“Standing tall” Zaragoza wins CIF state wrestling championship
A total of 21 wrestlers from the Imperial Valley competed at the CIF state wrestling championships with three returning at state placers.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Brawley junior Lauren Zaragoza extended the Wildcats producing a state champion from the girls' team by claiming the title for the 135 pound weight class this past weekend in Bakersfield, California.
"We have now had a girl win a state championship three years in a row," Brawley Union High School Athletic Director Billy Brewer said. "What's more impressive is that it's been a different girl each of those three years. It's quite a feat in California where is a total of around 1700 high schools across the state."
Zaragoza, a junior at Brawley Union High School, returns to the Imperial Valley as the lone state champion. In all, Imperial Valley schools sent a total of 21 wrestlers to the state championships at Mechanics Bank Arena. Of those 21 wrestlers, three return as state placeholders.
The Brawley boys wrestling team, coming off its 25th straight CIF San Diego Section title, sent eight wrestlers to Bakersfield. The Wildcats also had three girls qualify including Zaragoza.
Besides Zaragoza's state title, Ricky Ortiz finished 8th overall. Joining them on the trip to state included Nicko Ortiz, Justin Torres, Diego Arias, Even Velez, Daryn Leon, Adam Avila and Matt Gutierrez.
Joining Zaragoza from the girls' team were Jenny Favela and Destyni Perez.
The highest placing wrestler on the boys' side came from Imperial. Noah Larios is the lone Tiger representative and brought back with him a seventh overall finish.
Holtville sent three wrestlers to the state meet which include Fernando Rivera and Dion Johnston from the boys team and Arely Garcia represented the girls team.
Central also sent three wrestlers to the state meet, Arabella Rascon and Mia Gonzales from the girls squad and Gabriel Pacheco represented the boys squad.
Southwest sent two girls, Karen Molina and Patricia Rivera-Juarez.
Calipatria's Jaiden Lopez represented the Hornets in the heavyweight boys division.
Congratulations to all of our wrestlers from all of us at KYMA & KYMA Sports.
