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CV girls wrestling vying for more success
• Cordova welcomes challenge of coaching Hawks
Samantha Espinoza and Aryanna Jimenez
The Hawks return a host of talent from last year’s CCC championship team, including Samantha Espinoza and Aryanna Jimenez. - photo by Dale Butler

Brandy Cordova has been tapped to lead Central Valley’s girls wrestling program.

“I like new challenges,” said Cordova, a softball coach at the high school. “A lot more goes into wrestling. The kids are practicing three hours a day. With tournaments and duals, it pulls you away from everything else in your life several times a week.”

“I’ve never wrestled,” she added. “I had plenty of experience watching wrestling since my son (Antonio) wrestled for four years at CV. My daughter (Lexy), nephew (Adrian Vizcaino) and niece (Brianna Quiroz) also wrestled all four years at CV and were state qualifiers.”

Central Valley’s top returners are Carla Martinez (Sr., 160s), Samantha Espinoza (Jr., 235s), Nia Caraway (Sr., 150s), Aryanna Jimenez (Sr., 121s), Angelina Sanchez (Jr., 235s), Kim Hernandez (Sr., 150s), Abigail Garcia (Jr., 131s) and Isabella Pelayo (Jr., 143s).

Martinez made history last winter by becoming just the sixth female wrestler from Central Valley to qualify for the CIF State Championships.

Her overall record during the 2018-19 season was 24-14.

She finished second at Masters, third at South Regionals and first at the Central California Conference finals.

Martinez won her second straight league title.

Espinoza finished seventh at South Regionals and first at the CCC Tournament.

Caraway finished eighth at South Regionals and first at the conference tourney.

Sanchez was fifth and third at the respective events.

Jimenez took first at the league championships.

Garcia and Pelayo both placed second.

The Hawks’ top newcomers are Aeryus Lundeen (So., 121s), Mia Mendoza (Fr., 126s), Isabella Juarez (Fr., 170s), Julia Roton (So., 189s) and Andrea Cortes (So. 189s). 

“A successful season would be if all the girls walk away after their last match and know they gave their all and did their best. No coach can ask for more than that.”
New Coach Brandy Cordova

“A successful season would be if all the girls walk away after their last match and know they gave their all and did their best,” Cordova said. “No coach can ask for more than that.”

The Hawks placed fifth at the South Regionals a season ago.

Newcomers to the Central California Conference, Central Valley shared the league’s overall championship with Atwater.

The Hawks had five individual champions while taking first at the CCC Tournament.

Central Valley could forfeit up to four individual matches during conference dual meets this year due to its lack of numbers. 

“It’s hard to say how we are going to do because we don’t have a full lineup,” Cordova said. “Our girls are going to have to wrestle hard and do their best to win by pins to make up the difference.”