The Inaugural Girl’s wrestling championship was held Saturday, February 9, at Panorama High. Sixty- seven girls competed in 13 weight classifications in the one-day City championship tournament. The State CIF officially sanctioned Girl’s Wrestling for the 2011-12 season and the Los Angeles City Section

followed by sanctioning the sport and a Section Championship for the 2012-13 season. In a close battle for the team award, Panorama came away with the top honors followed by San Fernando as the runner up. Outstanding wrestler awards were presented to the top point earners in both the upper weight classes and the lower weight classes. Jasmine Gonzalez of San Fernando (126) and Perla Lopez of San Fernando (154) were the top individual point earners to earn the Outstanding Individual Wrestlers of the tournament.

San Fernando’s Sarah Saenz was truly the pioneer of women’s wrestling at the Los Angeles City Section. Despite CIF not sanctioning the state tournament for girls, Saenz was triumphant in advancing to the state finals on three occasions and winning the state tournament twice. After graduating from high school, Saenz enrolled at King College and was expected to contend for a WCWA title. However, due to several injuries, Saenz was forced to retire from competition at an early age. Nowadays, Saenz is involved in helping young wrestlers achieve their wrestling goals as a coach.

101lbs: Coellet Rangel (Panorama) Class of 2014

Rangel was the first wrestler for coach Richard Ramos to win two consecutive L.A. Section titles. In fact, she was the first in her school to win a state match as a junior. As a senior, after winning her second section title, Rangel went on to compete at the CIF state tournament where she finished in eighth place. After high school, Rangel competed for McKendree University in Illinois. As a Bearcat, Rangel was a two- time WCWA national qualifier.

106lbs: Viviana Garcia (San Fernando) Class of 2022

Garcia made huge waves as a freshman when she won a section title and was triumphant in placing fourth for the Tigers at the CIF state tournament. She did not compete this past season and I am unaware of the circumstances. If she returns next season, she will be a junior and one of the favorites to become the second female wrestler in the historic San Fernando wrestling team to claim a state title.

111lbs: Diane Cuadras (Birmingham) Class of 2017

A four-year starter for the Patriots, Cuadras was a two-time section champion and three-time section place winner. She claimed her first title at 106-pounds. At the state tournament, Cuadras went on to place eighth in her weight class. Expecting to claim a second medal, Cuadras moved up to the 111- weight class where she won her second section title. At the state tournament, Cuadras was upset and sent to the consolation bracket. After winning her first match, Cuadras was eliminated from the tournament via a fall in the third period.

116lbs: Alexandra Cota (San Fernando) Class of 2017

A three-year starter for the Tigers. Cota was triumphant in claiming her first section title as a sophomore at 116-pounds and competing at the CIF state tournament. As a junior, she moved up a weight class to make room for another teammate of hers. The move didn’t pay off for her as she was defeated in the section finals by an opponent from Birmingham. Cota had a great junior season that saw her win her second section title after dropping down to 116-pound and placing seventh at the CIF state tournament. At the section tournament, none of her opponents when past the first period.

121lbs: Katie Gomez (Birmingham) Class of 2022

Gomez is truly a unique freak on the mats! Only a sophomore, Gomez has claimed two consecutive section titles and has placed fifth and third at the CIF state tournament. She has the potential to become the first Patriot to be a four-time state placer and the second in her section. The first one to do so was Adelina Parra of San Fernando.

126lbs: Karla Rivera (Birmingham) Class of 2017

Rivera was a three-year starter for the Patriots and coach Jim Medeiros. As a sophomore, Rivera was seeded # 3 but she failed to place in the section tournament after going 1-2. She redeemed herself as a junior as she won the section tournament at 126-pounds and placed seventh at the state tournament. She repeated the same feat as a senior by winning the section title at 121-pounds and placing fourth at the state tournament.

131lbs: Samantha Larios (San Fernando) Class of 2021

Larios was a starter for the Tigers from 2018-2020. As a varsity starter, Larios claimed three section titles. Her first two came at 131-pounds while her last one was at 132-pounds. After finishing with a 1-2 record as a sophomore at the state tournament, Larios knew she has the potential to do some damage as a junior. As the postseason approached, Larios won all her matches at the section tournament via fall. She then went on to win two matches at the state tournament to finish within a match from becoming a state place winner.

137lbs: Sydney Barrios (San Pedro) Class of 2020

A four-year starter for the Pirates and coach Roman Hernandez, Barrios was successful in advancing to the CIF state tournament on three occasions. After not winning a single match at the state tournament as a sophomore, Barrios made great strides as a junior by placing eighth at the CIF state tournament at 137-pounds. During her senior year, Barrios had a tremendous postseason that saw her win her second section title by pinning three-time state place winner Gianna Anaya (San Fernando) in the second period and denying Anaya the opportunity to become a four-time section champion. Unfortunately for Barrios, she failed to place at the state tournament as a senior.   

143lbs: Gianna Anaya (San Fernando) Class of 2020

A four-year starter for the Tigers, Anaya was a four-time state qualifier and three-time section champion. During her sophomore campaign, Anaya was triumphant in placing third at the CIF state tournament. She followed that performance as a junior by becoming a state runner-up and joining Adelina Parra in the finals. After placing second at the section tournament as a senior, Anaya put all her energy into winning an individual state title. Her dreams were shattered as she was upset in the first round. Despite losing in the first round, Anaya won six consecutive matches to place fifth at the state tournament and becoming a three-time place winner for the Tigers.

150lbs: Desiree Fuentes (San Fernando) Class of 2021

As a three-year varsity starter for the Tigers, Fuentes has placed three-times in the section tournament and has advanced to the CIF state tournament on three occasions. After placing third at the section tournament as a freshman and sophomore at 126-pounds, Fuentes was triumphant in claiming a section title at 150-pounds. She went on to win two matches at the state tournament and advanced to the quarterfinal round. There’s no doubt that next year she has the potential to be a state place winner or champion for the Tigers.

160lbs: Alyssa Arana (San Fernando) Class of 2022

Everyone knew that Arana was going to be special once started competing in the high school level. Her peers were correct as Arana won a section title as a freshman and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF state tournament at 150-pounds. After moving up a weight class as a sophomore, Arana followed through by claiming her second section title and placing fourth at the state tournament. She should enter the following season as one of the favorites to claim an individual state championship.

170lbs: Adelina Parra (San Fernando) Class of 2020

Adelina Parra is Ms. Tiger when it comes to wrestling. This past season, Parra became the first female wrestler from the San Fernando wrestling program to claim four-section titles. Not only did she accomplish that feat, but Parra was a four-time state finalist and state champion as a sophomore. Despite competing at 189-pounds as a senior, Parra won her state title at 170-pounds and was a two- time state finalist in this weight class. Thus, I chose to put her in this weight class.

189lbs: Alexandra Castillo (Birmingham) Class of 2018

Castillo was the second female wrestler from the Los Angeles Section to claim four section titles. After not placing at the state tournament as a freshman, Castillo was triumphant in claiming state titles as a sophomore and senior and becoming a three-time state finalist for the Patriots. Castillo currently competes for Campbellsville University where she is a two-time WCWA All-American and was the 2020 WCWA National Champion.

235lbs: Lakiya Wagoner (Birmingham) Class of 2016

As a competitor, she was a four-time section champion claiming all titles at 235-pounds. Despite going 2-2 as a high school freshman, Wagoner was triumphant in claiming state titles as a Sophomore and Junior. During her senior campaign, Wagoner suffered an injury in the semifinals of the state tournament that prevented her from claiming her third state title. She wound up placing sixth at the state tournament.