Monday, March 2, 2015 - 5:57pm
Esperana Cadena finished fifth at CIF State Wrestling Championships
Esperana Cadena finished fifth at CIF State Wrestling Championships

Lemoore’s top female wrestler took fifth place the 2015 CIF Girls’ Wrestling State Championships, held in Visalia this past weekend while three Tiger boys earned spots in the State tournament this coming weekend in Bakersfield.  Esperanza Cadena, who took top honors a week ago in the Yosemite Division Masters, made it all the way to the third round before losing to Santa Monica’s Maddy Tung 6-0.

Cadena began the tournament with a first-round bye and then beat Dominguez’ Martha Celis to advance to the match with Tung.

Following her loss, Cadena then beat Julia Padilla in consolation bracket and then Alex King before losing to Jenna Garcia. She then defeated Celis for the second time of the tourney to earn the fifth position.

This is the second consecutive trip to the State wrestling championships. Only a junior Cadena is bound to book a return trip in 2016.

Three Tigers earned trips to the CIF State Boys Wrestling Championships to be held this weekend at the Rabo Bank Arena in Bakersfield. At 113 pounds, Hector Zavala will open against Half Moon Bay’s Edrey Casamina. Zavala took 7th in last weekend’s Central Section Master’s Meet held at East Bakersfield High School.

At 160 pounds, Angel Solis just made it to the state where he will open with Northview High School’s Ricky Padilla. He finished 10th overall at East Bakersfield.

Finally, Osaze Osunde took the 7th place spot Saturday and will face Bellermine’s Julian Perez in the opening round at 182 pounds at the State championships.