Two weeks have passed since Gilroy High wrestlers Megan Nebesnick and Jennifer Garcia last hit the mat at the Central Coast Section Championships. Two weeks of training and preparation in the books. And now, Nebesnick, the section champ at 189 pounds, and Garcia, the bronze medalist at 126 pounds, will put their skills to the test at the second annual CIF State Girls Wrestling Invitational Championships on Friday and Saturday at Lemoore High School.
Nebesnick is seeded No. 4 in the189-pound bracket and received a first round bye.
“She is set up pretty good right now to get into at least the quarterfinals,” coach Marty Serrano said.
Garcia, meanwhile, is unseeded and will face Alisha Galles from the Southern Section’s Quartz Hill High School in the first round.
“She has the tough road,” Serrano said of his sophomore grappler.
There are 336 entrees into the state tournament broken down into 14 weight divisions of 24-wrestlers each.
Nebesnick is set to make her second straight appearance at state. The junior did not medal last year and has her sights set on reaching the podium – at least.
“I’m definitely more experienced. I have better technique. So I’m ready for it,” she said at practice Tuesday. “I’m excited and nervous at the same time.”
Garcia said she is approaching her state meet debut similarly to any other.
“I’m just trying to think about it as a normal tournament,” she said. “It’s going to be a challenge and I’m going to try my best.”
Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. on Friday. The finals are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday.
