February is “bracket season” for New Jersey high school sports, as winter teams push toward state championships and individual milestones. 

February has arrived with its unmistakable sense of urgency across New Jersey gyms, arenas and wrestling rooms, signaling the true start of bracket season for high school athletics. From packed basketball bleachers to championship wrestling mats and postseason qualification deadlines, winter sports are now shifting from regular-season rhythm to the relentless pursuit of hardware, history and individual milestones. It is the most revealing stretch of the calendar, when contenders separate themselves and programs with championship culture begin to assert their identity across the state’s ever-competitive high school sports landscape featured throughout Explore New Jersey’s dedicated high school sports coverage.

On the hardwood, county tournaments are already reshaping the postseason conversation. Traditional powerhouses and emerging challengers alike are navigating single-elimination pressure in marquee events such as the Bergen Jamboree, Essex County Tournament, Passaic County Tournament and Somerset County Tournament, all of which are deep into their opening rounds. Early statement performances have set the tone. Seton Hall Prep delivered one of the weekend’s most commanding outings with a decisive 90–62 victory over West Side in the Essex County opener, showcasing depth, pace and offensive balance that immediately positioned the Pirates as a team no bracket will want to face. In another high-profile result, Christian Brothers Academy produced a gritty, playoff-style 50–44 win over Rumson-Fair Haven, a performance that reinforced its ability to control tempo and execute in late-game situations.

With the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association cutoff date for state tournament qualification set for February 14, the margin for error has nearly vanished. Programs across the state are managing lineups, minutes and health carefully as they prepare for seeding meetings on February 17, where postseason paths will be finalized and championship aspirations officially charted.

Beyond basketball, February’s calendar carries equal weight for the state’s winter sports community. Wrestling, one of New Jersey’s most tradition-rich and fiercely competitive high school sports, is building toward its marquee individual showcase as the State Individual Championships return to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City from March 12 through March 14. The lead-up has already produced nationally relevant storylines. Delbarton continues to make noise well beyond state borders, while Delaware Valley recently delivered a pivotal dual-meet victory over Warren Hills, a result that further tightened the competitive picture among the state’s top programs.

Individual achievements have also highlighted the depth of New Jersey’s winter sports talent. On the bowling lanes, Belvidere’s Ethan Zmyewski and Barnegat’s White captured individual titles at the New Jersey Singles Classic, adding to the growing list of athletes across the state using February competition to elevate their postseason resumes. Ice hockey enters a crucial administrative phase as well, with February 1 marking the opening of the NJSIAA state tournament entry period, setting the postseason in motion for rinks across North Jersey, Central Jersey and the Shore.

This year’s winter season has also underscored the broader impact of high school athletics beyond wins and losses. A New Jersey high school athletic trainer was recently recognized statewide for life-saving action after reviving a student-athlete who had stopped breathing during competition, a powerful reminder that behind every result on the scoreboard is a network of professionals dedicated to student safety and well-being. Off the field, the NJSIAA announced that beginning this spring, the baseball state championships will move to a new host venue, a logistical change designed to enhance the championship experience for athletes, families and fans. Meanwhile, South Plainfield High School earned recognition from Niche as one of the top 100 high schools in New Jersey for sports in the Class of 2026 rankings, further highlighting the statewide commitment to athletic excellence.

Yet no storyline this week captured the momentum of New Jersey’s evolving sports landscape more vividly than the continued rise of girls wrestling, led by a rapidly emerging dynasty from Trenton.

At the Colonial Valley Conference Girls Wrestling Championships in Robbinsville, Trenton High delivered another emphatic statement, securing its third consecutive team championship and reinforcing its place as one of the most formidable programs in the state. Competing in the third year of a girls-only CVC championship format, the Tornadoes amassed 200.5 team points and claimed three individual titles, clinching the team race before the finals even began. Hamilton finished second with 163 points, while Steinert claimed third with 135.5 in a tightly contested team battle behind the dominant champions.

Trenton’s finals run opened with authority. At 114 pounds, Heaven Sykes turned back top-seeded Lara Bahr of Princeton in just over a minute, securing the title with a decisive headlock finish. Moments later, Princessstorm Woody continued her remarkable career by capturing her third consecutive CVC championship, ending the 120-pound final in a stunning 16 seconds. One weight class later, Noelsymar Estrada completed Trenton’s trio of champions by earning a third-period pin at 132 pounds, sealing the Tornadoes’ hold on the podium.

The consistency of Trenton’s success is no accident. Built on a thriving youth feeder program and a coaching staff that has cultivated both confidence and discipline, the program continues to produce athletes who understand the demands of championship competition. Woody, already one of the state’s most accomplished wrestlers, emphasized the team’s shared mindset after the finals, noting the group’s commitment to improvement throughout the season and its determination to make history with a third straight conference title. Estrada echoed the same sentiment, describing Trenton wrestling as a lifestyle defined by accountability, preparation and pride.

While Trenton controlled the team race, the individual tournament showcased the expanding depth of talent across the CVC. Lawrence senior Marina Velazco delivered one of the day’s most electric performances, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at 126 pounds after pinning Hamilton’s Salma Abdelnabi in a spirited final. Lawrence also produced champions at 100 pounds through Stella Kramer and at 185 pounds with Tanvi Madisetti, matching Trenton with three individual winners.

Steinert added two champions of its own as Rowan Lacy-Cancel captured the 138-pound title and Ella Johnson claimed the 165-pound championship, with Johnson continuing to build an elite résumé as one of the state’s highest-ranked competitors. Additional titles went to Princeton’s Evelyn Xiao at 107 pounds, Notre Dame’s Julie Toribio at 144, Ewing’s Alexandra Neuberger at 152, and Hightstown’s Gabi Sanon-Jules at 235. Toribio’s narrow victory in a high-scoring, late-dramatic final over Ewing’s Raymonda Kamara stood out as one of the tournament’s most technically impressive bouts.

By day’s end, Trenton placed in the top six across half of the weight classes, a statistical reflection of its depth and consistency. Head coach Rob Prunetti credited the team’s exceptional freshman class and the leadership of returning wrestlers for accelerating the program’s growth, describing this season’s group as the most promising roster the program has assembled to date.

The broader significance of the CVC championships extends far beyond a single weekend. The continued expansion of girls wrestling across New Jersey is reshaping winter sports culture statewide, creating new pathways for student-athletes and rapidly producing high-level competition that rivals long-established programs on the boys’ side. The atmosphere inside Robbinsville High School offered a glimpse into that future, with packed mats, intense finals and athletes performing on a stage that continues to grow in visibility and respect.

As February pushes deeper into its defining weeks, New Jersey’s winter sports scene stands at full throttle. Basketball teams are racing toward qualification cutoffs, wrestlers are positioning themselves for Atlantic City, bowlers and hockey players are securing postseason opportunities, and emerging programs like Trenton girls wrestling are rewriting expectations across the state. Brackets may determine champions, but February remains the month that reveals who is truly built to endure the pressure of New Jersey’s unforgiving postseason stage.

Basketball: County & State Tournaments 

• Tournament Time: Most major county tournaments—including the Bergen Jamboree, Essex County, Passaic County, and Somerset County—are currently underway.
• Key Results: Seton Hall Prep (No. 16) dominated West Side 90–62 in the Essex County opener, and CBA (No. 5) recently pulled off a 50–44 statement win over Rumson-Fair Haven.
• The Road to State: The NJSIAA cutoff date for state tournament qualification is February 14, with seeding meetings scheduled for February 17. 

Wrestling & Winter Sports

• Atlantic City Bound: The Individual State Wrestling Championships are set to return to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City from March 12–14.
• Heavyweight Battles: No. 1 Delbarton is currently making national noise, while No. 14 Delaware Valley recently surged past Warren Hills in a key dual meet.
• Bowling Milestones: Belvidere’s Ethan Zmyewski and Barnegat’s White recently secured individual titles at the N.J. Singles Classic.
• Ice Hockey: Today, February 1, marks the start of the NJSIAA entry period for the state tournament. 

Unique & Noteworthy News

• Life-Saving Action: A New Jersey high school athletic trainer is being hailed as a hero for life-saving actions that revived a player who stopped breathing during a recent event.
• Baseball Venue Change: The NJSIAA announced that starting this spring, the baseball state championships will move to a new host site.
• Academic/Athletic Honors: South Plainfield High School was recently named one of the top 100 NJ high schools for sports by Niche for 2026

For 2026, the NJSIAA winter state tournament schedules are officially set. While specific team matchups won’t be final until the seeding meetings in mid-February, you can mark your calendar with these key dates: 

🏀 Basketball (Boys & Girls)

Brackets will be finalized during the seeding meeting on February 17, 2026. 

• Public Round 1: Feb 24 (Groups 2 & 4) and Feb 25 (Groups 1 & 3).
• Non-Public Round 1: Feb 26 (Group A) and Feb 27 (Group B).
• Sectional Finals: March 6–9.
• State Finals: March 12 (Non-Public) and March 14–15 (Public) at Rutgers University. 

🤼 Wrestling

The road to Atlantic City is slightly later this year to accommodate other events at Boardwalk Hall. 

• Team Sectional Finals: Feb 11 (Public).
• Team State Finals: Feb 15 at Rutgers University.
• Individual Districts: Feb 28.
• Individual Regions: March 6–7.
• Individual State Championships: March 12–14 at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City. 

🏒 Ice Hockey

Seeding will be determined on February 17, 2026. 

• Public Round 1: Feb 23.
• Non-Public/Girls Round 1: Feb 24.
• State Semifinals: March 4 (Codey & Mennen Arenas).
• State Finals: March 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark. 

🏃 Other Winter Sports

• Swimming State Finals: Feb 22 at Rutgers University.
• Winter Track Meet of Champions: March 8 at Ocean Breeze.
• Bowling Sectionals: Feb 21. 

You can track live updates and unofficial power points for your specific school on the NJSIAA Brackets Page or NJ.com High School Sports.