Othello girls qualify 8, Warden move 7 on to girls state wrestling tournament

MATTAWA — Warden freshman Aaliyah Escamilla got up off the mat when the final buzzer sounded, turned and took a running leap into the arms of Cougar assistant coach Mario Hernandez, who was standing there at mat-side.

A star was born and they made that journey together.

“He’s been coaching her since she was little,” Warden head coach Valerie Hernandez said with a proud smile.

At 5-foot, 100 pounds, Escamilla is still little, but she came up large when she won the 100-pound championship with a 5-1 decision over No. 1-ranked Maria Reyes of Grandview in the finals at the Eastern Washington Girls Regional tournament at Wahluke High School on Saturday to earn a spot in the girls state tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

Escamilla (100) was one of seven Warden wrestlers to punch their ticket to the state tournament Friday and Saturday and the only Cougar regional champion.

“I started in 2006 with two girls. I honestly thought it was going to be a phase, but they stuck around and I’m still going,” Valerie Hernandez said. “We brought seven girls and all seven moving on. This is the first time that I’ve brought this many girls and they’re all moving on.”

Othello won the Central Washington Girls League regular-season title for the third year in a row, as well as the North sub-regional title. The Huskies brought 14 and qualified eight for the state tournament. Nikki Velazquez won a sub-regional title at 130 pounds. On Saturday, she added a Eastern Washington Regional title to the resume with another epic battle with Akina Yamada of Lakeside with an 8-4 decision.

“It went exactly as I planned and anticipated,” said Othello coach JJ Martinez, who was named the CWGL coach of the year. “I preached all week it doesn’t matter what happened at the sub-regional tournament. It’s all about the state tournament and now we have eight going and we’re going to contend for that title next.”

The Eastern Washington Regional was a showcase of some of the best girls wrestling in the state. Escamilla chipped away at the defense of Reyes, who went into the day as the No. 1 ranked 100-pounder in the state. The Warden freshman might be young in years, but she wrestled like a veteran with an intelligence that gave her the edge over the Grandview junior.

“Aaliyah has been dreaming of this and she just went for it,” Hernandez said. “She wrestled an experienced girl, but her training and hard work paid off.”

Yamada went into the 130-pound title match with a pair of pins. Velazquez was coming off a 4-3 decision in a brutal semifinal match with Hunter Duke of Cashmere. The Husky senior’s defense was as much a part of the championship as her attack. She picked her spots, worked her way into the lead and finished with a 8-4 decision.

“We go head-to-head a lot and all of our matches are pretty close,” Velazquez said. “This time I just needed to do what I needed to do. I feel individually, I’m ready to go for a state title, and we are as a team too. We help each other a lot. It’s about every individual doing what they can.”

Moses Lake sophomore Melanie Flores finished third at 100 to qualify. Her only loss came at the hands of Reyes in the semifinals.

“I just try to go out there and wrestle like it’s a regular tournament with something better at the end,” Flores said. “I’ve learned tons throughout the year, like the mental toughness that goes with it.”

Warden junior Karely Garcia will be going to the state tournament in the 235-pound division.

“This is the first year I’ve gone to state. It’s everything I’ve worked for,” said Garcia, who placed fourth. “I’m ready and excited for it.”

Mya Spencer of Ephrata wrestled for a regional title, placing second at 115 pounds. Abby Yorgesen of Wahluke pinned Mariah Deleon of Othello to place third at 145. Both are headed for the state tournament. Marissa De La Rosa of Royal was fourth at 155.

Local placers 100 pounds: 1. Aaliyah Escamilla, Warden; 3. Melanie Flores, Moses Lake; 6. Gabriela Rodriguez, Othello 105: 2. Angelica Vela, Warden; 3. Emily Mendez, Othello; 4. Kasandra Ozuna, Warden 110: 4. Mariah Garza, Warden; 5. Cynthia Diaz, Quincy 115: 2. Mya Spencer, Ephrata; 3. Iyalhye Barraza, Othello 120: 3. Alexis Mendoza, Warden; 5. Sienna Stocking, Ephrata 125: 3. Monica Canales, Warden; 4. Ruby Villalobos, Othello 130: 1. Nikki Velazquez, Othello 135: 3. Elizabeth Giles, Othello 140: 2. Kaylee Martinez, Othello 145: 3. Abby Yorgesen, Wahluke; 4. Mariah Deleon, Othello 155: 4. Marissa De La Rosa, Royal; 6. Diana Lopez, Wahluke 170: 5. Victoria Mendoza, Othello 190: Estephania Vargas, Othello 235: 4. Karely Garcia, Warden.