Paloma Wrestlers Caulk, Ramos Named Athletes of Month

Jaleela Caulk and Gabriel Ramos of Paloma Valley High School have been named the February Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month, sponsored by the Photos DLite photo studio.

Caulk brought new attention to the wrestling program at Paloma Valley when she advanced all the way to the girls wrestling state meet. Just a junior, she looks forward to being even more successful next year and winning a state championship.

"The biggest thing I got out of state is that it takes hard work and dedication to get there," she said. "It's not something that just comes to you; you work hard for it. It's not everyday someone says that they made it to state, because believe it or not, wrestling is one of the toughest sports out there.

"I really want to improve my technique for next year because honestly, I feel like I could've done better and do more moves instead of being nervous to do them."

Caulk said she first got interested in wrestling when watching WWE on television.

"I never had a shot to do wrestling in middle school, so I decided to do it in high school and it turns out I was pretty good, the coaches thought," she said. "I made varsity and I was so amazed, I decided to try it again the next year. This is my third year on varsity."

Ramos also represented the Wildcats wrestling program extremely well. He won two matches at the Masters meet before being eliminated in losses to two state qualifiers.

"My personal highlight would be when I was losing 4-3 and came back to win in the last five seconds, throwing my opponent to his back to win the match, 5-4," he said in recalling a key match this season.

"My strengths as a wrestler would be my mean physical style of wrestling, where I go after my opponent, attack him, beat him up mentally and physically, whether I'm winning or losing," said Ramos, a senior who wrestled at 106 pounds.

Caulk and Ramos will receive a free portrait from Photos DLite. The school will also receive one for public display.