Olympian sets the pace at Queen of the Beach event

With competitions now scheduled nearly every weekend, the high school girls wrestling season appears to be gaining momentum as post-season competition approaches.

Olympian High School continued to pace Metro Conference teams by capturing the team title at last Saturday’s inaugural Queen of the Beach tournament at Mar Vista High School. The Lady Eagles scored 139 points — well ahead of runner-up Hilltop’s 72 points.

A total of 33 teams registered for the Imperial Beach tournament.

Olympian coach Jay Fabunan said winning the inaugural Queen of the Beach tournament is “very special for the team.”

“Due to COVID and injuries, many of the young girls have had to step up in a big way to fill in and the returners are showing a lot of grit as we enter the final few weeks of the season,” Fabunan said. “Winning the tournament gives us a great confidence boost moving forward.

“This team, these girls, they are hard workers, and even with the challenges posed by COVID and having to follow safety protocols, including two tests per week, it hasn’t stopped their progression and we are getting stronger by the week.”

Alina Solis (139 pounds) and Angelina Leal (237) led the Lady Eagles on the mat at the Mar Vista tournament. Leal was also voted the outstanding upper weight wrestler.

Solis defeated Santana’s Amber Spencer by a 5-3 decision while Leal won by a 5-4 decision over El Cajon Valley’s Aleria Rocha.

The Lady Eagles had four finalists overall, as Celina Esquer (128 pounds) and Makenna Harbin (133) both placed runner-up in their respective weight classes.

Also placing for Olympian were Daia Kawashiro (third at 162 pounds), Iyana Holmes (third at 172 pounds), Vania Victoria (fourth at 133 pounds) and Sophia Gonzalez (fourth at 191 pounds).

“We have special athletes, but Angelina Leal continues to stand out the most,” Fabunan said. “She beat the No. 2 ranked 237-pounder in the state in a very exciting final.

“Coming back from an injury, she didn’t look like she missed a beat and her match against Valeria Rocha in the 237 finals was exciting and shows you why those two young ladies are deserving of our respect and their state rankings. They should see each other again soon and both should qualify and place at the state tournament.”

Hilltop only took six girls to the tournament and all medaled, with two advancing to the championship round.

Medalists included:

• Jo-Marie Aguilera (second place at 103 pounds).
• Raven Velazquez (third place at 118 pounds).
• Samantha Velazquez (fourth place at 128 pounds).
• Isabelle Meza (second place at 145 pounds).
• Debora Velazquez (third place at 152 pounds).
• Martina Rodriguez (fourth place at 172 pounds).

Tourney host Mar Vista, buoyed by Tavia Osthimer’s title win at 128 pounds, finished 17th in the team standings.

Other Metro Conference place-winners included San Ysidro’s Andrea Campos (second at 152 pounds), Evelynn Coronado (third at 237 pounds) and Castle Park’s Jasmine Rodriguez (fourth at 113 pounds).

San Ysidro finished 16th in the team standings while Castle Park was 20th, Montgomery was 23rd, Eastlake was tied for 29th and Otay Ranch was 33rd.

 

Queen of the Lake Tournament

Jan. 8 at Eastlake High School

Top individuals

103 Pounds

1. Lexi Holquin (University City)
2. Bella Sevillano (Steele Canyon)
3. Isabel Cigaroa (Imperial)
4. Kaiya Lopes (Rancho Bernardo)

Championship: Holquin pinned Sevillano, 1:12

 

108 Pounds

1. Xiomara Gallego (Poway)
2. Angelina Aguerilla (Hilltop)
3. Mia Zazueta (Olympian)
4. Alissandra Bernal (Olympian)

Championship: Gallego pinned Agueriila, 0:49

 

113 Pounds

1. Melina Lopez (Vista)
2. Iris Meono (Imperial)
3. Breanna Reynoso (Olympian)
4. Alyssa Caazres (Steele Canyon)

Champion: Lopez pinned Meono, 2:31

113 N Pounds

1. Jorden Hopp (Carlsbad)
2. Dominique Quezada (Steele Canyon)
3. Jessica Mexia (Mar Vista)
4. Ivaney Rada (Steele Canyon)

Championship: Hopps decisioned Quezada, 7-5

Third place: Mexia tech fall Rada, 17-2

118 Pounds

1. Eve Norban (Point Loma)
2. Zoey Liberato (Capistrano Valley)
3. Isabella Lamadrid (Eastlake)
4. Kylee Holquin (University City

Championship: Norban pinned Liberato, 1:01

 

123 Pounds

1. Cheyenne Sandoval (Olympian)
2. Mikeala Acevedo (Steele Canyon)
3. Elizabeth Morales (Clairemont)
4. Kayla Lim (West Hills)

Championship: Sandoval pinned Acevedo, 2:46

 

128 Pounds

1. Alejandra Valdiviezo (Poway)
2. Lexie Lopez (Mt. Carmel)
3. Sophia Mia (University City)
4. Kayla Edwards (Rancho Buena Vista)

Championship: Valdiviezo decisioned Lopez, 1-0

 

128 N Pounds

1. Hannah Gonzalez (Ramona)
2. Nicole Moore (Chula Vista)
3. Kassa Lake (Mt. Carmel)
4. Dani Brown (La Costa Canyon)

Championship: Gonzalez decisioned Moore, 8-1

Third place: Lake decisioned Brown, 4-0

 

133 Pounds

1. Milana Sims (Mt. Carmel)
2. Annabelle He (Rancho Bernardo)
3. Brianna Busse (Del Norte)
4. Paige Beals (Ramona)

Championship: Sims defeated He by injury default

 

133 N Pounds

1. Lyla Hguyen (San Pasqual)
2. Lauryn Wolfe (Olympian)
3. Amy Serrao (Chula Vista)
4. Sophie Rodriguez (La Costa Canyon)

Championship: Hguyen decisioned Wolfe, 6-5

Third place: Serrao decisioned Rodriguez, 3-2

 

139 Pounds

1. Alina Solis (Olympian)
2. Elizabeth LeNoir (Steele Canyon)
3. Katie Huslin (Olympian)
4. Jayden Santillan (Steele Canyon)

Championship: Solis pinned LeNoir, 1:00

 

145 Pounds

1. Brianna Le (San Pasqual)
2. Alani Trudgeon (Steele Canyon)
3. Alyeen Gomez (Olympian)
4. Isabelle Meza (Hilltop)

Championship: Le decisioned Trudgeon, 4-2

 

152 pounds

1. Andy Campos (San Ysidro)
2. Iris Garcia-Rodriguez (Vista)
3. Hope Jessee (Holtville)
4. Melanie Hayslip (Mt. Carmel)

Championship: Campos pinned Garcia-Rodriguez, 3:44

 

162 Pounds

1. Marina Morales (West Hills)
2. Elah Castro (Holtville)
3. Mekenna Hickman (Rancho Buena Vista)
4. Dia Kawashiro (Olympian)

Championship: Morales pinned Castro, 0:40

 

171 Pounds

1. Rory Hardy (Torrey Pines)
2. Hannah Perez (Capistrano Valley)
3. Alliso Mittry (Steele Canyon)
4. Jailyn Camacho (Vista)

Championship: Hardy pinned Perez, 3:22

 

191 Pounds

1. Alexandria Perez (La Costa Canyon)
2. Faith Manis (Steele Canyon)
3. Kiley McClain (Rancho Buena Vista)
4. Destiny Ware (San Marcos)

Championship: Perez pinned Manis, 3:29

 

237 Pounds

1. Valeria Rocha Ibarra (El Cajon Valley)
2. Neila Fritts (Capistrano Valley)
3. Kennedi Jones (Steele Canyon)
4. Deanna Guerrero (Steele Canyon)

Championship: Rocha Ibarra pinned Fritts, 2:17