Six Paloma wrestlers, Liberty's Bozanic qualify for State meet

Syruss Flores, Elijah Benavidez and Simon Flores are headed to the State meet. (Photo courtesy of Luis Robles)

Paloma Valley High School continued its success in wrestling this weekend, qualifying six wrestlers for next weekend’s CIF State meet in Bakersfield. They will be joined by heavyweight Anna Bozanic of Liberty High.

Karissa Turnwall (111 pounds), Makayla Correa (121) and Jiana Alexis Rivera (116) earned the qualifying spots in the CIF Masters meet at Palm Springs High School on Saturday, with Turnwall winning an individual championship. The Wildcats finished seventh as a team with 74 points out of 150 schools.

On Friday, Paloma Valley’s boys team got dominating performances from Syruss Flores (113), Simon Flores (220) and Elijah Benavidez (152). Syruss and Simon Flores each placed fifth and Benavidez placed fourth. This is the most the boys team has ever sent to State.

Correa becomes the first wrestler in school history to qualify for the State meet three times. The only year she missed with her sophomore year, when there was no State meet because of COVID-19.

Turnwall pinned three opponents on her way to the finals before winning the championship with a 12-3 major decision over Deandra Meza of Walnut. Correa finished as runner-up and Rivera placed fourth.

Liberty’s Bozanic placed third in the girls meet, fighting back after a loss in the semifinals. She is only a freshman and is highly regarded as one of the top female wrestlers in the state.

“We had a good idea [she would make the finals],” said Liberty coach John Phillips. “Nothing is promised, but with her history and knowledge of the sport, we felt she had a great chance to go far.”

Makayla Correa, Jiana Rivera and Karissa Turnwall qualified for the State meet. (Photo courtesy of Luis Robles)

 State qualifier Anna Bozanic poses with her father Michael (left) and coach John Phillips.