STOCKTON — Over 220 wrestlers showed up to McNair High in attempt to continue their postseason run for at least another day, and for a handful of area wrestlers that mission was accomplished during the first day of the Sac-Joaquin Section Girls Masters Tournament.
Both Ripon High’s Juliana Triplett and Hailey Owens punched tickets for today’s championship round by going undefeated, as did East Union standout Sarah Phillips and Sierra’s Montiel.
Triplett’s weight class of 165 pounds did not include 20-plus wrestlers like some of the other weight classes. She needed just one win to advance to today’s finals.
Weston Ranch freshman Alyssa Cantu also advanced to the championship round, establishing herself with a first-round pin.
The two will meet up today in hopes of clearing their final hurdle remaining to earn a trip to the California Interscholastic Federation’s first sanctioned state meet in Lemoore the last weekend in February.
Phillips was in rare form in Friday’s action, posting an 8-second pin in her first 98-pound match and scoring another first-round pin in her final match of the day. Phillips was tactical and effective in the second match, and overwhelmingly dominant against her first victim of the tournament.
“The coaches usually want me to be more aggressive if I start losing,” Phillips said. “So right now I am just working on being the aggressor in each of my matches.”
That was definitely the case in both of her matches, asserting herself instantly both times she hit the mat.
Montiel put together an impressive opening round as well, stopping her initial opponent in 36 seconds for the win.
“I felt pretty good today with my coaching staff and my mom here,” Montiel said. “I felt really confident going into today’s matches. I felt prepared.”
Lancers Stefanie Collins and Mariah Wheeler had to respond in the consolation bracket. Collins dropped her second match and Wheeler fell in her opener.
Both athletes bounced back with victories — Collins with a 3-1 win over senior Casey Wright of Argonaut, and Wheeler came back to post a pin after trailing her opponent early on in the match.
Collins was able to push past her final opponent of the day to advance, while Wheeler’s first postseason run of her career came to a halt.
“It felt really good, especially with it being my first year,” Wheeler said of her victory. “I just really love this sport and that makes it so exciting. I don’t know how I got her, I just kept wrestling and technique and training took over.
“I don’t give up at all, that’s just not me.”
Both Ripon standouts looked dominant, with Owens posting a clinic-like performance in a 20-4 technical decision in her first action, before scoring a pin for her second win.
“I feel good,” Owens said. “I was a little tired, but I know it’s not going to be that big of deal for me tomorrow (Saturday). I’ll get a pound next round, but I am way under so I don’t have to worry about working out.
“I can just relax at home, take it easy and just pump myself up for the championships.”
Triplett was forced to conserve her energy for nearly six hours, waiting the entire match before she was able to get on the mat against an opponent. She didn’t hesitate after finally getting the call, sending her opponent into the consolation bracket with a 52-second pin.
Matches will get under way at 10 a.m., with official weigh-ins coming two hours prior.
Both Ripon High’s Juliana Triplett and Hailey Owens punched tickets for today’s championship round by going undefeated, as did East Union standout Sarah Phillips and Sierra’s Montiel.
Triplett’s weight class of 165 pounds did not include 20-plus wrestlers like some of the other weight classes. She needed just one win to advance to today’s finals.
Weston Ranch freshman Alyssa Cantu also advanced to the championship round, establishing herself with a first-round pin.
The two will meet up today in hopes of clearing their final hurdle remaining to earn a trip to the California Interscholastic Federation’s first sanctioned state meet in Lemoore the last weekend in February.
Phillips was in rare form in Friday’s action, posting an 8-second pin in her first 98-pound match and scoring another first-round pin in her final match of the day. Phillips was tactical and effective in the second match, and overwhelmingly dominant against her first victim of the tournament.
“The coaches usually want me to be more aggressive if I start losing,” Phillips said. “So right now I am just working on being the aggressor in each of my matches.”
That was definitely the case in both of her matches, asserting herself instantly both times she hit the mat.
Montiel put together an impressive opening round as well, stopping her initial opponent in 36 seconds for the win.
“I felt pretty good today with my coaching staff and my mom here,” Montiel said. “I felt really confident going into today’s matches. I felt prepared.”
Lancers Stefanie Collins and Mariah Wheeler had to respond in the consolation bracket. Collins dropped her second match and Wheeler fell in her opener.
Both athletes bounced back with victories — Collins with a 3-1 win over senior Casey Wright of Argonaut, and Wheeler came back to post a pin after trailing her opponent early on in the match.
Collins was able to push past her final opponent of the day to advance, while Wheeler’s first postseason run of her career came to a halt.
“It felt really good, especially with it being my first year,” Wheeler said of her victory. “I just really love this sport and that makes it so exciting. I don’t know how I got her, I just kept wrestling and technique and training took over.
“I don’t give up at all, that’s just not me.”
Both Ripon standouts looked dominant, with Owens posting a clinic-like performance in a 20-4 technical decision in her first action, before scoring a pin for her second win.
“I feel good,” Owens said. “I was a little tired, but I know it’s not going to be that big of deal for me tomorrow (Saturday). I’ll get a pound next round, but I am way under so I don’t have to worry about working out.
“I can just relax at home, take it easy and just pump myself up for the championships.”
Triplett was forced to conserve her energy for nearly six hours, waiting the entire match before she was able to get on the mat against an opponent. She didn’t hesitate after finally getting the call, sending her opponent into the consolation bracket with a 52-second pin.
Matches will get under way at 10 a.m., with official weigh-ins coming two hours prior.
