The name matches the game: Trenton’s Princessstorm Woody could be N.J. wrestling star

When Trenton Central High School freshman Princessstorm Woody hits the mats this year, her unique name should garner her some attention.

But it won’t be long before she makes a name for herself with her impressive skills and potential. She started the process on Friday night at Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton with one of only two New Jersey wrestlers to win their match in a NJ All-Stars vs. Wyoming Seminary girls match that served as the undercard for the Rider vs. Penn State college dual.

Woody defeated Tiffany Stoshak in a wild match, 18-8, at 106 pounds, and Blair’s Sara Henckel won by fall at 152 for the lone N.J. wins in the 14 matches. All the girls matches were contested under freestyle rules.

Woody traveled to Fargo for freestyle nationals this summer and has been preparing for the folkstyle season with Trenton since practices started this week.

“I was motivated representing my team, Trenton High School and all the youth of the Trenton youth program,” said Woody. “That’s all I came out here to do. This is my fifth tournament in freestyle. I normally wrestle folk, but I like freestyle better and I still have a lot of learning.

“In my head, I was watching the other kids because I hadn’t wrestled freestyle in a while, so I made sure I perfected what to do and just learned from my experience in other tournaments.”

Woody, who has also competed against boys growing up, said she will be looking to compete in the Mercer County tournament this year and said she is hoping to qualify for girls states.

“I just want to qualify first before any other specifics,” said Woody.

For the record, Woody prefers to be called by her full name Princessstorm, though “some people call me Princess and others call me Storm.”

Soon, she might just go by champ.

WELCOME BACK: Jayla Hahn, a 2020 state champion and 2021 state finalist, was a late addition to the card, agreeing to join on Thursday night. She dropped a 5-0 decision at 144 pounds to Charlotte Gilfoil.

Hahn was forced to default in the state final in March when she suffered a left shoulder injury in the first minute which required surgery.

“I had a reconstruction, I got four anchors,” said Hahn. “They said about six months, so I came back just in time. I feel good.”

Hahn is now at Southern after spending the last three years at Central - she won her title at Lakewood as part of a co-op - and has enjoyed being part of the iconic program. She is also relishing in a full roster of girls, saying there are 14 in the room this year.

“Being at Southern is a lot healthier for me, the practices are a lot harder and I think it’s worth it, though, and in the end I feel I’ll be better than I ever have,” said Hahn. “This will be my first year to have a full girls team. We’ve just been asking around and coach (Dan) Roy put up posters and helped us get some girls out.”

Hahn’s sister, seventh-grader Jayanna, also competed in the showcase and showed some promise before dropping her match, 12-2.

“I hope she will,” said Jayla Hahn when asked if her sister will end up being better than her.

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Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.