The CIF Southern Section Masters Meet showcased remarkable talent among girls’ wrestlers this past Saturday at Sonora High School in La Habra. A total of eight champions emerged, with Orange Vista and Roosevelt each claiming three individual titles, the highest number among participating schools. This event marks the fifth season for the CIF Southern Section’s Masters Meet for girls wrestling and the fourth season utilizing an updated format that awards two champions for each of the 14 weight classes.
Orange Vista’s success was led by senior Zahra Stewart, who secured her third consecutive Masters Meet championship in the 135-pound weight class. Stewart, the reigning IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year and the top seed in the Blue Bracket, demonstrated her dominance by pinning three of her four opponents, including a decisive first-round victory against Excelsior Charter’s Izel Padilla in the finals.
In the same vein, fellow Orange Vista wrestlers Tiffany Bell and Gia Coons also excelled. Bell, the top seed at 170 pounds, achieved her first Masters Meet title with an impressive 11-0 major decision over Arroyo’s Jade Martinez, having pinned all three of her initial opponents in the first period. Coons, competing in the 235-pound category, clinched her first title with a narrow 1-0 decision over Marina’s Isabella Lorenzana, securing her victory with an escape just seconds into the final period.
Roosevelt’s performance was equally commendable, producing its first-ever Masters Meet champions. Senior Vanessa Cabrera, seeded fourth in the 190-pound Gold Bracket, stunned the competition by pinning No. 2-seeded Reanna Chavez of Mayfair to capture her title. Junior Emma Goodland, a No. 5 seed in the 125-pound Gold Bracket, also made waves by defeating No. 3-seeded Cheyenne Stepanian of Hesperia in the second round, while freshman Kylie-Ann Thach secured her title in the 100-pound Gold Bracket by pinning Paloma Valley’s Reynalyn Geronimo in the second period.
The meet highlighted impressive performances beyond the champions. Corona’s Jestinah Solomua continued her perfect streak at the Masters Meet, winning the 145-pound Blue Division title with a commanding 15-1 decision against Amber Farr of Norwalk. Additionally, Natale Blanco from Chino marked her second Masters Meet championship by defeating Fountain Valley’s Laiyah Aguilar in the 155-pound Blue Division.
Despite their commendable efforts, several Inland wrestlers finished as runners-up in their respective brackets. Notable mentions include Mia Hernandez from Colony (100, Blue), Kiem-Ai Pham from Corona (105, Blue), and Evelyn Lopez from Hamilton (120, Blue), among others.
In the team standings, Northview clinched the championship with a total of 178 points, surpassing Marina by 39 points. Orange Vista and Roosevelt followed in third and fifth place, respectively, with scores of 123.5 and 104.5.
This competition also served as a qualifying event for the upcoming CIF State Championships, scheduled for February 26-28 at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. A total of eight wrestlers from the 14 weight classes secured spots for this prestigious event, with 36 wrestlers from 18 Inland schools among the 112 participants vying for state titles.
Both Zahra Stewart and Natale Blanco, who previously won CIF State championships last season, will be key figures representing the Inland area once more at the state level. Orange Vista and Etiwanda each had five wrestlers qualify, while Roosevelt had four and both Corona and Upland contributed three qualifiers.
As the momentum builds towards the state championships, anticipation for another thrilling wrestling season continues to grow.
