Huskies wrestlers work to achieve lofty goals in Tacoma

OTHELLO — Othello girls wrestling coach Sonny Rocha said the coaches set a lofty goal for the Huskies in the 2024-25 season, and he’s optimistic his team can reach it after earning the district championship this year.  

“Our goal at the beginning was to be state champions, so sending 14 quality girls, it’s going to be something that’s going to set us up for that stage,” Rocha said. “It's just going to be a matter of doing the same thing we’ve been doing all year.”  

Rocha said consistency is crucial. 

“I keep preaching to the girls that I don’t want them to change. We’re good at what we do, and if they just continue to do that, there’s no need to panic. There’s no need to be stressed out,” Rocha said. “I think we’re at a point now where they understand, ‘This is my identity,’ and it’s going to up to their opponent to beat them. That’s the kind of mentality we’ve (had) and it’s been pretty successful.’  

Othello won the Central Washington Athletic Conference championship, defeating defending state champion Toppenish in the process.  

“Our job from the very beginning was, ‘Okay, that’s the standard, that’s what we’re going after.’ So they beat us in a dual meet, then we beat them last weekend at the district tournament,” Rocha said. “So we’re on our way.” 

The Huskies still have some work to do, he said. 

“Our job is just to beat them this weekend at the state tournament. But something else I had to tell the girls, ‘We’re not just wrestling (Toppenish), we’re wrestling everybody. If we chip away and do our job, then hopefully by the end, we’ve beaten them,”  

Of Othello’s 14 state qualifiers, four were district champions. But Rocha said a lot of the team is wrestling at a quality level. 

“I’ve got a bunch of them,” he said.  

The district champions included Karla Guzman in the 145-pound class. 

“She has been wrestling (at) 155 most of the year, and towards the end of the season, she was losing weight. She’s the one who actually suggested going down to 145, and I think ever since she’s been pinning everybody,” Rocha said. 

Other 2025 CWAC champions include senior Grace Rocha, junior Angela Monday and junior Briseida Galvez. 

Huskies boys 

Coming off second place at the 2024 Mat Classic, the Othello Huskies qualified 12 wrestlers for Mat Classic 2025. 

Coach Rudy Ochoa II said there are a lot of good teams in the 2A bracket, but that Othello is improving at the right time. 

“That’s the goal. The goal is to peak and wrestle the best at the state tournament. We want to be feeling good. We have, hopefully, gone to enough tournaments now and (had) opportunities now where we can grow from our mistakes and build on what we’re doing,” Ochoa said. 

Othello took second in the Central Washington Athletic Conference tournament last weekend, with seniors Anthony Solorio and Mason Perez taking district titles. Ochoa said the district tournament featured a solid performance by most of the team.  

“I would say collectively they had a strong outing in the district tournament, and hopefully we can continue that momentum into the state tournament,” he said. 

The Huskies have been meeting and beating obstacles the whole season, he said. 

“These guys have been wrestling tough all year. Hopefully, they just go out there relaxed and confident and wrestle to the best of their ability,” Ochoa said. 

Orting is the defending state champion and will be challenged by Toppenish, among others. Toppenish moved up to Class 2A in the 2024-25 school year and is the defending state 1A champion. 

“Those are definitely the top teams in 2A, and arguably in the entire state,” Ochoa said. 

But Ochoa said the Huskies will concentrate on what they can do. 

“No matter how these boys do this weekend, I want them to give a performance that they’re proud of. I want them to leave that dome with no regrets and hopefully they know the entire community is proud of them and rooting for them,” he said. 

Othello Huskies Roster 

Boys 

senior Jeremiah Flores (138)  

senior Parker Freeman (157) 

senior Jaxon Gomez (175)  

senior Anthony Solorio (215) 

senior Mason Perez (285)  

junior Daniel Gonzalez (120) 

junior Mason Russell (132)  

junior Camilo Mendez III (150)  

junior Miguel Zuniga (190)  

sophomore Armoni Zuniga-Mendez (144)  

freshman Xavier Mendez (106) 

freshman Jose Gallardo Ruis Jr. (126) 

Alternates: junior Zayvier Olazcon (165), sophomore Abel Cantu (144), freshman Xavier Guzman (120)  

Girls 

senior Bella Garza (105)  

senior Grace Rocha (115)  

senior Diamond Van Cleve (135)  

junior Janissa Barrera (100) 

junior Briseida Galvez (120)  

junior Serenity Ayala (130)  

junior Angela Monday (140)  

junior Alejandria Espindola (235)  

sophomore Grayce Mendez (110) 

sophomore Brooklyn Hillman (110) 

sophomore Miriam Garcia-Avila (140)  

sophomore Karla Guzman (145)  

freshman Ezmee Perez (120) 

freshman Josselyn Medina (125) 

Alternates: senior Ingrid Soriano (145), junior Victoria DeLeon (130), freshman Betsy Policarpio (100), freshman Mili Flores (105), freshman Celeste Cruz (125) 

    Othello sophomore Brooklyn Hillman, top, pins her opponent at Friday’s 2A Girls District 5 tournament in Toppenish.
  

    Othello senior Jaxon Gomez, top, wrestles at a dual against Prosser earlier this season. Gomez will wrestle in the 175-pound class at the 2A Boys Mat Classic this weekend.
  

    Othello freshman Ezmee Perez, in grey, cradles her opponent during the district tournament on Friday.