Alde Nguyen
Online Sports Editor
Three Mustangs pinned down their dreams of competing at State after routing opponents in their individuals weight classes to place at CIF.
Mira Costa’s girls wrestling team placed eighth overall out of 62 other teams at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Girls Wrestling Finals on Friday at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Senior Sasha Medvidovic, junior Viviana Ramirez, and junior Allysa Nocum placed in their respective weight classes, advancing to the State.
“We had so much support for each other during CIF and It was such a great experience for everyone,” Nocum said. “Our wrestling experience grew exponentially and so did our bond.”
Medvidovic entered the 32 man bracket seeded 7th and upsetted her opponents, becoming the champion at the 150 pound weight division, and recording a 5-0 win/loss ratio. In her semifinals match, Medvidovic majored her opponent with a score of 11-3 and then eased past San Dimas’s Jaylene Tiki, 8-6, to place first.
“I felt like I wrestled really well and I know I fought hard to get to the top of the podium,” Medvidovic said. “I’ve been waiting for my shot at being a CIF Champ for over 2 years now, because I was injured last year, but it was definitely worth the wait.”
In the 121 pound weight division, Nocum won her first two consecutive matches but lost to California High School’s Kelly Escamilla by a score of 6-2. In the consolation rounds, Nocum defeated her next three opponents but fell to Escamilla for a second time, resulting in a fourth place finish.
“I wrestled my hardest and I’m so happy to have the opportunity of going to state,” Nocum said. “I know I wouldn’t have been able to get through without the other girls because they are my support since I started wrestling and I’m very grateful to have them in my life.”
Shortly after pinning her opponent in the first round, Ramirez fell to Beckman’s Melissa Moreno in the 189 pound weight class. Ramirez then gained momentum, accumulating four back to back pins in the consolation rounds to place sixth overall.
“CIF was hard but I had trained year round for it and I delivered,” Ramirez said. “It feels good knowing that all my hard work has paid off and hopefully I’ll win state.”
Medvidovic, Nocum, and Ramirez will compete at the California Interscholastic Federation Girls State Wrestling tournament at the Visalia Convention Center on Feb. 23 in their last tournament of the season. Medvidovic has had experience in the state tournament, having placed third her sophomore year.
“I hope to wrestle smart and my best at State and hopefully that will translate into 1st place,” Medvidovic said.
Leave a Reply