EASTVALE – Maria Ahumada remembers the days when she wanted to try out for the Loara football team.
She survived one week of practice but was told to head to the wrestling room. She’s glad she heeded that advice.
Ahumada, who placed first at last week’s Southern Regional qualifier, booked her spot in the Girls State Tournament, rolling through the 101-pound weight class Saturday at Eleanor Roosevelt High in the CIF-SS girls wrestling championships.
The top eight wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the state tournament Feb. 28-March 1 at the Visalia Convention Center.
“The football team didn’t want me. They thought I was too small.” Ahumada said. “I met (wrestling) coach (Tad) Stricker. He got my weight down and I got into this. It is physical, it is amazing. All the hard work you put in the wrestling room, you get out what you put into it.”
“I had dreams since my sophomore year of winning state and I’m going to complete it this year.”
Last year, she finished fifth at the state tournament. She believes she is better prepared heading back this time.
“I was nervous,” she said. “Everybody is watching you. That is where the elite girls come out. It was nerve-wracking, but after two or three matches, I figured out that I came there for a mission and I want to succeed at it.
“I feel physically, emotionally and spiritually better this year. To be the champ, you have to work hard. It is not easy at all.”
She won three matches by fall and another by major decision. Ahumada will be joined at state by her teammates Lariah Gonzales (eighth at 143) and Rossy Dominguez (seventh at 189).
At 121 pounds, defending state champion Gabby Garcia (Valencia) dominated the opposition, winning four matches by fall. Only one, her final match, made it past the first round.
“My finals match, I think that was like the best match that I’ve had all season,” Garcia said. “I put a lot of combinations together.”
Garcia led, 12-0, in the final before pinning her opponent.
“Once the whistle blew, everything clicked together and it was like everything was in slow motion,” she said. “There are people out there that want to see me lose, but this is where I prove my point and I’m proving them wrong.”
Garcia earned Lower Weight MVP honors.
Canyon’s Aleeah Gould, who finished second at last week’s qualifier, took the title at 111 pounds.
Diana Hernandez (Godinez) finished third at 116 pounds. Her teammates Diana Castaneda (126) and Brenda Hernandez (131) were third at their weights, and Alejanda Colin was fourth at 189.
Kennedy’s Miyuki Pugrad was sixth at 116.
Mater Dei’s Julie Calzada was seventh at 137 pounds.
Western’s Marlen Grajeda was sixth at 121 pounds and Santiago’s Paula Gonzalez finished third at 143.
Santa Ana’s Brenda Perez advanced to the final at 150 pounds but finished second. Perez’s teammates Josahandy Moreno was fifth at 143 and Claribel Estrada was sixth at 170.
Los Alamitos’ Kenady Beaudoin (seventh) and Tustin’s Jasmine Cordero (eighth) secured a trip to state at 150 pounds.
Magnolia’s Arlene Hernandez placed seventh at 160 pounds and Orange Lutheran’s Megan Browning was seventh at 170, followed by Magnolia’s Gabriela Martinez.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
