EASTVALE – Esperanza junior Gwen McDonald is headed back to the CIF Girls State Tournament to attend to unfinished business.
McDonald finished second at 116 pounds Saturday at the CIF-SS Girls Individual Championships at Roosevelt High of Eastvale.
She dropped an 11-5 decision to Destiny Salinas of Coachella Valley in the final, and that’s probably all the motivation she will need as she begins preparation for the state tournament, which will take place Feb. 24-25 at the Visalia Convention Center.
“I think I’m definitely prepared a lot better (for the state tournament) than I was last year,” she said. “I’ve just been grinding in the room a lot. I came out here to win and unfortunately I didn’t, but if I see her again, I’m going to take it to her.”
McDonald fell behind early in the final, but seemed to turn the tide in the third period with her constant pressure. McDonald said she’s confident in herself and her training and that the next time will be different.
“I definitely think I’m the better wrestler,” McDonald said. “She was tired and she didn’t do anything and stalled out. That’s not wrestling. If I see her again, I’m going to make sure she knows what wrestling is.”
Last year, McDonald finished seventh at the CIF Tournament, but then went 0-2 at the state tournament.
“I was nervous,” she said of last year’s state tournament. “It was nerve-wracking, but I’m glad that I went because this year I’m hungry to get the title that I want.”
McDonald was one of three county wrestlers to advance to the finals, but come up short.
At 137, University’s Lorena Egea won her first four matches by fall and then lost by fall in the final to returning state medalist Mikayla Miles of Nordhoff.
Later at 160, Samantha Salas (Godinez) also won her first four matches by fall before losing by the same in the final against Anna Castro of Carter High.
Both Egea and Salas will be making their second consecutive trip to the state tournament as are Amara Devericks (San Clemente, 189) and Karamia Guzman (Cypress, 143).
Godinez led all county teams with three state qualifiers. Along with Salas, Jacqueline Alcantara finished fifth at 126 and Gisselle Duarte was eighth at 170.
San Clemente qualified two wrestlers, with Carolina Moreno (170) joining Devericks.
Sadie Camacho finished seventh at 106 to become the first Dana Hills girls wrestler to qualify for the state tournament.
“It is pretty cool,” she said. “I didn’t expect to make it this far. I’ve always had that drive to want to learn more about wrestling. It always seemed like a really cool sport. It hasn’t been easy. Being the only girl (on the team) last year, it was kind of awkward at first, but now the guys kind of treat me like one of them now.”
For the second consecutive week, Westminster’s Aine Drury met Kennedy’s Madison Lauren Camp and came away victorious. Drury finished third at 137 pounds and Camp was fourth.
Los Alamitos’ Heavynne Jerez won four matches by fall in the consolation bracket to qualify at 121. She eventually finished fifth.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
