Othello rolls over Warden to win fourth consecutive Central Washington Girls Wrestling title
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldOthello freshman Iyazely Barraza takes down Marilee Garza of Warden in the 120-pound match during Central Washington Girls Wrestling action Tuesday night at Warden.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldAaliyah Escamilla of Warden is well on her way to a pin in the 100-pound match Tuesday night against Othello in Central Washington Girls Wrestling action.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldOthello girls wrestling coach JJ Martinez yells out instructions during the Huskies match with Warden on Tuesday night.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldWarden girls wrestling coach Valerie Hernandez looks on during the action Tuesday night against Othello.
WARDEN — Othello senior Elizabeth Giles stood under the dome light one more time as the Warden announcer muttered her name in mono tone, before reaching deep inside for a booming, enthusiastic ring-announcer bellow of her opponent Nakisha Guerra’s name that reverberated throughout the gym and brought Cougar fans to their feet Tuesday night for the 140-pound match.
Giles (29-4) has come to know that type of reception wrestling in Cougar Country over the past four years. On Tuesday, the three-time Washington girls wrestling state participant led the Huskies to their fourth consecutive Central Washington Girls Wrestling League team championship with a 46-18 decision over Warden to wrap up the regular season dual schedule.
“You have to give a lot of credit to Liz. She’s been with us every step of the way. She came in as a freshman four years ago when we formed the CWGW and she went out with a bang,” Othello coach JJ Martinez said. “Considering how young we are as a team with just two seniors, it’s pretty amazing how well we compete. To win the fourth league championship is pretty special.”
Giles went to work early Tuesday night, taking Guerra down almost immediately, before working into position for the pin at 1:20.
“It means everything to win a fourth league championship,” said Giles, who improved to 29-4. “I’ve always felt everything I do is to help the team. We all have our jobs to do and if we do them, we’ve been pretty tough (over the past four years).”
Warden forfeited at 115, 125 and 135, so the team victory was out of reach most of the night, though the Cougars wrestled well in spots. The Cougars got pins at 100 and 115 to draw to within 15-12 early, but three forfeits pretty much left things out of reach on Senior Night.
For Felicia Alvarez (110), Monica Canales (130), Andrea Hernandez (145), Daneil Jolley (190), Karely Garcia (235) and Amanda Contreras (235), it was their last home match.
“We still have a lot of work to do. We didn’t wrestle to our potential tonight, so it’s back to work,” Warden coach Valerie Hernandez said. “We have a week to get ready for districts and get back to where we want to be.
“My lineup is only eight. We’re a much better tournament team, because we can move kids around and double up in certain weights for better scoring.”
Othello wrestles at the Lady Knights Invitational at Kamiak of Mukilteo over the weekend, then heads into the Girls Western Sub-Regionals at Warden on Feb. 3. Warden gets back into the room for the next week to get ready for the sub-regionals.
Othello 46, Warden 18
190 - Vicky Mendoza, O, p. Daneil Jolley, 1:19
235 - Estephania Vargas, O, d Karely Garcia, 5-2
100 - Aaliyah Escamilla, W, p. Bernice Mendoza, 37.1
105 - Emily Mendez, O, p. Alexia Hernandez, 1:12
110 - Surrey Swindler, W, p. Carmelita Garcia, 1:11
115 - Othello received forfeit
120 - Iyazely Barraza, O, d, Marilee Garza
125 - Othello received forfeit
130 - Leslie Rodriguez, O, d. Monica Canales, 7-6
135 - Othello received forfeit
140 - Elizabeth Giles, O, p. Nakisha Guerra, 1:20
145 - Yesica Nepounceno, O, p. Andrea Hernandez, 2:24.9