Wrestling: Long Beach Poly Shines At Moore League Wrestling Finals

Cabrillo, Compton, Jordan, Lakewood, Millikan, Long Beach Poly and Wilson grapplers qualify for CIF individual tournament.

It was an exciting evening at Long Beach Poly Thursday as the Moore League crowned 14 league champions at the Moore League girls wrestling finals.

Inside the Ron Palmer Pavilion seven athletes won their first Moore League title, while some of the league’s veterans repeated in their divisions.

Wilson’s Madi Emigh had an unusual wait ahead of her 100-pound bout against Cabrillo’s Carnijah Kirkland, but she made the wait worth it as she pinned Kirkland to win her first league title.

“All I knew was that I was always gonna put my everything into every single match,” Emigh said. “I knew If I were to lose, I was not gonna get pinned.”

Poly juniors Riley Pestanas and Princess Nicole Comia won the next two bouts to claim their second-straight titles. Lakewood’s Kailee Muk with the Lancers first win of the night by claiming her first title in the 115-pound title match.

“This means a lot to me,” Muk said. “It’s my first time winning at a varsity tournament. It’s really surprising because I thought I wasn’t gonna get champ and all and I thought it was just gonna be Max (Wafer) this year, but it surprised me.”

Maribel Quezada (120) and Kayla Chalage (125) won their first league titles as they claimed the next two matches for the Jackrabbits.

Millikan won the next three matches as Amiyah McIntyre (130), Isabella Martinez (135) and Gabriela Bonilla (140) as they won the Rams three titles on the night. For McIntyre and Martinez it was redemption for the duo after they were runner-ups last year. For Bonilla, it was her second straight title.

“I feel like my hard work throughout the season really paid off,” McIntyre said of winning her first title to cap her senior season. “Just sticking to it and putting hard work to do what I want to do. It feels like all the hard times that I thought I couldn’t keep going – they really paid off. I’m really proud of myself and my teammates.”

Poly’s Devyn Kripp continued the redemption arc of the night as she defeated Kayde Preciado in the 145-pound bout to claim her first title after losing in the title match a year ago.

The special night continued in the 155-pound bout as Jordan’s Emelia Defour won the Panthers’ second straight title as the junior defeated Wilson’s Adrenne Malsbeger.

“This means a lot to me,” Defour said. “I’ve finished third place the last two years. So, to overcome that is really great for me. I’ve worked really hard for this and I’m really glad that I’ve been able to grow.”

The final three matches of the night were won by some of the best that the Moore League has seen in recent years as Poly’s Berlynn Solia-Tago (170) and Selieni Paseka (190) won their matches. Lakewood’s Max Wafer wrapped the evening with her second-straight title in the heavyweight division.

“It feels good,” Paseka said of winning the title after not being able to wrestle in her title bout last year. “I was really bummed out last year not being able to wrestle. But I made it a goal to do my best this year and to show up.”

Overall, the Moore League crowned 14 division winners, 42 medalists and 56 CIF qualifiers.

Final Results (Top 4 Qualify For CIF)
100-pound

1. Madi Emigh – Wilson junior
2. Madalyn Escala – Millikan freshman
3. Sinai Meza – Jordan freshman
4. Natalia Sedar – Lakewood senior

105-pound

1. Riley Pestanas – Long Beach Poly junior
2. Jaelen Escala – Millikan senior
3. Juliana Reyes – Cabrillo junior
4. Kayleigh Walker – Lakewood sophomore

110-pound

1. Princess Nicole Comia – Long Beach Poly junior
2. Dalilah Mora – Millikan freshman
3. Anaid Mendia – Wilson junior
4. Kholey Torres – Jordan freshman

115-pound

1. Kailee Muk – Lakewood junior
2. Carnijah Kirkland – Cabrillo senior
3. Moira Fortuna – Millikan sophomore
4. Daniela Orozco – Wilson senior

120-pound

1. Maribel Quezada – Long Beach Poly senior
2. Jaeden Acevedo – Jordan senior
3. Ryanne Cabarles – Millikan freshman
4. Jolie Beyrooty – Wilson freshman

125-pound

1. Kayla Chalaga – Long Beach Poly sophomore
2. Alicia Martinez – Jordan senior
3. Venessa Serrana – Millikan senior
4. Vanessa Ramirez – Wilson junior

130-pound

1. Amiyah McIntyre – Millikan senior
2. Itzell Tirado – Wilson sophomore
3. Avani Averado – Lakewood sophomore
4. Jenelle Encizo – Jordan freshman

135-pound

1. Isabella Martinez – Millikan senior
2. Vivienne Winkler – Wilson freshman
3. Bowie Potterf-Degregio – Long Beach Poly senior

140-pound

1. Gabriela Bonilla – Millikan junior
2. Jaslynn Dado – Lakewood senior
3. Alyssa Pedregon – Wilson senior

145-pound

1. Devyn Kripp – Long Beach Poly junior
2. Kayde Preciado – Millikan senior
3. Joscelyn Flores – Wilson senior

155-pound

1. Emelia Defour – Jordan junior
2. Adrenne Malsberger – Wilson junior
3. Amaris Espinoza – Millikan freshman
4. Eva Adron – Long Beach Poly sophomore

170-pound

1. Berlynn Solia-Tago – Long Beach Poly senior
2. Ximena Gastelum – Lakewood freshman
3. Nixon Herran – Wilson freshman
4. Natalia Diaz – Compton freshman

190-pound

1. Selieni Paseka – Long Beach Poly senior
2. Katelyn Pong – Wilson senior
3. Mikeila Rodriguez – Lakewood freshman
4. Teresa Ledeszma – Compton senior

235-pound

1. Ashley Wafer – Lakewood senior
2. Blessings Iosia – Long Beach Poly freshman
3. Nicola Lira – Compton freshman
4. Anna Raquel-Vigal – Millikan junior