Cabrillo, Compton, Jordan, Lakewood, Millikan, Long Beach Poly and Wilson grapplers qualify for CIF individual tournament.
It was an exciting evening at Long Beach Poly Thursday as the Moore League crowned 14 league champions at the Moore League girls wrestling finals.
Inside the Ron Palmer Pavilion seven athletes won their first Moore League title, while some of the league’s veterans repeated in their divisions.
Wilson’s Madi Emigh had an unusual wait ahead of her 100-pound bout against Cabrillo’s Carnijah Kirkland, but she made the wait worth it as she pinned Kirkland to win her first league title.
“All I knew was that I was always gonna put my everything into every single match,” Emigh said. “I knew If I were to lose, I was not gonna get pinned.”
Poly juniors Riley Pestanas and Princess Nicole Comia won the next two bouts to claim their second-straight titles. Lakewood’s Kailee Muk with the Lancers first win of the night by claiming her first title in the 115-pound title match.
“This means a lot to me,” Muk said. “It’s my first time winning at a varsity tournament. It’s really surprising because I thought I wasn’t gonna get champ and all and I thought it was just gonna be Max (Wafer) this year, but it surprised me.”
Maribel Quezada (120) and Kayla Chalage (125) won their first league titles as they claimed the next two matches for the Jackrabbits.
Millikan won the next three matches as Amiyah McIntyre (130), Isabella Martinez (135) and Gabriela Bonilla (140) as they won the Rams three titles on the night. For McIntyre and Martinez it was redemption for the duo after they were runner-ups last year. For Bonilla, it was her second straight title.
“I feel like my hard work throughout the season really paid off,” McIntyre said of winning her first title to cap her senior season. “Just sticking to it and putting hard work to do what I want to do. It feels like all the hard times that I thought I couldn’t keep going – they really paid off. I’m really proud of myself and my teammates.”
Poly’s Devyn Kripp continued the redemption arc of the night as she defeated Kayde Preciado in the 145-pound bout to claim her first title after losing in the title match a year ago.
The special night continued in the 155-pound bout as Jordan’s Emelia Defour won the Panthers’ second straight title as the junior defeated Wilson’s Adrenne Malsbeger.
“This means a lot to me,” Defour said. “I’ve finished third place the last two years. So, to overcome that is really great for me. I’ve worked really hard for this and I’m really glad that I’ve been able to grow.”
The final three matches of the night were won by some of the best that the Moore League has seen in recent years as Poly’s Berlynn Solia-Tago (170) and Selieni Paseka (190) won their matches. Lakewood’s Max Wafer wrapped the evening with her second-straight title in the heavyweight division.
“It feels good,” Paseka said of winning the title after not being able to wrestle in her title bout last year. “I was really bummed out last year not being able to wrestle. But I made it a goal to do my best this year and to show up.”
Overall, the Moore League crowned 14 division winners, 42 medalists and 56 CIF qualifiers.
Final Results (Top 4 Qualify For CIF)
100-pound
Madi Emigh – Wilson junior
Madalyn Escala – Millikan freshman
Sinai Meza – Jordan freshman
Natalia Sedar – Lakewood senior
105-pound
Riley Pestanas – Long Beach Poly junior
Jaelen Escala – Millikan senior
Juliana Reyes – Cabrillo junior
Kayleigh Walker – Lakewood sophomore
110-pound
Princess Nicole Comia – Long Beach Poly junior
Dalilah Mora – Millikan freshman
Anaid Mendia – Wilson junior
Kholey Torres – Jordan freshman
115-pound
Kailee Muk – Lakewood junior
Carnijah Kirkland – Cabrillo senior
Moira Fortuna – Millikan sophomore
Daniela Orozco – Wilson senior
120-pound
Maribel Quezada – Long Beach Poly senior
Jaeden Acevedo – Jordan senior
Ryanne Cabarles – Millikan freshman
Jolie Beyrooty – Wilson freshman
125-pound
Kayla Chalaga – Long Beach Poly sophomore
Alicia Martinez – Jordan senior
Venessa Serrana – Millikan senior
Vanessa Ramirez – Wilson junior
130-pound
Amiyah McIntyre – Millikan senior
Itzell Tirado – Wilson sophomore
Avani Averado – Lakewood sophomore
Jenelle Encizo – Jordan freshman
135-pound
Isabella Martinez – Millikan senior
Vivienne Winkler – Wilson freshman
Bowie Potterf-Degregio – Long Beach Poly senior
140-pound
Gabriela Bonilla – Millikan junior
Jaslynn Dado – Lakewood senior
Alyssa Pedregon – Wilson senior
145-pound
Devyn Kripp – Long Beach Poly junior
Kayde Preciado – Millikan senior
Joscelyn Flores – Wilson senior
155-pound
Emelia Defour – Jordan junior
Adrenne Malsberger – Wilson junior
Amaris Espinoza – Millikan freshman
Eva Adron – Long Beach Poly sophomore
170-pound
Berlynn Solia-Tago – Long Beach Poly senior
Ximena Gastelum – Lakewood freshman
Nixon Herran – Wilson freshman
Natalia Diaz – Compton freshman
190-pound
Selieni Paseka – Long Beach Poly senior
Katelyn Pong – Wilson senior
Mikeila Rodriguez – Lakewood freshman
Teresa Ledeszma – Compton senior
235-pound
Ashley Wafer – Lakewood senior
Blessings Iosia – Long Beach Poly freshman
Nicola Lira – Compton freshman
Anna Raquel-Vigal – Millikan junior