Sports Roundup: Othello girls take Hanford Winter Cup

by Connor Vanderweyst Columbia Basin Herald
| January 11, 2017 12:00 AM

HANFORD — Othello had seven finalists and three champions and ran away with the Hanford Winter Cup.

Othello had 213 points — the only team to top 200 — for first place. Sunnyside finished second with 173.5 points and Warden took third with 144 points.

Quincy and Ephrata finished 15th and 24th, respectively.

Recently, the Huskies moved up to No. 2 in the state rankings and showed they are the best team east of the Cascades with a convincing win in Hanford.

“It shows us where we're at on the east side,” Othello head coach JJ Martinez said. “The good thing about us is we're dominating with so many errors and mistakes we're making.”

Nikki Velazquez (130) defeated teammate Ruby Villegas by fall. In the 145-pound finals, Kaylee Martinez won by major decision 9-0 against Warden's Andrea Hernandez. Estephania Vargas (190) was Othello's third champion.

Gabby Rodriguez (100) was edged by Warden's Aaliyah Escamilla in the finals 6-1. Emily Mendez (105) and Elizabeth Giles (14) also were runners-up.

Mariah Garza (135), along with Hernandez, finished second for the Cougars.

Othello hosts a league meet Jan. 5 before the Huskies and the Cougars travel to the Kelso Invite on Jan. 6.

“What I like is we haven't peaked yet,” JJ Martinez said.

Local champions:

100-Aaliyah Escamilla, Warden
130-Nikki Velazquez, Othello
145-Kaylee Martinez, Othello
190-Estephania Vargas, Othello

Local placers:

100-2nd, Gabby Rodriguez, Othello
105-2nd, Emily Mendez, Othello
5th, Jacqueline Torres, Quincy
110-3rd, Denise Guerra, Othello
120-3rd, Mya Spencer, Ephrata
5th, Iyalhe Barraza, Othello
125-3rd, Rose Gutierrez, Othello
130-2nd, Ruby Villegas, Othello
3rd, Monica Canales, Warden
135-2nd, Mariah Garza, Warden
5th, Nakisha Guerra, Othello
140-2nd, Elizabeth Giles, Othello
145-2nd, Andrea Hernandez, Warden
235-3rd, Carly Garcia, Warden
5th, Amanda Contreras, Warden