Paloma wins second straight CIF Title in girls wrestling

The Paloma Valley High School girls wrestling team won the CIF championship for the second straight year.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Paloma Valley girls wrestling team did it again Saturday, winning its second consecutive team title at the CIF Southern Section individual championships.

In the meet, hosted by Paloma Valley, the Wildcats had three individual champions and nine athletes who placed in the top eight to advance to next weekend’s CIF Masters meet at Marina High School. When the individual results were compiled, Paloma Valley finished with 199.5 points, far ahead of second-place Canyon Springs (146.5).

Later in the day, coach Luis Robles learned that the Paloma Valley boys took the runner-up award at their individual championships at Ayala High.

“It was an amazing day,” Robles said. “First time hosting, combined with both our teams finishing with plaques, is a very special day in our program. I am proud of our entire coaching staff, our athletes and the support from our parents and administration this weekend. It was a surreal weekend, how well we performed.”

Here’s a list of the final-round results for Paloma Valley’s nine placers:

106 – Julie Noriega lost to Aubrey Hernandez of Citrus Valley, 8-0, to finish eighth.

111 – Karissa Turnwall defeated Debbra Jedrysek of Redlands East Valley, 10-0, to finish first.

121 – Makayla Correa won by forfeit to finish first.

137 – Reyna Montenegro defeated Destiny Huerta of Tustin by pin to finish first.

143 – Janelle Gomez lost to Mariz Solimon of Temescal Canyon by pin to finish second.

150 – Nicole Kucharek lost by forfeit to finish fourth.

160 – Nicole Lehman defeated Lauren Martinez of Sierra Vista by pin to finish seventh.

170 – Melanie Newbold lost to Elizeth Guerra of Ventura due to injury to finish sixth.

235 – Celi Orozco lost to Savannah Rojas of Citrus Valley by pin to finish sixth.

Three other wrestlers from Menifee high schools advanced to the Masters meet. Juliana Hifo of Heritage won her match at 150 pounds to place fifth; Jazmine Harton of Heritage lost her match at 137 to finish sixth; and Sadie Vernon of Santa Rosa Academy lost her match at 111 to place eighth.

Paloma Valley's Karissa Turnwall has the advantage on her opponent during her victory at 111 pounds.

  Reyna Montenegro of Paloma Valley (foreground) won her final-round match with a pin.

 Heritage High's Juliana Hifo (left), shown in her semifinal match, placed fifth at 150 pounds to advance.