LEMOORE – Fourteen girls made history Saturday, winning championships during the inaugural CIF State Girls Wrestling State Invitational Tournament Presented by Farmers at Lemoore High School.

A total of 336 female athletes representing 10 CIF sections statewide participated in the two-day event before a crowd of 977 on Friday and 1,032 on Saturday. The invitational is part of the CIF Regional and State Championship master plan to balance the number of postseason athletic experiences for boys and girls. It also comes 38 years after the first boys state tournament was held at Cal State Hayward in 1973.

“I was truly pleased with the attendance and crowd that came to the event,” CIF State Executive Director Marie M. Ishida said. “I was particularly pleased with the staff at Lemoore High School and the Central Section, which helped to put on a great event. Together, we established a fine foundation for the future and we hope the girls
championships will grow into an event that will mirror the boys’ championships.”

The female athletes engaged in several competitive matches that generated roars from the crowd and illustrated the progress of the sport. “The quality and athleticism displayed by the athletes showed tremendous improvement from where we were six years ago,” Ishida said. “It was absolutely amazing.”

Among those who earned individual state titles included freshman Regina Doi of Kingsburg, Alexia Moreno of Turlock, and junior Juliana Triplett of Ripon. Bob Contreras of Kingsburg became the first to win a boys state title (98 pounds) in 1973 and Doi did the same in the girls’ event representing the same school. She defeated junior
Nhi Doan of San Jose-Andrew Hill by major decision (11-1) in a 98-pound match.

“I made history,” said Doi, who wrestled 20 pounds under weight. “And I feel really honored to join Bob Contreras as first-ever winners.”

Moreno muscled her way to a 118-pound state title, pinning Tamara Tillman of Santa Fe late in the third period. Triplett captured the 165-pound title, defeating senior Heather O’Connor of Vintage 1-0 in four sudden-death overtime periods. 

West Covina won the team championship with 156.5 points, followed by Bethel (111.5) and Northview (77).

Nationwide, nearly 6,150 high school girls wrestled last year, according to the National Federation of State
School Associations, nearly three times as many 10 years earlier. Statewide the numbers have nearly doubled within the decade going from 752 in 2001 to currently 1,493.

While those numbers pale in comparison to the nearly quarter-million boys who wrestle nationwide, there are other signs of advancement for the women’s sport. Women’s wrestling is now an Olympic sport and featured on some college campus.

More high schools nationwide are offering girls only teams, with the hotbeds being in states like Hawaii, Texas and California. 

“Having a girls’ only sanctioned tournament in California is huge,” USA Women’s Wrestling National coach Terry Steiner said. “It’s a big sign of progress for the sport of girls wrestling.”

STATE INVITATIONAL FINAL RESULTS
(98-pounds) Regina Doi, Fr., Kingsburg d. Nhi Doan, Jr., Andrew Hill 11-1)
(103-pounds) Alexis Rodriguez, Sr., Redlands East Valley d. Vanessa Gomez, Jr., Northview (4-3)
(108-pounds) Jasmine Yanez, Sr., Gilroy d. Gabrielle Eslinger, So., Lincoln (8-0)
(114-pounds) Samantha Ortiz, Jr., West Covina d. Amelia Castillo, Sr. Royal (4-2)
(118-pounds) Alexia Moreno, Jr., Turlock d. Tamara Tillman, Sr., Santa Fe (by pin in 3rd period)
(122-pounds) Tianna Camous, Sr., Folsom d. Sabrina Samaniego, Sr., Andrew Hill (3-0)
(126-pounds) Amanda Hendey, Sr., Beaumont d. Mabel Flores, Sr., Los Banos (Injury default)
(132-pounds) Biri Mendoza, Sr., Selma d. Sarah Bollinger, Jr., Sultana (5-0)
(138-pounds) Emily Hamel, Jr., Merced d. Cheyenne Youngblood, Jr., Temecula Valley (4-2)
(146-pounds) Hayley Kinney, Sr., Great Oak d. Jessica Vasquez, Sr., West Covina (7-0)
(154-pounds) Katie Burdick, Sr., Newark Memorial d. Amy Spafford, Jr., Royal (by pin in 3rd period)
(165-pounds) Juliana Triplett, Jr., Ripon d. Heather O’Connor, Sr., Vintage (1-0 in 4OT)
(189-pounds) Jamaie Scott, Sr., West Campus d. Gabriela Guzman, So., Edison (4-3)
(235-pounds) Jillian Jenkins, Jr. Albany d. Jessica Walker, So., Santa Monica (Technical Fall-2nd period)

Team Scores (Top 10) 1. West Covina 156.5, 2. Bethel 111.5. 3. Northview 77, 4. Albany 67.5, Newark Memorial 65.5, 6. Andrew Hill 54.5, 7. Royal 50.5, 8. Porterville 43, 9. Vintage 42, 10. Edison 41.