High School

Trumbull defends State Open title, Morris wins fourth Open crown

by
Gerry deSimas, Jr. , Connecticut Wrestling Online
February 28, 2026

Norwalk’s Jeily Euceda shows her love for the fans after winning her second State Open championship Saturday in New Haven. (Photo courtesy CIAC)

NEW HAVEN, February 28, 2026 – A year ago, the Trumbull High wrestling team won the first CIAC state championship in girls wrestling with a team of 16 girls.

Twelve months later, the Eagles defended their State Open championship with a team of 25 girls and two individual champions. With a tournament-record 132 points, Trumbull beat New Milford (107), Maloney (100) and Stratford (99 ½), who had two individual champions.

Trumbull senior Jillian Blake won her first title at 120 pounds while senior Marangelie Teixeira won her third championship in four years with a win over rival Kaydence Atkinson of New Britain.

Platt’s Kayli Morris (185) became the first girl and just the fourth wrestler in state history to win four State Open championships while South Windsor’s Sophia Gordon (100), Branford’s Ava Gamberdella (114) and Norwalk’s Jeily Euceda (235) each won their second Open championships.

The tournament expanded to 13 weight classes this year, up from 12 a year ago. The top three finishers in each weigh class advanced to the New England tournament.

“This tournament was more a team effort,” Trumbull assistant coach Joe Vano said. “We moved some girls around to get those big points that everyone needs. So, we wrestled really well all weekend, especially in the wrestlebacks. That is what we tell the girls and the boys, you win championships in the wrestlebacks.”

Eight of the 10 Trumbull wrestlers won at least one match. Evellyn Neiva (114) won three and Delia Fruin (145) won two with a pair of pins. Emma Rial (126) went 4-1 to finish third with four pins while Isabella Bianco (185) went 4-2.

Blake (24-0) had a dominant tournament with three pins and a 17-1 technical fall over Fairfield Warde’s Monica Flores Romero (20-2) in the championship bout. She gave up just one point in four matches and was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.

“I focused on every single match individually,” Blake said. “I didn’t skip ahead. I did it one match at a time and I had a back of a fun year.

“I put no pressure on myself and that is my biggest advice to everyone. Do not put pressure on yourself. Just have fun,” she said.

Trumbull’s Jillian Blake controls Fairfield Warde’s Monica Flores Romero in Saturday’s State Open final at 120 pounds. Blake won and named outstanding wrestler. (Photo courtesy CIAC)

That’s not to say that Blake didn’t have goals. After she finished fourth at last year’s New England championship, she focused on preparing to win a state championship this season.

Teixeira (21-1) won State Open titles in 2023 and 2024 before Atkinson beat her in double OT in last year’s tournament and then at the New England championships a week later.

On Saturday, Atkinson (16-3) had a 1-0 lead after two periods before Teixeira got a reversal and caught Atkinson for a pin in 5:14 and her third Open title.

Trumbull won their third tournament of the season. They also captured the Skip Ardan tournament in Manchester and the Queen’s Gambit tournament at Jonathan Law.

“I love my team,” Blake said. “We have a bunch of hard-working girls up and down the lineup. At practice, we go after each other to get better. And some of our girls wrestle the guys to get stronger. I’m so grateful for our team.”

Morris (23-0) had little trouble in winning her fourth State Open title with a pin of Bristol Central’s Shyann Bryan in 1:25. She had two pins and a technical fall.

“Kayli has been unstoppable,” Platt head coach West Johnson said. “She is scoring when she wants and however she wants to score.”

She is looking forward to the upcoming New England tournament in Providence where she hopes to win a third New England championship.

“This is a stepping stone for her goals down the line,” Johnson said. “We’re focused on another New England title and improving her placing at Virginia Beach (National High School Coaches Association national championship) in another month.”

The last wrestler to win four State Open titles was Danbury’s Ryan Jack from 2017-20. Somers’ Brendan Harris (1995-98) and T.J. Marcaurela of NFA and Ledyard in 1989-92 also won four consecutive titles.

Bunnell’s Matilda Tote, left, battles with Shelton’s Ella Piccirillo in Saturday’s State Open final at 152 pounds. Tote (15-0) won with a pin in 5:01. (Photo courtesy CIAC)

A week after earning a sixth place medal in the Class LL boys tournament, South Windsor’s Sophia Gordon (100) won her second State Open title with a pin of Westhill’s Isha Khanna in 1:52. Gordon (16-0 against the girls) had four pins and didn’t give up a point in the tournament.

Gamberdella (17-2) won her second consecutive Open title with a 6-0 win over two-time defending champion Selena Batres (18-1) of Jonathan Law. Leading 2-0, Gamberdella got a four-point near fall in the final seconds to secure the win.

Euceda (8-1) pinned Maloney’s Arianna Bellamy in 4:34 to win her second straight Open championship. Euceda finished with three pins in the tournament.

RHAM junior Brooke Heffernan (18-2) beat New Milford’s Clara Reynolds, 9-2 to win a title at 107 pounds. Reynolds is now 21-2. At 126 pounds, Ellis Tech junior Adelina Tate (18-1) beat Fairfield Ludlowe’s Ashlynn Cummings with a pin in 1:51 to win a state title in her first year on the mat.

Amity junior Eliana Selerais (132) pinned Hand’s Evelyn Lavigne (13-3) in 1:41 to win a championship and improve to 23-5 on the season.

Undefeated senior Winner Tshibombi (138) improved to 21-0 with her 21-8 victory over Greenwich junior Gaby Aliaga in the final.

Stratford junior Gabriella Kiely (17-1) pinned New Milford’s Josephina Piel (28-3) in 1:17 to win the championship at 145 pounds. At 152 pounds, Bunnell senior Matilda Tote remained undefeated (11-0) by pinning Shelton sophomore Ella Piccirillo in 5:01 in the title match.