Royal's Brea Diaz competes at wrestling nationals

ROYAL CITY - Royal High School's Brea Diaz competed in the 44th ASICS/Vaughan National Junior Women's Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Fargo, North Dakota recently on the winning team.

Individually, Diaz won some and lost some. The greatest benefit of the experience was learning how to compete at the highest level of girls wrestling.

Diaz competed at 125 pounds in the individual junior tournament on July 21 and July 22. She was also on the championship dual meet team.

The team finale came down to the final match. And Washington's Hailey Huerta delivered. She downed California's Marina Briceno 9-4 at 130 pounds to lift Washington to a dramatic 32-27 win. It was Washington's first team title in the nine-year history of this event.

"We had a very intensive wrestling camp, and the girls trained extremely hard," Washington coach Merle Crockett said. "They were a real good group to coach. They listened and they learned as they went through this tournament. Our girls are tough and they are in very good shape. The girls did an awesome job."

Junior Nationals champion Desiree Zavala of Washington opened with a fall over California's Izzy Valles in the dual's first match at 139.

Junior Nationals champion Marizza Birrueta of Washington built a big lead before pinning California's Alyssa Barredo at 112.

"Our team really came together," Birrueta said. "It's amazing to win this. It's indescribable."

Washington fielded two teams for the Junior Womens Dual Meet Championship. Brea was on the number one team, Washington St Helens.

There were two pools of eight teams each. The top two teams advanced to the championship finals. Washington St Helens won pool B and then defeated New York and California of pool A.

Washington St Helens defeated Hawaii 49-10 with Diaz winning by pin over Emily Murphy in 0:51. Washington St Helens defeated California C 47-12 with Diaz winning by forfeit. Washington St Helens defeated Texas Blue 31-24 while Diaz defeated Desiree Linton 6-0.

Things got tougher for Diaz in the championship round with a pair of losses, but Washington St Helens defeated New York Gold 35-22 to advance to the showdown with California A.

In the individual junior tournament, Diaz lost by 9-4 decision to Alexandria Enriquez of Georgia. She won by 12-3 decision over Daniela Flores of Texas.

Diaz battled Daishea Jaime of California to a 3-3 draw but, unfortunately, lost on the tie-breaking criteria that Jaime scored the last point.