GIRLS WRESTLING: Larsen back to state for the third time

Petaluma High School junior Michelle Larsen earned an unprecedented third straight trip to the California Interscholastic Federation girls wrestling state tournament by finishing second in the North Coast Section championship meet held last weekend in Ukiah.

Larsen, the No. 1 seed in the 235-pound weight class, lost in the championship match by an 8-3 decision to longtime rival Vickie Espinoza of Rancho Cotate.

“It was a good match,” noted Petaluma coach Denny Plyler. “Michelle just made a couple of mistakes.”

To reach the NCS finals, Larsen received a bye and then pinned Fehi Eli of Hayward and Kim Carrillo of Windsor.

Casa Grande’s Brigitte Mihalca battled her way back to finish third at 116 pounds. She defeated Alexis Ibarra of Pittsburg and Isabella Bamba of James Logan, both by pin before losing in the semifinals to Kiah Martin of Eureka. The Gaucho standout fought back to beat Anastasia Malanche of Albany and Bamba again to take third place.

Petaluma freshman Cindy Diaz had a 1-2 record at 101 pounds. After receiving a first-round bye, she defeated Sumia Franco of Castro Valley, 18-6, before losing to Camille Caoile of Pittsburg by a pin. She was eliminated by Crystal Lockwood of Lower Lake on a third-round pin.

Another Petaluma freshman, Wendy Orozco, came back from a first-match loss to Kayle Ho of American by a 5-2 decision to take eighth place at 111 pounds. After her initial loss, she received a bye and defeated Hannah Denys of Irvington with a pin before losing to Serenity Voboril of Ukiah by a pin.

Autumn Adayan of Casa Grande reached the semifinals in the 121-pound class and ended up finishing fifth. Adayan pinned Arasely Torres of Irvington in her first match and then pinned Veronica Chin in her second before losing by pin to Eva Piroth of Albany. She lost her first match on the consolation side of the bracket to Cristina Wilson of Upper Lake.

In that same weight class, Petaluma freshman Frieda Cormona lost two matches, although she did advance a step in the consolation bracket with a bye after losing her first match to Wilson. The Petaluma wrestler was eliminated by Morgan Starr of Arroyo.

After receiving a bye in the first round of the 126-pound weight class, Casa Grande’s Selina Medrano lost to Yulisa Medrano of Windsor by a 12-3 decision. She then wrestled her way back to a fourth-place finish, defeating in succession, Sorayan Handy of Pittsburg, Medrano in a satisfying revenge win and Eyaniece Thorton of Diablo Valley before finally being stopped in the finals for third place by Lanie Brooks of Ukiah.

Casa Grande’s Catherine Rauch won her first match in the 131-pound weight class, pinning Joan Essex of Concord, but the Gaucho was then beaten by Camaryn Butler of Foothill and eliminated by Corina Barnes of Diablo Valley.

Casa Grande’s Jocelyn Tovar received a first-round bye in the 143-pound weight class, but then lost her next two matches and was eliminated.