26 High Desert girls wrestlers to watch this high school season
Five girls made a run to the CIF State wrestling tournament last season. Four of those athletes are back this year, as the 2023-24 wrestling season gets underway.
Sultana’s Nataly Diaz highlights the High Desert’s list of girl wrestlers to watch this season.
Diaz advanced to the second round after scoring a 6-2 decision in her opening match. In the second round, Diaz lost by pinfall against No. 1 Paige Morales, of Central, dropping to the consolation bracket. There she was pinned again, ending her bid at the state tournament.
To reach the state championships, Diaz claimed the Mojave River League title and then followed that up with a second-place finish at the CIF-SS Central Division tournament. A week later, she punched her ticket to the state tournament with a third-place finish at the CIF-SS Masters meet.
This year, Diaz is moving up to 110 pounds and is gunning for another deep postseason run as she is one of three returning state qualifiers from Sultana.
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Here’s a list of wrestlers from the High Desert to keep an eye on, starting with the other returning CIF state wrestling championships qualifiers, along with some notes from last season.
Estella Wade
Sultana, junior, 111 pounds
SchoolSecond place at the CIF-SS Central Division tournament; Fourth place at the CIF-SS Masters.
Mariah Rodriguez
Barstow, senior, 150 pounds
Fifth place at the CIF-SS Central Division tournament; Second place at the CIF-SS Masters.
Savannah Etheridge
Sultana, senior, 235 pounds
Fourth place at the CIF-SS Central Division tournament; Fourth place at the CIF-SS Masters.
These wrestlers reached the podium at last year’s CIF-SS Inland Division tourney
Dayanara Ramirez, Sultana, junior, 116 pounds, fifth place
Alycia Reyes, Excelsior, senior, 111 pounds, seventh place
Itzel Padilla, Excelsior, sophomore, 126 pounds, first place
Ariyanna Avalos, Barstow, senior, 126 pounds, seventh place
Mia Garcia, Sultana, senior, 145 pounds, second place
Chelsea Garcia, Sultana, sophomore, 160 pounds, second place
Natalie Gonzales, Victor Valley, 170 pounds, sixth place
Keep an eye on these names
Linda Hernandez, Adelanto, junior, 110 pounds
Vivianna Munoz, Adelanto, 115 pounds
Emily Garrett, Apple Valley, junior, 120 pounds
Jaelynn Serna, Apple Valley, junior, 100 pounds
Jerzi Tully, Excelsior, junior, 138 pounds
Chloe Navarrette, Granite Hills, senior, 190 pounds
Emma Seiler, Granite Hills, sophomore, 100 pounds
Samera Mejia, Oak Hills, 125 pounds
Karyna Rios, Oak Hills, junior, 170 pounds
Saige Sheffield, Oak Hills, senior, 145 pounds
Presley Cariveau, Serrano, junior, 140 pounds
Audrey Galbraith, Serrano, senior, 115 pounds
Alyssa Abreo, Silverado, senior, 190 pounds
Alexi Gonzalez, Silverado, senior, 155 pounds
Aliyah Rocha, Silverado, sophomore, 100 pounds
Isabella Belanger, Sultana, 130 pounds
Daily Press reporter Jose Quintero may be reached at 760-951-6274 or JQuintero@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @J0seQuintero, and on Instagram at @VVDailyPress_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: High Desert high school girls wrestling preview for 2023-24
