By Andy Loigu

Never giving up finally paid off for Warren Hills girls wrestler Katrina Kling recently, in the 120 pound final of the Battle at the Bay wrestling tournament in Bayonne.

In various tournaments, including the big stage in last spring’s state final, Kling lost eight consecutive bouts to two-time state champion Kira Pipkins. Kling finally defeated her nemesis in Bayonne and finished first in her division. It is the best rivalry story since Snoopy versus the Red Baron.

“The ninth time is the charm,” she cheerfully said to the media after her breakthrough win.

The two wrestlers met again at the Bloomfield Tournament, at the high school Pipkins attends and represents. In front of her foe’s hometown fans, Kling defeated Pipkins one more time, by fall in 4:57, just to show her previous win was not a fluke. As she won the gold medal, one could say Kling won some bling, to use the contemporary vernacular.

The story lends itself to a comparison with the World Series championship won by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955, after several losses to the Yankees in previous years. Back in ’56, the Brooklyn Dodgers lost to Larsen, Mantle, Berra, Bauer and company as the Yankees reclaimed their mastery over the Dodgers. 

In all likelihood Kling and Pipkins will have at least one more meeting in this spring’s state final. However, they both face a long road filled with challenges from young upstarts, to get back there.

As the season proceeds, Kling has a shining 5-0 record.

Despite the doom and gloom of the stubborn pandemic, participation in girls wrestling has grown by leaps and bounds the last two seasons. Many schools, particularly down the shore and in the pines of South Jersey, field full lineups this year.

To quote the old 80’s song, “oh daddy dig, you’re still number one, but girls just wanna have fun.”

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.