SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE WRESTLING ROUNDUP, FEB. 13
Northview Boys and Girls Wrestling teams win Divisional Titles; Walnut and San Dimas Girls Wrestling teams finish in second place.
Northview HS wrestling team photo after winning its 15th CIF Southern Section Individual Team Title at Fountain Valley HS. (Photo: Northview HS Wrestling)
It was a huge day for local wrestlers at the CIF Southern Section Boys Wrestling Individual Championships that were held throughout Southern California. These meets served as feeder qualifiers for next week’s CIF Southern Section Masters Meet that will be held at Sonora High School.
The big meet that showcased a vast majority of local wrestling programs was the Central Divisional meet at Fountain Valley High School. Once again, the cream rose to the top as Northview High School secured its 15th sectional title earning 251 team points. Bishop Amat (172) finished in fifth place and Sonora (92) had a solid performance with a tenth-place finish.
The Vikings had only one divisional champion as Adrian Limon fought off a pesky effort from Esperanza’s Romero Sanchez for a 3-1 victory. Limon is one of the area’s best chances to win a state title.
Other Northview wrestlers that qualified for next week’s Masters Meet include Marcus Tolentino (106), Nicholas Arellano (113), Mario Sandoval (126), Julian Leon (132), Jacob Leon (138), Jacob Salcido (145), Sunny Acuna Zepeda (152), Nathan Cruz (160), Lewis Madrigal (170) and Anthony Troncoso (285). Add it all up and the Vikings qualified 10 wrestlers out of 13 weight classes.
Bishop Amat had one divisional champion as Raymond Macias improved his record on the season with a 28-3 with a second-period win over Chino’s Roman Damas. Macias is a member of the Lancers football team. The Lancers qualified four wrestlers for next week’s Masters meet. Those included Adrian Thome (106), Gianluca Munoz (132), Devon Jones (195) and Leroy Garibay (220).
Other area wrestlers that qualified for the Masters meet included San Dimas Seth Hoodye (16), Sonora’s Vivano Gutierrez (132) and Kyle Sakuda (145), and Baldwin Park’s Rene Cisneros (120).
Walnut boys wrestling team photo after a solid performance at the CIFSS Inland Division Meet at Ayala HS. (Photo: Walnut HS Wrestling)
At the Inland Division final at Ayala, Walnut once again flexed its muscles and had eight wrestlers qualified for the Masters Meet. Two Mustang wrestlers secured divisional titles: Ronnie Ramirez and Fernando Barreto. Barreto was also named Most Valuable Lower Weight Wrestler. Among the other wrestlers that qualified for the Masters Meet included Christian Garcia, Elijah Flores, Ian Neeley, Derrick Mesa, Joseph Contreras, and Frank Emeterio.
It was a history-making performance for La Canada as they had their first divisional champion since 2007 when Alex Mykalo won the 145-pound title. Three other Spartan wrestlers will be competing at the Masters meet next week and they include Cameron Fernando, Jonah Kim, and Junya Ishida.
South Hills HS Boys Wrestling team photo after four wrestlers qualified for CIFSS Masters Meet next weekend. (Photo: South Hills HS Wrestling)
South Hills had four wrestlers hit the medal stand and qualify for the Masters Meet. They included Christian Montoya (106), Aaron Vasquez (145), Blaze Serio (152) and Chet Lewis (160).
At the Coastal Division Meet at Etiwanda High School, Damien’s Nick Salabaj advanced to the finals at 220 pounds before suffering a 3-1 loss to Westminster’s Cristian Brito. Also qualifying for the Masters Meet from this event was Nogales’ Oliver Jacobs V (285).
The eyes of the area girls wrestling fans were fixated on San Dimas HS and the CIF Southern Section Southern Division Individual championships.
It was a very good day for local wrestlers as seven local wrestlers took first place in 14 weight classes.
Northview HS girls wrestling team photo after winning the CIFSS Girls Southern Division Tournament at San Dimas HS.
In the team standings, it was Northview that easily garnered first place with 263.5 points. San Dimas (181) secured second place and Arroyo (125) checked in third place. Covina (91) took seventh place and Schurr (86) finished in ninth place.
The meet showcased many top wrestlers that have made a splash on the national stage. Arroyo’s talented duo of Briana and Emilie Gonzalez (USA Wrestling National Champions) each won sectional titles at 101 and 106 pounds respectively.
Briana Gonzalez pinned highly-ranked freshman wrestler Alicia Serratos of Laguna Hills HS with a second-period pin in the 101-pound final. Emilie Gonzalez had to wrestle the entire six minutes to defeat Northview’s Alexis Garza 10-2 in the 106-pound final.
Northview had one wrestler hit the top of the medal stand. Senior Savannah Lewis secured her sectional title with a first-period pin over Alyssa Muirhead of Chaparral HS in the 150-pound final. Other Vikings that qualified next week for the CIF Southern Section Individual Finals include Jenelle Gozun (101). Mia Sanchez (121), Sophia Gomez (131), Samantha Rivera (111), Leilani Lazaro (116), Baylee Carrillo (126), Leticia Sanchez (137), Andrea Mateo (143), Natalie Lopez (170) and Rebecca Juarez (189).
San Dimas HS Girls Wrestling team photo after finishing second at the CIF Southern Section Southern Division meet at San Dimas HS. (Photo: San Dimas HS Wrestling)
San Dimas had a huge day with three wrestlers securing the gold medals. Esperaza Dorantes won the 126-pound title with a second-period pin over Northview’s Baylee Carrillo. Cameron Ortiz, who won the award as the Most Outstanding Lower Weight Wrestler, won the 131-pound title with a 1st period pin over La Canada’s Kera Finnegan. Ortiz’s matched never more than 48 seconds.
Juliana Marquez was the Saints’ third divisional champion as she notched the 160-pound title with a second-period pin over Kayla Laguana of Westminster. Other wrestlers that qualified for the sectional finals meet included Odalis Garcia (101), Alani Marrujo (143), Kaylyn Gonzalez (150), Jenae Acero (170), and Charlene Smith (235).
The only other local wrestler to win a divisional championship was Schurr’s Gailiea Garcia as she pinned Montclair’s Dee Gallegos in the first period of the 189-pound title match.
Other area qualifiers included Sarah Ann Calinaya (Covina, 101), Candene Winker (Covina. 106), Jasmine Contreras (Arroyo, 116), Kaitlin Castro (Bishop Amat, 116), Jocelyn Camarena (Mountain View, 121), Brittney Parga (Schurr, 126), Sasha Redshaw (San Marino, 131), Desiree Vazquez (Covina, 137), Andrea Aguilar (West Covina, 150), Monserrat Partita (Arroyo, 143), Daisy Ayala (South Hills, 160), Mia Delgado (South El Monte, 170), Christian Page (Charter Oak, 189), Kimberly Sosa (El Monte, 189), Allie Phillips (Keppel, 235), Desirae Soliz (Covina, 235) and Ana Rangel (El Monte, 235), Tayrn Evans (Schurr, 106), Bella Arsenault (Charter Oak 126), Kira De Brito (La Canada, 137), Lillian Reimer (Charter Oak 143, Melanie Brion (Schurr, 150), Karen Santana (Schurr 160).
Walnut High School girls wrestling team photo after finishing second at the CIF Southern Section Central Division finals at La Quinta High School. (Photo: Walnut High School Wrestling).
Over at the Central Division finals at La Quinta High School, Walnut High School turned in another outstanding performance in finishing in second place in the team standings.
The Mustangs got the job done with four wrestlers securing divisional titles. Those included Jasmine Macias, Anaya Falcon, Jordan Carrillo, and Sara Gaskin. Other qualifiers to next week’s sectional finals meet include Amanda Salcedo, Emily Pineda, DeAndra Meza, and Tiffany Yanagi.
At the Coastal Division Championships that took place at Paloma High School, Glendora’s Samantha Sachs won the 116 pound title with a first period pin over Mia Ramirez of Glenn High School.
Samantha Sach's Championship match on Flowrestling.org