Warden girls team headed to Mat Classic

WARDEN — After a solid performance at the girls Region IV wrestling tournament last weekend in Connell, the Warden Cougars will send three regional champions and one runner up to the girls tournament at Mat Classic XXI this weekend in Tacoma.

Warden’s first regional champion was Sandra Castoreno at 125 pounds and is the cornerstone of the girls wrestling team, said Warden head coach Rick Bowers.

“(She) has been the heart of our women’s team,” he said. “She works hard and has shown the younger women what it takes to get to state.”

This is Castoreno’s second trip to the Mat Classic state tournament and Bowers said Castoreno is excited.

“She is coming back with a lot of enthusiasm after last year’s trip to state,” he said.

In addition to Castoreno, the Cougars are taking 152-pound regional champion Carter Marks. Marks is in her first year wrestling and Bowers said she is determined to make an impression in Tacoma.

“She has successfully worked hard all season to learn the fundamentals of our sport,” he said. “(She has) great leadership (and) we hope to see her continue her winning postseason.”

Following Marks on the mat is regional runner-up Genesis Gonzalez at 160 pounds. Gonzalez has remained positive since she began wrestling in the summer.

“(She) came to our summer camp with a positive attitude to learn and become the best she can this season,” Bowers said. “She is one to achieve her goals.”

Warden’s final regional champion is Araceli Cuevas at 171 pounds and Bowers said she is capable of bringing home a state championship to Warden.

“Now that she has reached her tournament weight, she has shown vast improvement,” he said. “She peeked at the right time to perform well in the postseason.”