With the first California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned girls’ Central Coast Section Championships around the corner, the tournament circuit is heating up.
And five wrestlers that make up the Gilroy High girls contingent took midseason form at the Novato Hornets Invitational over the weekend.
“It’s a really neat year for girls wrestling,” head coach Steven Hernandez said.
Anchored by senior Jasmine Yanez’s first place at 108-pounds, the Mustangs also placed one other wrestler and three more earned valuable points.
“There were teams from Oregon and Washington down for that tournament,” Hernandez said. “I think there was something like 14 All-American wrestlers.”
Yanez, who is ranked No. 1 at the state and national levels, literally had a flawless meet, not surrendering a single point and wrapping up each of her matches with fall victories.
Brittany Lorenzano took seventh place at 132 pounds while Courtney Pipkin, Megan Nebesnick and Amorita Fregoso also participated.
Prior to the Novato tournament, the Mustangs entered the 77-team, 318-wrestler Napa Valley Classic hosted by Vintage High school.
Seven Mustangs tested their skills and finished the weekend ranked 14th out of the list of teams.
Lorenzano placed first at 132 pounds, Yanez took third in the 114-pound division and Jennifer Garcia (132), Aubrey Young (146) and Nebesnick (165) went 3-2. Fregoso (122) and Pipkin (98) were also in action.
Grades permitting, each wrestler is eligible for the Feb. 5 CCS meet at Oak Grove.
“All these girls are committed to the sport and themselves,” Hernandez said.
