CHULA VISTA — The final full day of the 2025-26 girls wrestling season in San Diego County commenced Saturday with the Masters meet at Eastlake High School.
Schools from all three wrestling divisions throughout the San Diego and Imperial counties battled throughout all 14 weight classes trying to secure their spots for next week’s state meet in Bakersfield.
Poway, the reigning Masters Champion but the runner-up in the Division 2 section finals meet two weeks ago, powered through to retain the Masters team title at 183 points, highlighted by having six finalists and three champions.
“All year, they’ve done a really great job of persevering and overcoming,” Poway coach Ka’imi Cummings said. “It’s kind of tough when every target is on your back and everyone’s aiming for you. So, to repeat again as Masters champions is a phenomenal feat for those girls.
“I think (losing the section meet) set a spark off in them. They were training very hard the past couple of weeks.”
Poway’s three winners were Ava Fodera (105), Ava Ebrahimi (120) and Aleia Apostol (125).
“It proves how hard we’re working in the room, our dedication to the sport and how we all push each other,” said Ebrahimi, who took down Central Union’s Arabella Rascon in convincing fashion by technical fall, 21-5. “I think if we all work hard, we can be a room full of champions.”
Overall, the Titans had all eight of their Masters qualifiers punch their ticket to state, including Sophia Fodera (130) and Edna Rodriguez-Villa (135) with third-place finishes.
Those third-place finishes loom large because not only does it secure points for the team, but it also qualifies that wrestler for state after making their way through the consolation bracket from losing earlier in the day.
“Both those girls didn’t make it to state last year,” Cummings said of Rodriguez-Villa and Fodera. “For them to overcome that and make state this year is vital for them and their growth, and it’s also really helpful for us next week for the team trophies.”
Olympian finished as the Masters runner-up with 123.5 points, including going 3-of-4 in the finals — Madelyn Hogue (140), Natalia Righellis (145) and Elisa Najera (235)
Hogue also took down Poway’s Kaitlyn Krenz in the only first-place match that featured the top two scoring teams.
“A lot of our girls stepped up today,” Olympian coach Jessie Perez said. “Anytime that we can have three girls that are the best in San Diego on your lineup, that’s more than we’ve ever had.”
Brawley, who defeated the Titans at the section meet two weeks ago by five points, finished third in team scoring with 104.0 points, and had two Wildcats win individual Masters crowns: Camille Torres (130) and Lauren Zaragoza (135).
Rounding out the top five in team scoring was Mira Mesa and Steele Canyon at 103.0 and 87.0 points, respectively.