By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Waverly senior Sydney Rosenbloom will continue her wrestling career at Wilkes University after signing a National Letter-of-Intent in a brief ceremony here Tuesday afternoon in the high school learning center.
"I kind of felt drawn there," said Rosenbloom of Wilkes. "When I went and toured, it just felt calm. The whole community really just brought me there."
The girls wrestling team was also a big draw.
"I met the whole team, and I loved them," she said. "My mom said they reminded he a lot of me.
"They made me feel welcome," added Rosenbloom.
Rosenbloom was injured in the first tournament of the 2025-26 season, but returned late in the year to post an 8-5 record, with four pins and two technical falls.
The injury she wrestled through was a torn labrum in the shoulder. Rosenbloom is set to have surgery on the shoulder May 1 and will redshirt as a freshman.
"The coaches made me feel good about my injury," she said. "I'm welcome on the team despite the injury and they'll help with the rehab.
"I think I think it'll be a lot of work to get back, especially with my injury because shoulders are a lot," noted Rosenbloom. "I'll have to do the PT. It'll be 11 months, but I think it'll be good.
"I think red-shirting my first year will be good," added Rosenbloom. "It will give me an opportunity to see what wrestling at the level is all about. It will be good for me."
Waverly wrestling coach Devan Witman believes Rosenbloom will be successful if she continues to work hard like she did before her injury.
"She needs to continue on her trajectory," said Witman. "She's put in a lot of time and effort over the past four years — from never stepping on the mat to coming to a few morning practices to really buying in and becoming a meaningful wrestler.
"She needs to continues to grind," noted Witman. "She's one of the toughest girls that we have. She doesn't back down. She doesn't quit. If she continues that attitude through college, I could see her being being very successful."
Witman said Rosenbloom has the offensive skill-set to be successful at the next level but will need to work on her defense.
"I think she still has some work to do on technique, but that's not uncommon.
"I think her defense is where she needs work," said Witman. "She's got great offense. She has a great low shot, and a great dump.
"But, if she's going to continue on to that next level, I think she has to continue to improve her defense, find ways to score points in defensive positions, and not let wrestlers in on her legs so easily," Witman added.
Witman also notes that Rosenbloom was one of three seniors on the Wolverines this season, and all three will be wrestling at college. He attributes some of that success rate to the fact New York State girls wrestle freestyle — the only state in the U.S. to do so — just like college does.
"I think this is one of the few things that New York State has right," said Witman. "We don't get to say that often, but to prepare these girls for that next level, I think that was a tremendous leap that we made last year going to freestyle.
"They're familiar with the rules, and they're familiar with some of the nuances ... I think the girls coming from New York are gonna have that advantage over girls who are not from New York," added Witman.
Rosenbloom will major in Psychology, with a minor in criminal justice. Her goal is work for the FBI.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Sydney Rosenbloom. IN TOP PHOTO: Sydney Rosenbloom is flanked by her parents Taunya Knolles Rosenbloom and Jay Rosenbloom. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
