TOKAY GIRLS WRESTLING DOMINATES TCAL
A half-dozen Tokay High girls wrestlers were dancing to music on one of the Tigers’ wrestling mats at The Jungle on Saturday.
The wrestlers had good reasons to be in festive mood. Tokay captured the team title at the inaugural Tri-City Athletic League championships with 188 points. Lodi, which lost to the Tigers in a TCAL dual meet, 81-0, earlier in the week, took second place with 94 points.
Lincoln was third at 56 points, West fourth at 24 and Tracy fifth at 21 points. St. Mary’s did not have any girls competing. According to Tokay coach George Bozovich, there were approximately 50 girls who competed at the first-ever league championships.
“The tournament ran pretty smoothly,” said Tokay’s Alexis Cavero, who captured the 152pound title. “I was surprised when we were all dancing. We were all having fun. Everybody was so nice ... nothing negative to say, whether you won or lost. Everybody told you ‘good job.’”
Out of 14 weight classes, Tokay pinned down 12 league championships. Four Tigers placed second, with four more at third place. Lodi had five girls who took second place, and three third place finishes.
Three of the Tigers’ champions included three grapplers, all seniors, who medaled at the California Interscholastic Federation Girls Wrestling championships last season. Those were Madisen Bozovich at the 152-pound class, Cavero and Alexis Borruel (191).
“We have these expectations to do great,” Cavero said. “There’s a lot of pressure on us. Sometimes it’s hard to live up to them. But when you have people behind you as great as our team, we follow through with all of these expectations. Even if you lose, everybody is behind you.”
In her quest to capture her weight class title, Bozovich defeated Lodi’s Jeovana Garcia in the first match. Then she captured the title with another win over Tracy’s Maricella Ferretiz.
Throughout this month, Bozovich didn’t compete because of an elbow injury suffered during a pre-season tournament. But she continued to train with her teammates. The reason is logical for her — a return trip to this year’s CIF meet that will be held toward the end of February.
“It actually wasn’t as horrible as I thought it would be,” said Bozovich of time away from the mat. “I practiced after the first week (from the injury). I worked more on the upper body (movements). I ran five
miles every day; a lot of running. And I still had to maintain my weight, too.”
Bozovich showed her support toward her fellow Tiger wrestlers by attending league dual meets and weekend tournaments.
“I still supported them,” Bozovich said.
Five girls were in Cavero’s weight class, but needed only two wins the title. She knocked off West’s Angie Solis, then in the title match, Cavero beat Lodi’s Hannah Wooldridge.
“I didn’t expect that many,” said Cavero, who had only two matches in league in between battling the flu.
Cavero and Borruel also missed matches earlier this month, battling the flu. Now with the illness out of their system, the trio, their teammates and Lodi are mentally and physically preparing for tougher matches to come. That will start this weekend at the Sac-Joaquin Section’s South Regional Girls Wrestling Tournament at Enochs High of Modesto.
“I have no doubt in either of us we’re going to be in the finals,” said Bozovich of her and Cavero.
Cavero added, “I am determined not to take second at state. I know my mistakes, and I know what I have to work on. I honestly know I can improve on what I need to do. And I have teammates who help and support me through all of this. I just have to have a positive mental mindset, and work hard. We had double practices over the (Christmas) break. We’re working hard, no doubt about it.”
The Tigers’ other nine champions were Brittany Mogler (103), Jasmin Ruiz (118), Sarah Gonzalez (123), Hayati Doughish (128), Bryanna Bernal (133), Jessi Guterrez (139), Hailey Schindler (145), Samari Ortiz (162) and Karime Pedraza (237).
Taking second place for Tokay were Alize Mendez (108), Salina Torres (113), Yesenia Ruiz (139) and Isabel Patino (145). Third place went to Gabrielle Medeiros (103), Anayeli Ochoa (108), Jocelyn Barba (113) and Madelyn Evans (123).
Lodi’s second place finishers were Vanessa Silveria (118), Elizabeth Decko (123), Britini Machen (128), Julie Lopez (133), Hannah Wooldrige (172) and Kaylie Sauerland (191). The Flames’ third place finishers were Julie Costa (145), Garcia (152) and Iririan Castaneda (139).
Lodi coach Brian Silva was pleased with the Flames’ performance at the league meet.
“Everyone is doing well,” Silva said. “The coaches are proud.”
The Flames can be more proud of the fact that out of the girls who took second place in their weight classes, only one is a senior. Sauerland is a sophomore, while all but one are freshmen. The Flames have 18 girls on the wrestling mat. Last year, less than half that number.
“We’ve got a good, young base,” Silva said. We’re getting better and better. We hope to get more (girls) out there, become stronger. A lot of the girls didn’t know wrestling until they walked into it this year. I think next year, it’s going to grow even more.”
Silva feels his wrestlers competing at the regional tourney toward the end of this week will give it their best. He feels facing Tokay, which is ranked No. 2 in California among prep girls wrestling teams, is an excellent launching pad going into postseason.
“The quality of wresting will be higher,” Silva said. “We’re looking forward to it.”