Norwalk girls make history at CIF state meet
NORWALK » It was a season of firsts for the Norwalk High School wrestling program.
Lancers senior Zitlali Sarmiento and junior Casey Otero became the first two girls in school history to qualify for the CIF state wrestling championships. Otero's twin brother Sean also qualified for the CIF state meet, which meant the program qualified three wrestlers for the state meet in Bakersfield last month. According to Norwalk wrestling coach Bryan DeVries, that was the first time the school ever sent three wrestlers to the state meet.
GIRLS » Zitali Sarmiento wrestled at 126 pounds and finished top 12 at the state wrestling championship. Sarmiento served as a team captain and was a four-time league champion in the Suburban League and the Gateway League. She had an overall record of 47-5 this season. She finished third at CIF individual championship, losing to the eventual state champion from Marina High School. She finished second at the Masters, again losing to the eventual state champion. Sarmiento went 3-2 at the state tournament, losing to the No. 7 and No. 4 seeds in Bakersfield.
Junior Casey Otero wrestled at 143 pounds. Otero's overall record was 44-9 this season. She was a Gateway League champion and finished third at the CIF individual championship losing a close match to a Palm Desert wrestler. However, that result was still good enough to advance to the Masters meet where she placed fourth and qualified for the state championship. DeVries said the Masters meet was a turning point for Otero, who is normally a reserved student-athlete. Otero battled back to qualify for state after a loss in the second round. Otero beat the aforementioned Palm Desert wrestler in an emotional victory to achieve her goal of qualifying for state.
BOYS » Junior Sean Otero wrestled at 145 pounds. DeVries said Otero's overall record was 43-10 this season. He won the Gateway League title and placed second at CIF individual championships to advance to the Masters' tournament. He finished fourth at Masters, which qualified him for the state championship. He went 0-2 at the state tournament but DeVries said the experience should set Otero up for a strong senior season.