Menlo College signs Cadet World medalists Gracie Figueroa and Alleida Martinez

ATHERTON, Calif. – Menlo College Head Women's Wrestling Coach Joey Bareng is thrilled to announce the recent signings of two highly-touted teammates from Selma High School, Gracie Figueroa and Alleida Martinez.

“We’re excited to sign Gracie and Alleida,” Bareng said. “They’re both talented wrestlers, and I think it’s going to do a lot for us on the mat and off the mat. They’re such a big draw and everyone knows who they are, so when we sign wrestlers of their caliber, it almost solidifies your program. It’s important to keep that kind of talent in the state. They fit our program perfectly and we’re excited to have them.”

The two high school seniors will join the Oaks, who are currently ranked fourth in the nation, as freshmen for the 2018-19 academic year.

Both Figueroa and Martinez are three-time CIF State Champions and each entered their senior seasons with unblemished overall records. Figueroa was 106-0 entering her senior campaign while Martinez was 72-0. During their decorated prep years, they have helped their team to two-consecutive CIF Team State Titles.

Figueroa has had a remarkably impressive prep career thus far. She is a two-time Cadet Women’s Freestyle national champion and a three-time Junior Women’s Freestyle national champion. She has represented the United States four times at age-group World Championships, including three times as a Cadet (2015-17) and once as a Junior (2017). In 2016, she won a Cadet World bronze medal, and in 2017, she competed at both the Cadet and Junior World Championships.  

In the girls’ high school rankings, Figueroa is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation at 122 pounds.

"Signing with Menlo felt right because of the atmosphere, and the team reminded me of my Selma teammates," Figueroa said. "Plus, I'm always going to be a Cali Girl and I want to try to be the first to bring a (college) national title to California."

Martinez is also the top-ranked wrestler in her weight class, 117 pounds. She has three seasons of stellar success to back it up.

As a freshman, she donned the Red, White and Blue at the 2015 Cadet World Championships, where she won a World silver medal. She also won several USA Wrestling events, including Cadet and Junior Folkstyle Nationals, Cadet Body Bar Nationals and Cadet Women’s Freestyle Nationals.

As a sophomore, repeated all of her freshman season championships while earning World bronze at the 2016 Cadet Worlds.

Last season, Martinez snagged a Junior Women’s Freestyle National title and produced a runner-up finish at the Junior Folkstyle Nationals.

"I feel excited and happy with my decision of signing with Menlo," Martinez said. "I chose Menlo because not only is the campus welcoming and safe but the team morale is extraordinary and I can't wait to be a part of that environment."

Martinez and Figueroa join a Menlo program on the continual rise. The Oaks finished fifth as a team at WCWA Nationals last season, which is the best finish in program history. As WCWAs quickly approaches, Menlo boasts seven different individuals ranked in the top eight of their respective weight classes.