The Aptos High girls’ wrestling team walked away with a pair of top three finishers at the Central Coast Section Wrestling Championships at Independence High on Saturday.
Camila Barranco placed third at 111 pounds, while Alex Quintero placed third at 160.
Both ladies secured berths to the CIF State Championships at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, which begin Thursday.
Barranco, a four-time CCS placer, squared off against Alexandra Cortez of Scotts Valley High in the consolation semifinals. Barranco won by fall to secure a state berth.
The top three boys and the top four girls in each of the 14 weight classes advance to the state championships.
Boys
Fernandez earns state berth: Monte Vista Christian junior Nate Fernandez reached the semifinals at 220 pounds. He lost to top-seeded Raymond Russell of Riordan in a 13-11 sudden-victory.
Still, Fernandez earned a state berth by injury default over Yahir Ortiz of Independence in the third-place match.
Fernandez advanced from the quarterfinals by pinning Menlo-Atherton senior Misiteni Eke, his third win by fall in as many matches.
Watsonville High senior Joaquin Mosqueda (132), the No. 3 seed, was also sent to the consolation bracket after dropping his quarterfinal match. He placed fifth overall.
Watsonville’s Vincente Mosqueda (126) and Aptos’ Luke Keaschall (160) also finished fifth in their respective weight divisions.
