Mendez, Barraza, Monday headed to Mat Classic for Othello
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald Othello senior Emily Mendez works to secure position against Sunnyside’s Alexxus Ramos in the finals of the 110 division.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald Othello’s Iyazely Barraza took the top spot in her division at regionals as the fifth-ranked wrestler looks to make her mark in the Tacoma Dome this weekend.
Othello’s Alexis Monday will join senior Emily Mendez in the 110-pound bracket in Tacoma as both Huskies look to make a run this weekend.
Casey McCarthy/The Sun Tribune
OTHELLO — A trio of Huskies will represent Othello High School in Tacoma this weekend at the Mat Classic after securing the berths on their home mat over the weekend.
Senior Emily Mendez, junior Iyazely Barraza and sophomore Alexis Monday will make the trip to the west side to compete to bring a state title back to Othello.
Coming off a second-place finish last year in Tacoma, Mendez will look to cap off her Othello career with a title in the 110-pound weight class. Mendez picked up the win in the final seconds over Sunnyside’s Alexxus Ramos in the first-place match last weekend at regionals.
A rematch with top-ranked Salyna Shotwell of Rogers for Mendez would have to wait until the finals. Second-ranked Mendez, according to the Washington Wrestling Report, will have Diana Cantini of Kamiak and Mead’s Kelsey Loeun, both top-six wrestlers, standing in front of a title shot. Shotwell, Alexxus Ramos and fellow Huskie Alexis Monday wait on the bottom side of the bracket.
First up for the senior will be a matchup against a freshman, Genesis Vasquez from Blaine High School.
“We expect a tough matchup if she makes it to finals,” Othello head coach Rafael Ruiz said.
Iyazely Barraza will make her second-straight trip to Tacoma as a junior after taking first place over the weekend at 115. Fifth-ranked Barraza took down Moses Lake freshman Bianca Johnson in the finals on Saturday, with Johnson coming in as number four in the weight class.
First up on Friday for Barraza will be a bout against W.F. West sophomore Elizabeth Patana. Third-ranked Natasha Puzon of Enumclaw stands ahead of Barraza’s path to the semifinals and a possible title bout.
Sophomore Alexis Monday will join Mendez in the bracket at 110 in Tacoma after a third-place finish on Saturday. Monday took the 3-0 decision over Mead’s Kelsey Loeun in the third place match.
Monday, ranked fifth in the weight class, will have to go through the reigning champion for a chance at a title. Luckily, Monday will have until the semifinal round to prepare.
“Our hope is she places top four, but it’s gonna be a really tough match,” Ruiz said. “If we can get her to place, that will be pretty amazing, especially as a sophomore.”
First bout on Friday for the sophomore will be against Claudia Rojas-Guzmen, a senior coming in ranked 12th in the state. This will be Monday’s first trip to the Mat Classic.
