete of the Month.
In this, her first and only high school wrestling season, Connolly finished December with a 10-5 record, but two of those losses came against experienced, top-ranked wrestlers, where she lost by just one point. Her coach said that this “speaks volumes about her potential and her refusal to back down under pressure.”
“Ava has already made an impressive mark, showcasing both determination and grit in every match,” he added.
Connolly’s natural athleticism is a big factor in her wrestling success, but so is her willingness to sacrifice and her will to improve and, ultimately, win. After all, wrestling relies on conditioning and outlasting an opponent as much as it does the skills needed to pin them to the mat. And conditioning and cutting/maintaining weight are big components of the sport, and this young lady has not shied from it.
“She has embraced the grind of wrestling wholeheartedly,” said Basile. “Ava has shown an incredible ability to learn from her losses and use them as steppingstones to better her technique and strategy. Every practice and every match is a chance for her to learn and improve.”
Her attitude and athleticism were recognized by Washington College, where Connolly recently committed to attend and play softball.
It was also recognized by Wayne Hills Athletic Director Ryan Bayley.
“Ava Connolly is a leader in the classroom and on the mat,” he said. “She leads by example and sets the foundation for the future of Wayne Hills wrestling. She is always pushing herself to new limits and sets the tone in the room. It has been awesome to see her grow this year, and I can’t wait to see how the season continues.”
Her immediate impact in wrestling already has her coach looking ahead to the state tournament which will be held in March 2026.
“Ava is gearing up for what could be a breakout performance, with the potential to make a serious run,” he said. “Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, and she is already a prime example of what it truly takes to be a wrestler. We can’t wait to see what the rest of her high school wrestling career holds."
Each Athlete of the Month automatically qualifies for the TAPinto Wayne - Rocco Sivolella Athlete of the Year Scholarship Awards Dinner that will be held in June.
There, the nominated athletes will be in the running for $8,000 in scholarships that will be given away to culminate the year and the evening.
These scholarship awards will be donated by the , , and TAPinto Wayne. The event is also sponsored by the .
Click Here to learn more about the Athlete of the Year program:
877-318-0529
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