Excelsior’s Itzel Padilla earns the 135-pound title at the CIF-SS Masters Meet
Itzel Padilla arrived at the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet, in Palm Springs, on a mission, remembering how she felt exactly a year ago.
Padilla didn’t have the best showing at last year’s Masters and it was an eye-opener after she captured the 126-pound title at the CIF-SS Central Division.
Last season’s disappointment is in the past as the sophomore from Excelsior is heading to the CIF State Wrestling Championships after capturing the 135-pound title at the Masters on Saturday.
“I feel so happy. Like completely overwhelmed with joy and I’m just so incredibly grateful,” Padilla said. “Last year certainly made me realize I needed to up my game, I just didn’t know how or where to start. I owe it all to my coaches and my parents. They have been there for me since the beginning and supported me the whole way, uplifting me when I was feeling down. I’m just so incredibly thankful for it all. It’s truly a blessing.”
Padilla began the tournament by scoring an 8-2 decision over El Toro's Izzy Cruz and then reached the semifinals by pinning West Covina's Andrea Aguilar at the 2:27 mark.
Padilla made quick work in the semifinals, pinning Hillcrest's Lauren Pena, setting up the title match against El Modena's Lena Nelson, the No. 1 seed in the division.
Padilla pulled off a 12-10 decision for the crown.
More: Sultana girls wrestling claims the CIF-SS Central Division team championship
“I didn’t know I was up by that much, I just knew at one point we were tied,” Padilla said. “I just heard my coaches and my parents yelling like crazy, so I just gave everything I had. Honestly, the whole thing feels phenomenal and amazing. I worked as hard as I could and I just feel immense gratitude.”
More: Hesperia's Paulo Valdez earns the 113-pound title at the CIF-SS Masters Meet
Padilla highlights the list of three High Desert wrestlers who qualified for the CIF State Wrestling Championships.
The High Desert was represented by 19 girls who qualified for the Masters, held at Palm Springs High School.
Each weight class was split into blue and gold brackets with the top 8, four in each bracket, respectively, guaranteeing a berth to the CIF State Wrestling Championships, at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, on Feb. 22 through 24.
Here’s a look at the runs for the other two qualifiers from the High Desert:
Mariah Rodriguez, Barstow, senior, 155 pounds — Rodriguez began the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the gold bracket. She pinned San Jacinto's Brianna Rodriguez at the 2:58 mark and then reached the semifinals by pinning Irvine's Lillian Mendez at the 3:45 mark. But Rodriguez lost by pinfall in the semifinals against Northview's Andrea Mateo. Rodriguez reached the third-place match by pinning Chaffey's Micky Muratalla pinfall at the 3:42 mark. Rodriguez captured third place by pinning Hillcrest’s Naomi Mesa in one minute.
Savannah Etheridge, Sultana, senior, 235 pounds — Etheridge began the tournament by pinning Norwalk's Mia Farr at the 4:21 mark in the gold bracket. She then reached the semifinals by pinning Corona's Jasmin Taulanga at the 3:35 mark. But it wasn’t the last time she’d face Taulanga. After losing in the semifinals, Etheridge pinned Cypress' Keye Osede at the 1:14 mark to reach the third-place match, setting up a rematch with Taulanga, who she pinned again, 10 seconds faster than their previous meeting.
These wrestlers earned victories but missed the cut
Leilahni Hart, Victor Valley, 105 pounds — Hart went 1-2 on the mat, with her lone victory being a pinfall over San Dimas' Mariah Melendez.
Nataly Diaz, Sultana, 110 pounds — Diaz went 2-2 on the mat, scoring a pinfall over Santa Ana Valley's Yenetzi Gomez and a 4-3 decision over San Dimas' Lei-ani Jaime.
Estella Wade, Sultana, 115 pounds — Wade won two matches by pinfall to reach the semifinals, but lost to Hillcrest's Mackenzie Muniz, the No. 1 seed, and then lost in the consolation bracket.
Ellie Myer, Victor Valley, 120 pounds — Myer went 1-2 on the mat, with her lone victory being a 5-0 decision over Orange Lutheran's Sophia Garcia.
Samera Mejia, Oak Hills, 120 pounds — Mejia reached the semifinals after scoring an 11-1 majority decision over Downey's Ivana Cuellar and a pinfall over Temescal Canyon's Megan Merrifield. She lost in the semifinals and then an injury caused her to forfeit her following match.
Isabella Belanger, Sultana, 125 pounds — Belanger went 3-2 on the mat, scoring a pinfall victory over El Toro's Beyonce Mondragon in the first round and then two decisions in the consolation rounds.
Ariyanna Avalos, Barstow, 130 pounds — Avalos went 2-2 on the mat, with a pinfall victory over Capistrano Valley's Sydney De Sena and a 22-6 technical fall over Chaparral's Annabelle Reed.
Jerzi Tully, Excelsior, 140 pounds — Tully went 1-2 on the mat with her lone victory being a pinfall over Warren's Rogabella Corona.
Mia Garcia, Sultana, 145 pounds — Garcia went 1-2 on the mat with her lone victory being a 3-2 decision over Corona's Taylor Bell in the first round.
Karyna Rios, Oak Hills, 175 pounds — Rios began the tournament with a pinfall victory over Irvine's Lillianne Fernandez, lost in the second round and then forfeited her following match.
Natalie Gonzales, Victor Valley, 170 pounds — Gonzalez went 1-2 on the mat with her lone victory being a pinfall over Chaffey's Mariah Daboub in 47 seconds.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: CIF-SS Masters Meets: 3 High Desert girls wrestlers reach the podium
