Central’s Sophia VanSplinter is the Week 8 Ultimate Tree Service Wrestler of the Week

Bob Badders|February 8, 2025|Last Updated February 8, 2025

Every week this winter, Shore Sports Insider will honor standout high school wrestling performances in our Shore Conference Wrestler of the Week poll, presented by Ultimate Tree Service.

Our winner of the Week 8 poll, which encompassed events between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2 and included the girls Shore Conference Tournament, is Central Regional freshman Sophia VanSplinter, who was the lowest seed to win a Shore Conference Tournament championship when she prevailed in the 138-pound bracket on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Jackson Liberty High School.

VanSplinter was the No. 5 seed at 138 pounds and got her title run started with a pin over No. 4 seed Caroline Samoyoa Alencar of Freehold in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she upset top-seeded Marily Dominguez of Lakewood with a 10-7 decision. VanSplinter scored first with a takedown in the opening minute and added a reversal with 10 seconds left in the opening period to take a 5-2 lead. Another takedown in the second period and a reversal in the third allowed her to earn a three-point victory and advance to the final. VanSplinter needed just over a minute to win by fall in the championship bout and win the SCT title. She took No. 2 seed Jackson Memorial’s ElleCe McGinley down and put her right to her back, finishing off the pin at the 1:11 mark.

VanSplinter holds a 17-9 record through Feb. 6. She’ll try to duplicate her SCT run during the NJSIAA postseason, which begins with the region tournaments on Feb. 23 and continues with the state tournament in Atlantic City from March 6-8.