By Desiree French, ITW Staff Reporter
copyright 2006 InsideTexasWrestling.com

This year’s UIL Girls State tournament was filled with exciting instances and defining moments, which make this tournament so unpredictable and explosive.

The 95-lb weight class was a strong group as all of these ladies came to wrestle. Region Region II and I dominated – leaving no room for placers from any other region. All-American Lene Wood from Centennial claimed the first place crown. After placing third in state last year Wood was able to win by decision over Blue Celeste Montoya of Chaplin (8-6). It was a fight that neither of the girls wished to lose, thereby ruining their perfect seasons.

Montoya may have her day yet as both of these girls will be returning next year. If she plays her cards right, she can look forward to a rematch at next year’s state final. For third place it was a Region II rematch with Team Texas member Crystal Grajeda of Arlington. This girl came back from an early season elbow injury to drop a weight class and compete against last year’s surprise and newcomer from Southlake Carroll, Jordan West.

She stepped down from her state qualifying spot last year. Crystal’s elbow was hurting her as she took injury time so that her coach could rub out some of the pain. It did not stop her from beating West and claiming the bronze medal – a great improvement from her sixth-place finish last year.

These two are also not planning on leaving anytime soon, either. Since all four of these ladies are returning next year the 95-pound weight class is only going to become highly competitive with more talent as these girls get better.

Easily one of the toughest weight classes this year was the 102- lb, which included an All-American, a prior state champion, and multiple other national team members. The casualties of war were evident as predicted dark horse and national team member Bethany Courkamp of Amarillo beat fellow national team member, Emily Martin of Centennial (5-4).

Neither did things get any easier for Martin as she lost 9-2 in her second consolation match against yet another fellow national team member and All-American, Helen Timmons from LBJ High School. Even Helen couldn’t escape with out some wounds, losing again to her regional rival from Crocket, Nancy Rodriquez and taking sixth out of this incredible field of talent.
Courkamp met her match in the semifinals with previous state champion and yet again another fellow national team member, junior Awbrey Lowe of El Paso Hanks. Courkamp finished the tournament facing Lisa Martinez of Amarillo Caprock for third.

This sister school match up ended with sophomore Martinez (5-3) winning the bronze over junior Courkamp. Senior Tiffany Larriba is no stranger to the state tournament. She did not have it easy since she had to go through Caprock’s Martinez and last year’s state runner up Cessy Carroll.

Unfortunately Carroll suffered a dislocated elbow during her bout against Larriba. This injury gave a literal meaning to the casualties of war. Rocked by the incident, Larriba who still has a brace on her arm from her injury two summers ago, went on to face Lowe for the ultimate bout of their seasons. Larriba and Lowe are no strangers to each other. They have wrestled multiple times over the years. Each one having beaten the other at least once.

But none of that mattered because this was a new match, the State Championship match – for all the marbles and all the glory. Larriba clutched an early lead by getting the first take down and holding her position until the third period, where Lowe was able to reverse her and hold Tiffany for a three point near fall. After the whistle sounded it was 5-3 and Awbrey reestablished her state champion title for the second year in a row.

The 110-lb weight class contained another former state champ out to defend her crown. She is senior Angel Diaz of Tascosa. Diaz pinned or majored all her opponents, proving herself to be one of Texas’ untouchables. Angel has not lost to any girl from Texas in years. She once again claimed the state MOW award.

The fight would have to be for the remaining places and the Region I girls had that covered with Georgette Villejas of Hereford pinning fellow Region I representative, Daffny Barbosa of Caprock in the semifinals. But Barbosa was able to fend off a rock-solid Courtney Weisner of CY Fair (7-5). She garnered the third spot after losing to Barbosa in the second round the day before (11-3).

There was some flip-flopping as Rachel Woodruff, the favorite for second, was pinned by Claudia Pena in the consolations, sending this national team member home. Another reversal was Alicaia Sherrill of Crockett clenching a win over Jenny Torres for fifth (3-2).

119-lb weight class was almost as tough as 102 and contained just as interesting match-ups as some of the others. One of the biggest surprises was Austin local favorite, LeAnn Barney of Anderson. She was disqualified from her semifinal bout after throwing Lara Hamilton of Taylor to the mat, with a hint of illegal but breathtaking freestyle flare.

Unfortunately, Hamilton was injured and was unable to get up after the forceful move landed her hard on her side. However she was able to wrestle in the championship match. All-American Barney would have to settle for the third place bout once again. Unlike last year she had Tessa Plana of Coppell, the judo master and the only girl to whip LeAnn earlier in the season.

Plana and Barney were 1-1 for the season with Barney having the last win at the Centennial tournament. The past put a good rivalry flare into this match as the two strong upper-bodied girls went to the throws they know best.

A minute and fifty seconds later after the frenzy settled it was Tessa on top with LeAnn stuck in a powerful headlock with both shoulders sound and planted deep into the polyvinyl mat. Tessa had a great tournament pinning all of her opponents including Emily Erwin (in forty-four seconds), who had beaten her previously at the Regional tournament.

Another wrestler who had an amazing showing was sophomore Angela or ‘Angie’ Murray of Cy Fairbanks. Her tough decision to drop from 128 pounds to 119 paid off big as she pinned her way to the state finals. Veteran Lara Hamilton’s experienced showed as she pinned Murray for the gold but Angie still has many years to get to the top.

Junior Ashley Rizo who finished 5th last year was able to stay consistent and pin junior Emily Erwin of Arlington Bowie. This is another weight class with few seniors graduating. This makes next year even more explosive as rivalries start to smolder.

128 pounds was a Region I showcase with many second chance rematches. The top four places went to the northern girls with ease. The tall and skinny Stephan Han of El Paso Irving thwarted a Region IV favorite, senior Jackie Stiles.

What Stiles didn’t know was that the unseemingly strong freshman Han could use her length to torque and muscle with the best of them. Han pinned Stiles ending her goal of a state title.

Then, Villejas nailed the coffin shut in the next round by achieving yet another pin over the crushed senior. Not even Raquel Vasquez of Cinco Ranch could upset last year’s runner-up Norma Rueda of Socorro, but she came close with a finial score of 2-1 in the semi finals.

Vasquez was foiled again losing a rematch to Luzette Villejas of Hereford (6-0), who Vasquez beat the first round (14-6), and was sent to the 5th place bout to face the only other non-Region I contestant left standing, senior Christina Wall of Centennial.

Wall who felt the pangs of defeat by Vasquez in the quarter-finals losing 7-1 was able to turn the table and achieve the taste of sweet revenge for fifth by winning over the Cinco Ranch senior (7-4).

The other final bouts were Region I rematches of Norma Rueda up against Brenda Mendoza for first and Stephanie Han vs. Luzette Villejas for third. Now I don’t know how close the matches were at Regionals but the losers were not going to give it up again easily since both matches went into overtime.

Senior Rueda was able to get to the finals with all decisions and was able to avert the loss by scoring the final take down of her career and wining her first state championship. Villejas and Han wrestled so cutthroat that it took a tiebreaker to end the bout. Villejas choose the bottom position and was able to reverse Han thereby winning third and extracting her second revenge.

Coming Thursday – Part II