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Quiroz places in top 24 at state tourney
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Hawk senior Brianna Quiroz competed at the CIF State Girls Wrestling Championships for the second year in a row this winter.

Brianna Quiroz made a bold prediction during freshmen orientation at Central Valley High School.

“She told (athletic director) Greg Magni she was going to make it to state in wrestling,” Hawks’ coach Rob Beckhart said. “She’s done it twice.”

Added Quiroz: “It does mean a lot because not a lot of people get to do that.”

Quiroz wrapped up her prep grappling career with a top-24 finish in the 150-pound weight bracket at the CIF State Girls Wrestling Championships this past week at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

“I’m happy with how I did,” Quiroz said. “It’s an improvement from last year. I can’t be disappointed.”

“It’s a huge accomplishment to be a two-time state qualifier. She had a great career.”
Coach Rob Beckhart

“It’s a huge accomplishment to be a two-time state qualifier,” Beckhart said. “She had a great career.”

 Quiroz won one of three matches at the state tournament.

She topped Santa Paula’s Jasmin Tapia (pin, 1:23) in the first round. 

She dropped back-to-back matches to San Fernando’s Alyssa Arana (pin, 4:33) and Rancho Buena Vista’s Cassandra Betancourt (pin, 4:40).

“It would have been nice to get her on the podium,” Beckhart said. “At the end of the day, she did her best. There’s no reason to be upset. She had a great season.”

“There’s a lot of good talent out there,” Quiroz said. “I did the best I could. I gave it my all.”

Quiroz’s senior season was filled with individual and team success.

She amassed a 26-9 overall record.

She advanced to state for the second year in a row.

She claimed her second straight league title.

She took first at the South Regionals.

She finished second at Masters.

She helped lead the Hawks to back-to-back conference championships.

“We accomplished a lot,” Quiroz said. 

“I’d love to have her for another year,” Beckhart said. “She was the team leader. She showed the other girls what it took to be successful. She never missed practiced. She wanted to be pushed.”

“You have to work, prepare and give it your all no matter what,” Quiroz said. 

Quiroz will be remembered as one of Central Valley’s all-time greatest grapplers.

“I definitely think I could have done better,” she said. “I wish I gave a little more my freshman and sophomore years.”

Adrian Vizcaino, Quiroz’s older sibling, represented Central Valley’s boys wrestling team at the CIF State Meet in 2014. The three-time Western Athletic Conference champion lost both of his matches. 

“Being around my brother wrestling made it (the transition) easier for me,” Quiroz said. “He was there to teach me. I wanted to do better than him. He didn’t win a match at state and I did. Me and Rob joke about that.”

“She has the ability to set a goal and accomplish it,” Beckhart said. “I’m proud of her. She’s well-known in our area. We were lucky to have her for four years. I know she’ll be successful at whatever she does.”