11 domestic wrestlers advance to semifinals of CIF State – Press Enterprise

The dream of winning a CIF state championship remains alive for 11 wrestlers representing domestic schools.

Temecula Valley had four wrestlers who advanced to the semifinals including Manuel Gaitan (160 pounds) on the boys’ side and his cousin Leah Gaitan (121) on the girls’ side. Leah is seeking her second state title, having previously won one as a freshman in 2019 while fighting for Yucaipa. Joining the Gaitans in the semifinals are Ethan Perryman (boys, 120) and Mark Takara (boys, 152).

The state finals conclude Saturday at the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Games start at 09:00, semi-finals start at 11:00. The championship round starts at 18:15

Perryman is No. 1 in the 120-pound boys division and will face St Francis’ No. 4 Bryce Luna in the semifinals. Manuel Gaitan, who is No. 2, meets No. 3 seeded Oscar Arranda of St John Bosco in a 160lb semifinal. Mark Takara, the runner-up, takes on 3rd-seeded Sloan Swan of Buchanan in a 152lb semifinal. Leah Gaitan, the No. 3 at 121 pounds on the girls side, meets Pitman’s No. 2 Lillian Avalos in the semifinals.

Temecula Valley has three other wrestlers competing in consolation prizes, including Abel Gaitan (138), who is Leah’s brother. Also looking for podiums for the Golden Bears are Devin Avedissian (132) and Alec Peralta (145).

Richard Murillo from Canyon Springs is the fourth Inland Boys wrestler to reach the semifinals. Murillo, the No. 6 in the 120-pound bracket, takes on No. 2 Romero Sanchez of Esperanza.

Three other domestic wrestlers are still hoping for the podium: Arturo Carranza or Arlington (113), Lakeside’s Anthony Pererya (126) and Yucaipa’s Diego Costa (182).

Joining Leah Gaitan in the girls’ semifinals are six other domestic wrestlers.

San Dimas has two semifinalists in Esperanza Dorantes (126) and Cameron Ortiz (131). Dorantes, the No. 3 seed, meets the unseeded Ella Jauregui of Palo Alto, who upset No. 2 Katie Gomez of Birmingham in the quarterfinals. Ortiz, the No. 4, meets Los Gatos’ unseeded Veloria Pannell, who defeated Rim of the World’s top seed Hailey Chapman in Thursday’s opening round.

Like Leah Gaitan, Montclair’s Jo Forman is attempting to win her second state championship. Forman won a state title as a freshman in 2020 while fighting for Upland. She is No. 1 in the 143-pound bracket and meets No. 4 Leilani Frazer of Vintage in the semifinals.

Hillcrest’s Tehya Ledesma is No. 4 in the 126lb class and meets Gilroy’s Jennifer Soto in the semifinals. Paloma Valley’s Reyna Montenegro is No. 4 in the 137-pound division and takes on top seed Savannah Gomez of Brawley. Vista Murrieta’s Mariyah Casados ​​is the No. 2 seed at 170 pounds and will face No. 3 seed Jacklyn Green of Golden West in the semifinals.

Chapman still lives in the Consolation brackets along with 14 other domestic wrestlers: Lakeside’s Jillian Wells (101), Paloma Valley’s Karissa Turnwall (111), Paloma Valley’s Makayla Correa (121), Cajon’s Madeline Santana (131), Janelle Gomez of Paloma Valley (143), Mariz Soliman of Temescal Canyon (143), Alexia Jimenez of Valley View (143), Juliana Marquez of San Dimas (160), Selena Cubias of Hillcrest (170), Kaley Rice of Montclair (170) , Rosalie Lopez of King (189), Gisselle Macias of Hillcrest (189), Gabby O’Connell of Elsinore (189), and Janiah Carr of Canyon Springs (235).

Wrestlers who reach the semifinals are guaranteed a podium finish (top eight finishes). For those in the consolation round, a win in their first game on Saturday will secure a spot on the podium.