Othello girls take first at final event

CASEY MCCARTHY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 5 months AGO

Othello High School senior Iyazely Barraza looks for the pin in the final round against Anne Hume of Kettle Falls High School in Othello last Thursday afternoon.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald

Othello High School senior Mercedes Gonzalez picked up the win in the first round against Davis High School's Gracie Pham on Thursday afternoon at the Girls Wrestling Culminating Event in Othello.

Othello High School's Alexis Monday kept control for most of the match on the way to a win in the first place match at 110 pounds over Haliyah Yanez of Davis last Thursday, June 17.

Othello High School's Crystal Elizarraraz looks to gain control in the final matchup of the day for the senior versus Emely Arreola of Davis on Thursday afternoon in Othello.

Royal High School freshman Emma Villa's hand is held up after a victory in one of the opening rounds at 145 on Thursday afternoon at the girls wrestling event at Othello High School.

Moses Lake High School's Gabby Vela picked up the win against Othello's Lucy Giles last Thursday at the Othello Girls Wrestling Culminating Event at Othello High School.

Moses Lake High School's Araceli Murillo-Collins picked up the win over Othello's Ollonie Gonzalez in the first round of the 100-pound weight class on Thursday afternoon, June 17, in Othello.

OTHELLO — Local competitors wrapped up the spring season Thursday at Othello High School at the Othello Girls Wrestling 2021 Culminating Event.

The Othello Huskies finished first as a team with a score of 165. Second-place Toppenish High School finished with 107. Moses Lake High School came in at 10th overall, followed closely by Royal High School at 11.

The Huskies finished with four individual first-place finishers, including top finishes from all Othello seniors.

Senior Crystal Elizarraraz took first place at 105 pounds over Davis High School’s Emily Arreola. Another senior, Mercedes Gonzalez, finished first at 110 pounds with teammate Naraiah Benavides-Guzman placing second. Iyazely Barraza took first place at 130 pounds.

Junior Alexis Monday finished first overall at 115 pounds. Thalia Gallegos placed second overall at 190 pounds, as did Elle Velazquez at 235. Danae Mendez and Hazel Gonzalez placed third at 120 and 125 respectively. Danae Mendez placed third at 120 and Anahi Mendoza finished fourth in the same division.

Lisbeth Vasquez finished fifth at 145 and Lucy Giles placed sixth at 140 pounds.

Othello girls wrestling head coach Rafael Ruiz was recognized as Coach of the Year in the Greater Spokane League in addition to Coaching Staff of the Year honors from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Ruiz volunteered to host the culminating event this season for regional wrestlers, knowing this season hasn’t been ideal for anyone. He said it was exciting to see so many teams and wrestlers come out and compete.

“We owe our season to the girls that stuck it out in a very different year,” Ruiz said. “They were very resilient and kept showing up and putting in the work.”

For Moses Lake, Araceli Murillo-Collins finished second at 100 pounds, while teammate Gabby Vela took second at 140. Kimberly Avila finished sixth at 135 pounds.

Royal freshman Emma Villa finished first overall for the Knights at 145 pounds. Mariana Garcia took fourth at 170.

Brea Diaz stepped in as interim head coach this season and said she was “devastated” by her wrestlers not getting a typical year.

But, she said, she believes the wrestlers were just thankful to get any opportunity to hit the mat. Villa has put in a lot of offseason work, Diaz said.

“I think she’s currently ranked 13th in the nation as a freshman, which is crazy,” she said.