Riverhead’s girls wrestling team makes history in just two seasons

In just two seasons, Riverhead’s girls wrestling program has gone from new to noteworthy, producing county titles, state tournament appearances and a team championship along the way.

What began as a new opportunity in a still-emerging sport has quickly become a source of pride for the district, with county titles, state tournament appearances and a team culture that coaches say is helping pave the way for future female athletes.

This winter, the combined team went undefeated in Section XI competition and won the Suffolk County Dual Meet championship. Riverhead standouts Miiko Foster and Evelin Torres-Reyes led the way, each earning a trip to the state tournament, with Foster winning her second straight county title.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our combined girls wrestling program accomplished this year,”Riverhead’s Athletic Director Melissa Edwards said. “In just its second season, the team went undefeated in Section XI play, won the County Dual Championship Meet, sent multiple individuals to the county meet, crowned county champions, and sent two Riverhead athletes to the state tournament, an outstanding achievement.”

For Edwards, the success goes beyond the results.

“Watching these student-athletes compete was an absolute joy,” she said. “The grit they show on the mat, the family-like culture they’ve built as a team, and the leadership of Coach Perry truly represent what Riverhead athletics is all about.”

Coach Edwin Perry, a 2010 Riverhead High School graduate who was on the wrestling, football and track teams as a Riverhead student, said even he did not know quite what to expect when the program began last year.

Riverhead had seven girls in the program in its first season and 10 this year. Perry said the wrestlers embraced the challenge of learning freestyle wrestling, which differs from the folkstyle many had previously known through the boys program and middle school competition.

“As the season went on, the girls really bought into our program,” Perry said. “They started to learn freestyle wrestling. They really bought in, and they started to win, and then win tournaments, and it was just amazing to see.”

Foster, a sophomore, has emerged as one of the program’s brightest stars.

Last season, she won the county title and advanced to the state tournament, where she went 2-2 and fell one round short of placing. This year, she repeated as county champion and returned to the state tournament, again going 2-2 and narrowly missing a place finish.

“Miiko Foster is a force,” Edwards said. “She competes year-round and continues to put in the work, enhancing her craft and helping to pave the way for the future of this program. She competes with such strength and determination.”

Perry said Foster left this year’s state tournament disappointed but motivated, already focused on improving for next season.

Torres-Reyes, a senior, delivered one of the season’s defining moments.

After finishing third at the county tournament, she earned a chance to wrestle for true second place and a berth in the state tournament. Perry said the coaching staff studied her opponent and built a strategy around patience and endurance.

“I was telling Evelin, you have really good endurance. You just have to weather the storm, stay composed and don’t get frustrated,” Perry said.

Torres-Reyes did exactly that, earning a pin in the second period to secure her place at the state tournament.

“The way that Evelin Torres-Reyes and Miiko Foster battled their way to the state tournament stands out as a true highlight of the season,” Edwards said. “Coach Edwin Perry consistently speaks to Evelin’s intelligence and coachability on the mat.”

At Wednesday’s school board meeting, Edwards and Perry both described the team as a group of trailblazers in one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports. Perry said the athletes are helping create opportunities for the girls who will come after them.

“Girls wrestling is a new sport, and they’re leading the way for all future girl wrestlers who also want to give wrestling a try,” he said.

That future is already in mind. Perry said Riverhead will host a wrestling clinic for boys and girls in grades 2 through 6 on May 6 and May 8 at Riverhead High School as the program continues to grow.

For Edwards, what Riverhead’s girls wrestling team has accomplished in such a short time is about more than banners and medals.

“This group is setting the standard and creating new opportunities for female athletes,” she said. “Something truly special to watch.”