He never believed it would take so long for a day like Friday to come.

That’s when the New York State Public High School Athletic Association will sponsor the inaugural Girls Wrestling Invitational at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena in suburban Syracuse.

“I predicted this 40-something years ago when I was an assistant at Brockport State. Then I watched teams get cut all over the country with the enforcement of Title IX, which worked contrary to the spirit of it, which was to create more opportunities for women,” Conti, the Fredonia High School coach, said Wednesday evening. “Way back then, I felt the salvation of wrestling would be women participating. … I didn’t think it would take 40 years for that to happen.”

Friday’s championships will bring together 208 girls from 10 sections across New York state to compete in 13 16-student-athlete weight classes.

Photo by Michelle Gilbert | MaxPreps Chautauqua Lake’s Mia Smith, right, will also be competing.

Each weight class will crown a champion with wrestlebacks deciding results through sixth place.

“There have been very, very good girls. Carlene Sluberski took second place at states and now she’s going to be the head coach at D’Youville University,” said Conti, noting the 2009 state runnerup at 96 pounds. “It’s been exciting to see this. It’s been a long time coming. Other states have been doing this for years.”

Fredonia junior Meyah Aponte will be the first local student-athlete to take to the mats, competing against General Brown freshman Samantha Danyi at 94 pounds.

Another Fredonia junior, AJ Johnson, will compete take on Bethpage freshman Gabrielle Severin in their first match at 100 pounds. Johnson’s freshman teammate Leah Waite will take on Niagara Wheatfield seventh-grader Gabriella Barone.

“I think they’re well prepared and I’m sure they’ll compete well,” Conti said of his girls. “I want them to be excited to see what a neat thing this is and what a cool experience this is. If they go in with that attitude, we think they’ll do pretty well.”

At 107 pounds, Falconer senior Brooklyn Pyrill will take on Holland Patent freshman Claire Favata.

Gowanda senior Emma Schindler will take on Pine Bush junior Brooke Tarshis in the first match at 120 pounds. Chautauqua Lake junior Madison Szymanowski will face off against Rocky Point sophomore Ava Capogna.

“It’s different for each girl,” Chautauqua Lake coach Pete Dorman said of his team’s expectations. “We have a few I think that match up really well. We went against Section V and Section II and were happy with our results.”

In the 126-pound bracket, Chautauqua Lake sophomore Gabriella Testa will take on Colonie junior Evynne Farrel.

Chautauqua Lake sophomore Mia Smith will square off with Putnam Valley senior Joan Demetroules at 132 pounds. Gowanda senior Ke’Ya Stevens will also compete at 132 pounds against Bellmore JFK sophomore Gabriella Schechtman.

“Testa and Smith are both sitting at 22 wins right now,” Dorman said. “Considering the limited competition we get, that is extraordinary for them.”

Sophia Gervasio, a Chautauqua Lake junior, will wrestle at 138 pounds against Chenango Forks freshman Emily Sullivan.

At 145 pounds, Chautauqua Lake junior Caroline Apthorpe will take on Granville sophomore Jaymie Landon, while her Thunderbirds teammate, seventh-grader Lillian Hyde, will take on Holland Patent senior Stephanie Grocholski.

“For us, we just try to focus on getting better every day,” Dorman said. “This is a huge bonus for us being able to take this many girls. For us, it’s just getting better and building the program.”

Dunkirk freshman Eva Colon-DeJesus will take on Warrensburg/Lake George junior Olivia Lapoint in the first 152-pound match. The Dunkirk Sports Booster Club organized a Clap Out with the Dunkirk City School District for Colon-DeJesus as she prepared for today’s event Thursday. Colon-DeJesus traveled to all of the elementary buildings where the students lined the halls cheering with cards, posters and banners wishing her luck.

In the final weight class, Chautauqua Lake sophomore Gabi Freeburg will receive a bye to take on the winner of Bay Shore seventh-grader Natalie Pantaleone and General Brown senior Bryston Branche at 235 pounds.

“Everybody that we have is either a first- or second-year wrestler,” Dorman said. “My assistant coach and wife, Emily, is an English teacher at the school. Everybody we have is because the kids trust her. We promised them that they wouldn’t wrestle boys and they don’t.”

Other Section VI representatives include: Niagara Wheatfield’s Lily Pieczonka (94 pounds), North Tonawanda’s Breanna McCarley (107 pounds), Lockport’s Maleah McKinney-Updegraph (114 pounds), Newfane’s Alexa Doxey (126 pounds), Lake Shore’s Alexiya Thuman (132 pounds), Frontier’s Avery White (138 pounds), Lewiston-Porter’s Gwyneth Edwards (138 pounds), Niagara Wheatfield’s Nevaeh Senik (138 pounds), Lewiston-Porter’s Meghan Edwards (145 pounds), West Seneca West/East’s Christina Evans (145 pounds), Iroquois’ Michaela Thomas (152 pounds), Lockport’s Ava Bragg (165 pounds), Niagara Wheatfield’s Gianna Scirri (165 pounds), Lockport’s Khamya J’Maxwell (185 pounds), North Tonawanda’s Doris Baker (185 pounds) and Springville’s Marea Palka (185 pounds).

“We certainly have good numbers with just under 1,000 girls wrestling throughout the state,” Conti said. “We want to see more standalone programs. It is certainly moving very swiftly in that direction.”

NOTES: Opening ceremonies will begin at 12:45 p.m. with the Round of 16 commencing at 1 p.m. Wrestlebacks will start at 2:30 p.m. with quarterfinals to follow at 3:15 p.m. Another round of wrestlebacks is scheduled for 5 p.m. with semifinals and more wrestlebacks continuing at 5:15 p.m. The consolation semifinals are scheduled for 6 p.m. with championship bouts set to begin at 6:45 p.m. … Admission to the event is all-digital with $11.50 tickets available at www.gofan.co/NYSPHSAA. This event is a one-session, one-day tournament.