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CV’s Martinez first at South Regionals
• Martinez, Caraway qualify for Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament
Nia Caraway
Central Valley 145-pound wrestler Nia Caraway secured a berth to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament. - photo by Dale Butler

Central Valley varsity girls wrestler Carla Martinez won the 162-pound title while competing at the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regional Tournament this past week in Ceres.

Martinez and Hawk teammate Nia Caraway both secured individual berths to Masters.

Central Valley’s Isabella Pelayo will attend the event as an alternate.

“I’m really proud of them,” Martinez said. “I watched them work hard. I knew they could make it.”

Martinez won all three of her matches at South Regionals.

“I’m super proud of myself,” she said. “I surpassed last year’s placing. I achieved my goal. I’m excited for Masters.”

Martinez edged Mountain House’s Ramona Jimenez by decision, 2-0, in the finals.

“That was the first time I wrestled her,” she said. “I listened to my coach throughout the match. We had a game plan. I conserved my energy in the first round. I went all out in the last two rounds. She got drained.”

Martinez also beat Atwater’s Yadira Flores (decision, 2-1) and Summerville’s Cailyn Kiolbassa (pin, 1:14).

Martinez placed third at 131 pounds her junior year.

“My style has changed,” she said. “I don’t go for throws any more. It doesn’t work with bigger girls.”

Martinez improved her overall record to 16-6.

 “There’s a lot of pressure because I made it to state last year,” Martinez said. “I’m trying to wrestle the best I can with my limited time left at Central Valley.”

Caraway placed eighth at 145 pounds.

She compiled a 1-3 record.

Caraway beat McNair’s Savanna Trejo (pin, 3:52).

She lost to Central Catholic’s Rheanne Ferrer (decision, 6-5), Los Banos’ Alana Watkin (pin, 2:28) and Golden Valley’s Samantha Arevalo (pin, 2:46).

Pelayo placed ninth at 133 pounds.

She compiled a 3-2 record.

Pelayo beat East Union’s Amiaya Guyton (pin, 4:50), Delhi’s Jennifer Madrigal (pin, 2:53) and West’s Edna Torres (decision, 9-6).

She lost to Ripon’s Melissa Perez (pin, 2:44) and Lathrop’s Alexis Murray (pin, 1:26).

Abigail Garcia (139s, 1-2), Isabella Juarez (172s, 0-2) and Mia Mendoza (128s, 0-2) also represented Central Valley at South Regionals last week.

Garcia beat Golden Valley’s Graciella Valencia (decision, 6-2).

She lost to Central Catholic’s Faalia Martinez (pin, 0:46) and Ceres High’s Jazzmin Suarez (pin, 3:47).

Juarez lost to Bear Creek’s Jenessa Serrano (decision, 10-5) and East Union’s Mackenzie Romero (pin, 0:48).

Mendoza lost to Tokay’s Cynthia Isordia (pin, 0:51) and El Capitan’s Idalia Perez (pin, 2:20).

The Hawks finished 22nd with 45 points in the team standings.

Carla Martinez and Nia Caraway
Hawk wrestlers Carla Martinez and Nia Caraway placed first and eighth, respectively, at the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regional Tournament last week at Central Valley.