PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Always optimistic, Lowell’s Amelyiah Martinez would say she was expecting greatness when asked how she felt she was going to do at the New England wrestling championships Sunday.

Now, she has some hardware to prove it. Martinez defeated Jeily Euceda of Norwalk (CT) via pin, and is now champion in the 235-pound weight class.

“I treat New Englands like my states,” laughed Martinez. “That’s how I think, so I don’t make myself nervous. I downplay it, I guess. But obviously I’m very confident in myself. You ask anybody, they’ve been asking all year: ‘Are you going to place at New Englands?’ Every time, I say: ‘I’m going to win it.’ People think that may make you cocky. But if you don’t say that about yourself, who will?”

Thanks to the rapid growth of wrestling in New England, the annual showcase has now expanded to include its own girls tournament, and multiple Massachusetts athletes made history. In a local rivalry match, Methuen’s Janessa Santiago beat Tess Master of Watertown in the 145-pound match with a late pin.

“She already that knew I was a thrower,” laughed Santiago. “That was kind of something I had to work around. I had to work more with my shots, I was nervous sometimes. But I think coming in with that pin really saved me at the end.”

Samantha Bertini captured the 107-pound title for Ludlow, pinning Allison Patten of Pilgrim (RI). Meanwhile, Shelby Galex of Northeast/Bishop Fenwick took home the crown in the 152-pound match, defeating Ava McGinnis of Nokomis (Maine) via pin.

“So much excitement, so much gratefulness for my team and my program that I put together,” said Galex. “Scared for the new beginning of college. This is my final (match). I’m so grateful and happy that I said it out the way I did. I’m so excited, and so scared for the unknown, but I’m willing to take it head on.”