Lady Generals looking for State honors

The Shafter High girls wrestling team made history last year when they had their first wrestler qualify for the State wrestling tournament. Only a freshman, Julissa Gonzalez went to the State tourney and came away with a seventh-place medal.

This year, the squad is working to improve on that history, as they have several wrestlers that are able to make it to the Central Section Masters tournament and possibly at least two wrestlers to According to Head Coach Eli Espericueta, the Lady Generals have spent the early part of the season getting experience, competing in tournaments throughout the Valley. They will be traveling to Los Angeles next weekend to compete in a tournament featuring the top wrestlers in the state.

Last weekend, Gonzalez competed in a tournament in Napa and got fourth place out of 51 girls competing.

In addition to Gonzalez, Espericueta said that Mikayla Weller is a rising star who has been putting in work and is poised to make a run at qualifying for State.

"We also have a tough batch of new girls this year that are showing a lot of promise. They're always at practice, always working hard, and they seem really excited about their new sport. We fully expect to take at least 6 girls to Masters, and we should be able to qualify two girls to state, which would be another history-making feat,"Espericueta said

The team has a tough dual meet coming up against Wasco. The dual against the Tigers will be at Shafter High on Thursday night. It is also Senior Night for the Lady Generals on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Espericueta encourages everyone to come out and support the Lady General.