Abbie Schultz gained valuable experience while representing Ceres High School’s girls wrestling program at the USA Junior Nationals on July 18 in North Dakota.

“Fargo is the premier national tournament,” Bulldogs’ head coach Curtis Hulstine said. “The arena is massive. There are over 2,000 girls wrestling on 30 mats over three days. To have one of our wrestlers there is amazing. She’s the first one to make it.”

Schultz posted a 1-2 record in the 16-and-under 130-pound freestyle weight division.

She lost by technical fall (10-0) to Colorado’s Savannah Martinez in the championship round of 128.

She won by pin (1:28) versus New Jersey’s Ellysa Dugan in the consolation round of 64.

She lost by pin (0:19) to Wisconsin’s Cora Bighley in the consolation sub-round of 32.

“I wanted her to gain experience,” Hulstine said. “I wanted her to compete. That’s exactly what she did. She did awesome.”

Schultz made history this summer by becoming the first female wrestler from Ceres High to advance to USA Junior Nationals.

“She definitely earned her way there,” Hulstine said. “To get to Fargo, you have to qualify and be on the California National Team. We were excited for her to gain experience competing at that high of a level.”

Schultz punched her ticket to Junior Nationals after finishing in sixth place at the Northwest Regionals, March 27-29, in Centralia, Wash.

“I’m super thankful to be the first female out of Ceres to qualify (for Nationals),” Schultz said. “It’s super special how much Ceres girls wrestling has grown. I’m grateful for all the coaches that have got me to where I am.”

Schultz compiled a 3-3 record at Northwest Regionals.

“I went into the tournament to just have fun and get some mat time during the offseason and ended up actually qualifying for Fargo Nationals,” she said. “The competition was tough. It took a lot of heart to get through some of those matches.

Schultz enjoyed her best season to date with Ceres High’s girls wrestling team during the 2025-26 school year.

The 130-pound sophomore team captain won three of five matches at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament.

Schultz compiled a 3-2 record on her way to a fourth-place finish at the Southern Regional Championships.

She bested two of three opponents while taking second at the Western Athletic Conference Championships.

Schultz was winless at Masters as a freshman.

She took eighth (2-3) at South Regionals and third (1-1) at the WAC Finals.

“Her technique and confidence are continuously growing,” Hulstine said.