CEDAR CITY — Southern Utah athletes fared well at the recent 1A/2A/3A girls wrestling state championships in Richfield.
Two Canyon View High wrestlers finished the season undefeated and captured individual state titles in their respective weight classes.
In the 105-pound bracket, Canyon View freshman Julia Kay won her championship match via second-round fall over Grantsville’s Sophia Camargo. Kay finished her season with a 45-0 record.
And in the 190-pound category, Canyon View sophomore Tilisa Matakaiongo won her second straight state crown by defeating North Sanpete’s Hannah Perry in the finals, also by a second-round pin. Matakaiongo, who also helped the Canyon View Talons drill team to their second straight state title the same week, finished her wrestling season with a 27-0 record.
Canyon View head coach Dallas Lowry, who was named the 1A-3A girls coach of the year by the Utah Wrestling Coaches Association, told Cedar City News he has coached both Kay and Matakaiongo “since grade school, when they battled boys.”
“Now they own the mat with their opponents,” he noted, adding that both girls will soon be heading to nationals. “They are very friendly with all the other teams and are well-liked by everyone.”
Also making it to the state finals for Canyon View was 110-pound junior Kristie Jensen, who placed second in the bracket after losing her finals match by second-round pin to Yvette Vargas of Juan Diego. Jensen finished her season with a record of 39-8.
Grantsville was the overall winner of the state tournament with 274 team points, while second-place Juab finished with 187 and Canyon View third at 183.
“We did well, missing second place by only four points while having one of our girls stay home due to illness,” Lowry said, adding, “Watch out for the Falcons next year.”
A total of 16 schools from the state’s three smallest classifications participated in the event, which was staged at the Sevier Valley Center on Feb. 15-16.
Another Southern Utah athlete who took state individually was 120-pound sophomore Alexandra Ramirez of Enterprise, who finished her season 38-5 after defeating Grantsville’s Brielle Fawson 6-3.
Also from Enterprise, junior Elizabeth Cox placed fourth at 100 pounds, while sophomore Ina Silvers took sixth in the 235-pound or heavyweight bracket.
Other state placers from Southern Utah schools were as follows:
Canyon View senior Michaela Rember placed fifth at 120 pounds. In the 125-pound bracket, Panguitch sophomore Keiran Mooney placed fourth and Canyon View freshman Gwendaline Gardiner took sixth.
DebiJean Henrie, a senior from Panguitch, placed third in the 130-pound bracket.
Freshman Addison Rushton of Canyon View took sixth at 140 pounds. At 145 pounds, Hallie Carter of Canyon View placed fourth, while their teammate Kelsey Diane Weaver took sixth at 155 pounds. Also for the Falcons, senior Violeta Gonzalez Anzaldo took fifth in the 170-pound bracket and sophomore Maitae Cardenas finished in third place at 235 pounds.
Photo Gallery
L-R: Canyon View state finalist wrestlers Julia Kay, Kristie Jensen and Tilisa Matakaiongo at the state tournament, Richfield, Utah, Feb. 16, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Dallas Lowry, St. George News / Cedar City News Canyon View state champion wrestler Tilisa Matakaiongo pins an opponent at the state tournament, Richfield, Utah, Feb. 16, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Dallas Lowry, St. George News / Cedar City News Canyon View state champion wrestler Julia Kay pins an opponent at the state tournament, Richfield, Utah, Feb. 16, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Dallas Lowry, St. George News / Cedar City News Canyon View wrestlers surround their coach Dallas Lowry after the state tournament, Richfield, Utah, Feb. 16, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Richard Jensen, St. George News / Cedar City News Referee raises Canyon View state champion wrestler Julia Kay's arm in victory at the state tournament, Richfield, Utah, Feb. 16, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Dallas Lowry, St. George News / Cedar City News Canyon View wrestlers Julia Kay (left) and Tilisa Matakaiongo pose with their coach Dallas Lowry after the state tournament, Richfield, Utah, Feb. 16, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Dallas Lowry, St. George News / Cedar City News Referee raises Canyon View state champion wrestler Tilisa Matakaionog's arm in victory at the state tournament, Richfield, Utah, Feb. 16, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Dallas Lowry, St. George News / Cedar City News
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