SHS wrestler falls short of medal round at State

Julianna Gonzalez, who came into the State Wrestling tournament last weekend at Mechanics Bank Arena as the number three seed, fell short of making it to the medal rounds, falling in the quarterfinals, suffering her first pin of the season.

Gonzalez won her first two matches by pins. Her first match she pinned her opponent just 45 seconds into the match. She had no more trouble in her second match, securing the pin to make it to day 2 of the season-ending event.

After the loss, Gonzalez was relegated to the consolation rounds, allowing her a chance to wrestle her way back into the medal rounds. Gonzalez fell just short of the medal round, making it impossible for her to place this year. Gonzalez made history last year as a freshman, capturing seventh place at the State tourney, becoming the first Shafter female wrestler to make it to the State competition and also the first to earn a State medal.

Last week, Gonzalez continued her history-making career, becoming the first girl competitor from Shafter to win a Central Section Masters tournament, qualifying her for the State tournament.

Only a sophomore, Gonzalez still has a bright future in the sport, with two more years of competing ahead of her. Gonzalez was not alone at the competition, either. Makayla Weller, only in her second year of wrestling, qualified for the State tourney with a fourth place finish at the Masters tournament. Weller ran into some very tough competition and dropped her first two matches, eliminating her from the tournament.