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Victoria Judy, assistant coach for New York’s Burnt Hills-Scotia-Ballston Spa girls wrestling program and a Physical Education major at Russell Sage College, was named Section 2 Wrestling’s Assistant Coach of the Year at the section’s wrestling awards ceremony on March 12.
“This award is a reflection of the athletes and staff I get to work with on a daily basis, and I’m proud and honored to be a small part of growing girls wrestling,” said Judy.
Keep reading to learn about her team’s success this season, her career pivot to teaching and coaching, and how Sage’s PE program has influenced her as a coach.
Congratulations on your award from Section 2 Wrestling! Please tell me about some of your team’s successes that contributed to your recognition.
Our program (Burnt Hills-Scotia-Ballston Spa) went 6-2 in our suburban council dual meets, only falling short to Niskayuna-Schenectady and Shenendehowa. We had 11 out of 12 athletes place at the Section 2 Class 1 Championships and advance to sectionals. We had six sectional place finishers, and two state qualifiers, one of which was a section 2 champion. Both of our state qualifiers placed top six at the New York State Championships!
The girls in our program are dedicated to the sport of wrestling and come to practice every day, eager to learn and improve. Having athletes on my team who are “all in” motivates me to provide the best possible practices and opportunities for them to succeed.
How did you become involved in wrestling?
I started wrestling in second grade at Burnt Hills when there was only a boys’ team. I’ve always loved a challenge, and I gravitated toward individual sports. I wrestled through eighth grade, took a break freshman and sophomore year after experiencing the loss of my father, and then returned to wrestling my junior year.
The lessons I learned from wrestling helped me through the toughest challenges in my life. I would not be the person I am today if I never stepped foot on that wrestling mat.
Did you always want to coach?
I am a second-degree student. My first degree is a bachelor’s in criminal justice. I knew I wanted to help people, but I never found the right fit within the criminal justice system.
In 2023, I was asked to be the assistant coach for the Burnt Hills girls wrestling team. I was a Burnt Hills wrestling alumna, and I am also a black belt in Judo, which translates well to certain aspects of wrestling.
Seeing my athletes set goals and then achieve them was such a rewarding feeling. After the start of my second season as a coach, I met Rob Weeks, who is a physical education
teacher and wrestling coach at Shenendehowa. He became a volunteer for our team when his daughter joined. I loved learning from him and really enjoyed his style of coaching.
After working with him, I knew that I wanted to coach long term and become a physical educator. I enrolled at Hudson Valley Community College as a physical education major and then transferred to Russell Sage in fall 2025.
[Editor’s note: Russell Sage maintains an articulation agreement with Hudson Valley, which makes it easy to transfer from HVCC’s Physical Education Studies A.A. to Sage’s Physical Education B.S.]
In what ways did your own experiences in wrestling prepare you to support your athletes?
As a female on an all-boys team and an all-male coaching staff, I had a lot to prove. I weighed around 120 pounds and found myself being out-muscled by a lot of the boys I wrestled. I didn’t get the nutrition I needed, which is far different than what boys need nutritionally.
Being a teenage female and experiencing a menstrual cycle made it difficult at times to make weight.
I knew that as coach, I would stop at nothing to be able to provide my girls with all of the information, resources, and opportunities they needed to be successful.
What have been some highlights of your experience in Sage’s physical education program?
I have enjoyed every moment at Sage. I was nervous coming back to college and pursuing a new degree at 28 years old, but the professors have been nothing short of amazing.
I have made a lot of connections with the professors through wrestling and coaching at Burnt Hills, which have opened up a lot of opportunities for me. Networking and putting yourself out there is important in any field that you enter.
I was able to present at the NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Capital Zone Conference over spring break, thanks to Adjunct Professor Kim Ferrie. Being able to present in front of the best PE teachers in New York’s Capital Region and having it go well was a confidence boost.
PE majors are required to take Anatomy and Physiology. I hadn’t taken a science class since my true freshman year of college in 2016-2017, but with the help and encouragement of Biology Professor Mary Rea, I was able to pass with flying colors and ended up really enjoying it. All of the professors at Sage, whether they are PE-specific or not, have had such a positive impact on my education and helped me achieve things outside of my comfort zone.
How has Sage’s PE program influenced your approach to coaching?
Sage’s PE program has helped me be a more purposeful coach. Every class has provided a different and important element to my coaching.
I have learned how to write more effective practice plans by incorporating stretches, drills, conditioning, and cooldowns that work together to benefit performance and the health of my athletes and ensure longevity in what can be a grueling season.
I’ve incorporated nutrition resources and food logs for my athletes to use to get to know their bodies and the food they are using to fuel their performances. I’ve incorporated mindfulness drills and worksheets for my athletes who may have a little more competition anxiety.
Mindset is a huge component in all sports, but especially in wrestling. You can’t tag your teammate in to wrestle your match for you, so helping my athletes work through their anxiety and be able to trust their training has been a game-changer for a lot of them. All of these things I’ve added to our program are things these athletes can use throughout their lifetime to stay healthy and active.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
Sage has provided me a space where I can not only be myself, but feel supported while doing so. There is something to be said for the growth you will encounter when you’re surrounded by people who want you to be successful. Go find those people, because they are out there waiting for you!