Liliana Rios is closer to getting the chance to defend her 235-pound title in the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament.
The Manteca High standout is one of six area grapplers returning to Adventist Health Arena in Stockton today. She and Sierra 190-pounder Valeria Galvan are both in the semifinal round and a way away from earning a repeat appearance in the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships.
Manteca leads area schools with three individuals still remaining.
Seeded third, Rios opened with a first-round bye on Friday, then pinned Pitman’s Nathalla Magallon in 1 minute, 32 seconds. She followed that with a 2:49 stoppage of Ceres’ Elizabeth Boyd in the quarterfinals. Rios squares off with No. 2 seed Nancy Hernandez of Hiram Johnson in the semifinals this morning.
The 16th-seeded Galvan started her campaign the 190-pound bracket with a 53-second pinning of Yuba City’s Kalyn Divas. She then knocked off top-seeded Audrina Moreni of El Capitan in convincing fashion, winning a major decision, 11-0.
Galvan pulled off another stunner in Round 3. She fell behind 7-2 to No. 8 Macey Meredith of Cordova in the third period, but pinned her with 2 seconds left in the match. She’ll next face Vacaville’s Jenna Patzer, the No. 4 seed.
The rest of the area’s remaining competitors have the tougher route to state. Only the top five qualify.
Rios’ teammates Breanna Bragg (110) and Susan Joseph (125) are in the consolation fourth round.
Ripon heavyweight Joaquin Rodriguez and Sierra 126-pounder Luis Gonzalez are the only male competitors left from area schools. Rodriguez is looking to make a second straight state appearance and is the reigning Trans Valley League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division V champion.
Lathrop’s Damian Ceja Ramirez had his senior season end in heartbreaking fashion. He was seeded second in the 157-pound division and opened with a 9-5 decision over Whitney’s Carter Burak. Then he dropped back-to-back 1-0 decision losses to No. 18 Evan Hatfield of Ponderosa and No. 32 Shane Petty of Turlock.
Action resumes this morning at 9 a.m. with consolation-round matches.
