The Athlete of the Year for Montclair High School's Varsity Wrestling team is sophomore Havana Acevedo! Acevedo proved to be an outstanding wrestler and a valuable asset to the team, despite being in just her second year of high school, and has already made a significant impact at MHS and in the wrestling community.
She has been an inspiration to not only girls, but everyone throughout the school as she not only has the courage to wrestle against full grown men, but also has the strength and ability to beat them, which she did 7 times this season. She had a dominant season, and she is one of the many girls in New Jersey who are paving the way for other girls in wrestling, which is the fastest growing sport in the nation at the moment.
Building upon a strong freshman season where she reached the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA regions, Havana had a strong start to the season.
Although the overall team record didn’t show the incredible seasons’ for some standout wrestlers on the team, Acevedo still proved her dominance throughout the regular season and in individual tournaments. She had an impressive 18-4 record against female wrestlers and a commendable 7-6 record against male wrestlers in the regular season, as well as achieving second place in counties and fourth place in the NJSIAA Girls Wrestling Regions Tournament.
Her unwavering determination, dedication, hard work, and passion for the sport were evident as she consistently dominated her competition. Beyond her individual success, Havana's contributions have been integral in helping Montclair build momentum and establish a formidable team for the future.
Havana Acevedo has a bright future ahead, with her athleticism, talent, and strong work ethic showing that she has a strong foundation to build on in the years to come. Through two strong seasons, she has consistently shown her great influence on the wrestling program and community, making her Montclair High School’s Wrestling Athlete of the Year.