The562’s wrestling coverage for the 2023-24 school year is sponsored by Emigh Dental Care.
It’s been a special year for the Long Beach Poly girls’ wrestling program.
The Jackrabbits continued their historic season on Thursday night at Jordan High at the Moore League finals as Poly crowned seven champions— the most of any team.
The number seven has proved to be a special number for the Jackrabbits after claiming the Moore League title thanks to a thrilling early season win over Millikan that went to the rule book to decide the winner after ending in a tie. It was the seventh tiebreaker on the list that sealed the first-ever outright league title for the program, according to coaches.
“It was amazing to see,” Poly coach Ken Lee said. “It’s kind of nice to see our wrestlers come together, especially during this time at the start of the postseason to dial everything in and make sure they’re ready for those matches to come.”
Poly sophomore Berlynn Solia-Tago had one of the most electric championship runs of the afternoon as she pinned Lakewood’s Kayla Selvidge in the semifinals before pinning Millikan’s Hailey Fernandez to claim the 155-pound title.
“With my team’s support and my coaches, all we have is motivation,” Solia-Tago said.
The sophomore defeated two CIF placers and it’s not surprising as she practices every day with teammate Dalila Preciado, who placed fifth at state last year.
“She pushes me and we push each other,” Solia-Tago said.
Preciado wasn’t surprised that her training partner won the title a few matches after she defeated Millikan’s sophomore Gabriela Bonilla for the 135-pound title.
“I knew she was going to win,” Preciado said. “We’ve been training really hard for this.”
Preciado will now look to help her team at the CIF meet before making a push at CIF and Masters next month.
With some restructuring of weight classes before the start of the season, some wrestlers had to make decisions where to compete to give them the best opportunity to make it further into the postseason.
Millikan’s Madison Oliver is one of those wrestlers who had to cut weight from last season and it proved to be fruitful as she defeated Poly’s Devyn Kripp 11-7 to claim the 145-pound crown.
“This one was super big for me,” Oliver said. “This was my second year in a row wrestling in the finals. It was super important to me to win two in a row and then the weight cut for me was hard. I came down from 155 this year. This is something I’ve been working super hard for.”
In the first bout of the night, Poly’s Reighlene Valdez defeated Millikan’s Jaelen Escala by pin.
“(Reighlene) is going to surprise some people at CIF after moving to 100 pounds,” Lee said.
Millikan’s Nohea Booth followed by pinning Wilson’s Olivia Shibuya for the 105-pound title.
“I’m really looking forward to our girls going to CIF,” Booth said. “I’m really glad I was able to come here with my team. I owe my winning to my dad and to my team… They’re the ones that pushed me the hardest.”
Lakewood’s Jaslynn Dado and Mia Pryor each claimed league title after winning the 125-pound and 140-pound, respectively.
“I was really happy I was able to get here,” Pryor said about winning a title in her first season wrestling. “I really surprised myself. I’ve grown a lot.”
Wilson’s Hailey Fenton made sure the Bruins left with a league crown as she pinned Millikan’s Isabella Martinez for the 140-pound crown – an opponent she lost to when the two matched up at their league match.
“It was great, it was all thanks to the lord. All my strength I got it from him,” Martinez said. “I really focused on my endurance heading into this— that was one thing I needed to work on.”
Poly’s Raven Ross had the second-to-last match and waited more than three hours before her competing and the wait was worth it as she pinned Lakewood’s Esper Sanchez to claim the 190-pound crown.
“It is kind of boring having to wait,” Ross said. “But once you get in there, you’ve got to be ready. Got to make sure you warm up and get that blood following.”
In the league finale, Millikan’s Helen Martinez avenged a regular season match as she pinned Lakewood’s Ashley Wafer to claim the 235-pound title.
“I went in there and was like, ‘I’m getting my revenge’,” Martinez said. “I’m coming after it again. I know I have it in me. I’ve gone to tough tournaments, I know I can do it.”
Poly will now compete in the CIF team playoffs on Saturday while the rest of the Moore League placers at the league finals will wait for CIF individuals to continue their quest for titles.
Results
100: Poly’s Reighlene Valdez wins by pin vs Millikan’s Jaelen Escala
105: Millikan’s Nohea Booth wins by pin vs Wilson’s Olivia Shibuya
110: Millikan’s Nataly Cardenas wins by 5-2 decision vs Poly’s Nicole Comia
115: Poly’s Kristine Comia wins by pin vs Millikan’s Callie Carrillo
120: Poly’s Roselyn Uce wins by 11-3 decision vs Lakewood’s Angie Frias
125: Lakewood’s Jaslynn Dado win by pin vs Jordan’s Alicia Martinez
130: Wilson’s Hailey Fenton wins by pin vs Millikan’s Isabella Martinez
135: Poly’s Dalila Preciado wins by pin vs Millikan’s Gabriela Bonilla
140: Lakewood’s Mia Pryor wins by pin vs Millikan’s Audrey Reynoso
145: Millikan’s Madison Oliver wins by 11-7 decision vs Poly’s Devyn Kripp
155: Poly’s Berlynn Solia-Tago wins by pin vs Millikan’s Hailey Fernandez
170: Poly’s Selieni Paseka wins by pin vs Jordan’s Lilliana Sermiento
190: Poly’s Raven Ross wins by pin vs Lakewood’s Esper Sanchez
235: Millikan’s Helen Martinez wins by pin vs Lakewood’s Ashley Wafer
