Back to Back: California beats Texas in finals of Women's Junior National Duals for second straight year

Fargo Special Section

FARGO, N.D. - California used four pins in a span of five matches to defeat Texas, 35-19, winning its second consecutive title at the Women's National Junior Dual Meet Championships at the Fargodome on Tuesday, July 24.

California and Texas have met in the finals the last three years. Texas took home the title in 2005, but California gained revenge last year, 30-22.

"This is just an awesome feeling," said California women's head coach Julie Gonzalez. "The competition gets harder every year and during camp this week we challenged them to 'do what you have to do' and they got fired up and really pulled it together. I'm incredibly proud of these girls."

California jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after wins from Adriana Arzola and Victoria Anthony at 95 and 102 pounds, respectively. But Emily Martin from Texas closed the gap to 6-5 after scoring a pin over Samantha Lopez at 109.

That would be as close as the women from the Lone Star State would get as California would score bonus points in the next five matches, which
included four pins.

All-Americans Tina Linhsamout and Trinity Plessinger recorded falls at 124 and 132 pounds to extend California's lead to 16-5.

Three-time national champion and 2007 TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year Tatiana Padilla scored a 6-0, 6-0 technical fall over Kirsten Strickler at 132 pounds to give California a 20-5 lead.

At 139 pounds, national runner-up Marina Picollotti notched a first-period fall before Megan Agajanian scored the championship-clinching pin at 146 pounds over Texas' Brenda Mendoza. Agajanian defeated Mendoza the previous day in the fifth-place match in the Junior National Championships.

"I just beat her on points yesterday so it felt great to score the pin for our team," said Agajanian, who wrestled her last match for Team
California. The outgoing senior graduated from Louisville High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., last spring and will wrestle for the University of the Cumberlands this fall.

"It's been so exciting the last two years coming here and winning the title," said Agajanian. "It's been great to be a part of such an awesome team. I'll miss all of my teammates."

Texas' Lindsey Brooks scored a technical fall at 153 pounds and national runner-up Jami Moore notched a pin at 165 to put their team back on the scoreboard and close the gap to 30-14.

In a battle of All-Americans, Angela Vyborny of California pinned Carrie Clark at the 1:08 mark of the first period to increase California's lead to 35-14.

In the final bout of the match, Amanda Athon of Texas pinned California's Paloma Basulto at 220 pounds.

California defeated Michigan 39-16 and Texas took care of Florida 50-6 in the semifinals to qualify for the championship match.

Michigan defeated Development Team #2, 28-28 in the third-place match and Florida loss to Development Team #1, 35-25 but took fourth place in the team standings. Development Teams are not eligible to place in the final team standings. Hawaii and Wisconsin rounded out the top six.

Team Standings
1st - California
2nd - Texas
3rd - Michigan
4th - Florida
5th - Hawaii
6th - Wisconsin

First-Place Match
California 35, Texas 19
95 - Adriana Arzola (California) over Crystal Grajeda (Texas) Dec 3-0, 1-0
102 - Victoria Anthony (California) over Lene Wood (Texas) Dec 3-0, 3-0
109 - Emily Martin (Texas) over Samantaha Lopez (California) Fall 5-0, 1:06
116 - Tina Linhsamout (California) over Mia Mickelson (Texas) Fall 0:44
124 - Trinity Plessinger (California) over Mia Herrera (Texas) Fall 6-0, 1:09
132 - Tatiana Padilla (California) over Kirsten Strickler (Texas) TF 6-0, 6-0
139 - Marina Picollotti (California) over Tessa Plana (Texas) Fall 1:50
146 - Megan Agajanian (California) over Brenda Mendoza (Texas) Fall 1-0; 0:50
153 - Lindsey Brooks (Texas) over Angela Miller (California) TF 7-0, 6-0
165 - Jami Moore (Texas) over Holly Thein (California) Fall 1:03
190 - Angela Vyborny (California) over Carrie Clark (Texas) Fall 1:08
220 -Amanda Athon (Texas) over Palmoa Basulto Fall 3-3, 1:40