NORWALK, CA – Menlo Women's Wrestling made the final roadtrip of the 2023-24 season to Southern California for the Cerritos Open. Of the fourteen Oak wrestlers entered to compete, thirteen of them would find placement with five Champions, three 2nd place finishers, four 3rd placers, and two 6th place finishers. This was the last road trip before returning home for the Cascade Conference Championship Tournament happening at the end of the month inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion!
Champion Status!
Ajayzee Zaballos (116) - 1st place
After a first round bye, Ajayzee faced Karla Baeza (UNLV) in the quarterfinal match and totaled a 10-0 tech fall to move on to the semifinal round. The junior was up against Satira Sohal (Cerritos College) and quickly laid down the pin in a minute and 45 seconds. The only thing standing in the way of the title was CCC foe, Kaylie Lara-Villagrana (Vanguard). Zaballos added an 11-0 tech fall over the Lion to claim the 116-Championship! Ajayzee has now earned two Championship titles in tournament appearances this season, last time at the Warrior Open.
Haley Narahara (123) - 1st place
Haley Narahara was able to hold off her opponents from scoring in back-to-back 10-0 tech falls over Mya Crespo (Vanguard) and Ajenae Castaneda (Simpson) to advance to the semifinal match. There she would face off against Leilani Lazaro (Vanguard) and took an early lead in the first period, 4-0. The second period Lazaro was able to add two takedowns to add pressure on Narahara. In the last 30 seconds and 4 seconds the Oak managed to add two more takedowns to win by a 9-4 decision to punch her ticket to the Championship match. Haley took full control of the mat and tallied a 10-0 deficit before getting the pin in a minute and 40 seconds. This is Haley's first title win this season!
Samantha Barragan (136) - 1st place
Barragan won all four of her matches by tech fall at the Cerritos Open to claim the 136-title. The score spread across the two matches was 44-2 and did not allow a point scored against until the championship match. In the final match, Samantha was victorious over #14 Piper Hall of Vanguard by an 11-2 tech fall to take the title and go undefeated!
Alexandra Lopez (143) - 1st place
Alexandra barely broke the sweat in her 3-0 domination at the Cerritos Open. A first round bye sent her to face Charlize Jewell (Vanguard) where she earned a 10-0 tech fall in the first period to make it to the semifinals. Lopez laid down the pin over Janie Banducci (Bakersfield) in just 18 seconds where she would have to see her teammate in the championship match. Alexandra totaled up a 10-0 tech fall to finish the tournament undefeated and earn her first title of the season.
Neila Fritts (235) - 1st place
Fritts earned their first tournament title of the season as a sophomore during the Cerritos Open. Neila took charge on the mat early in her 13-1 tech fall over Cassie Betancourt (Palomar) for her chance to advance to the final match. Evelyn Coronada (Ottawa) was next up for Fritts who was able to add up a 6-0 lead before getting the pin in a minute and 16 seconds. One more pin over Isabela Zepeda (Delta) would seal the deal for Neila to take home the 235-Championship title!
Oak Placers
Micaela Correa (109) - 2nd place
Carmella Foley (130) - 2nd place
Lainey Eckart (143) - 2nd place
Angelique Cervantes (101) - 3rd place
Daniela Romo (136) - 3rd place
Nikita Dhaliwal (170) - 3rd place
Cindy Zepeda (130) - 6th place
Jessica Mendieta (170) - 6th place
Cerritos Open Direct Link
Up Next….
Save the Date! Menlo College hosts the Cascade Conference Championship Tournament on Sunday, February 25th beginning at 9am. Championship rounds scheduled for 3pm. Come support your Oaks in their last tournament in the NAIA!