CIF State Girls Wrestling: Natalie Blanco, Gia Coons and Jestinah Solomua win titles

Chino’s Natalie Blanco relived the thrill of winning a CIF State individual wrestling championship, while Corona’s Jestinah Solomua and Orange Vista’s Gia Coons experienced that feeling for the first time.

The three state championships highlighted strong performances by Inland girls wrestlers at this weekend’s state championship meet at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield.

Blanco, a junior, defended her 155-pound state championship and did so in dramatic fashion. Blanco title bout against Mary Snider of San Diego Rancho Bernardo on Saturday evening remained scoreless deep into the third period. Blanco started that period in the bottom position. She was unable to earn a point with an escape, but Blanco ultimately scored on a reversal with 19 seconds left on the clock and held on for the 2-0 decision.

With that victory, Blanco became just the second girls wrestlers representing an school in San Bernardino or Riverside counties to win two state titles. Corey Burton of Oak Hills won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017.

Blanco reached the championship with two pins, a technical fall and a major decision. She surrendered only two points to opponents, a reversal by Eva Garcia of Huntington Beach Marina in Saturday ‘s semifinal bout.

Corona has long been one of the state’s top girls wrestling programs, but Solomua made history by becoming its first state champion. The junior won the 145-pound title when she pinned Haru Duus of Sunnyvale Fremont in the the second period (3:14). She recorded two pins, a technical fall and a major decision to reach the final.

Blanco and Solomua completed unbeaten seasons with their wins. It was Solomua’s third time on the podium at the state meet. She finished eighth at 135 pounds in 2024 and placed third at 145 pounds last season.

Coons, a sophomore, was seeded third at 235 pounds, but she brought home her first state championship by pinning top-seeded Taya Maumausolo Matagi of Nipomo at the 3:29 mark of Saturday’s title bout. It marks the second time Coons has finished on the podium. She placed sixth in the 155-pound division as a freshman.

Two other Inland girls wrestlers advanced to the championship match in their respective weight classes.

Orange Vista senior Zahra Stewart was looking to join the multiple state championship club. She claimed the title at 125 pounds last season and was the No. 1 seed in this year’s 135-pound bracket. Stewart cruised into the final with three pins and a technical fall. She trailed No. 3-seeded Shayna Ward of Oakland Tech 3-2 after the second period, but Stewart earned four near-fall points midway through the third period to take a 6-3 lead. But Ward quickly turned the tables, reversing Stewart and locking in a pin at the 4:58 mark to win the match.

It was Stewart’s third podium finish at the state finals. She also placed seventh at 120 pounds back in 2024.

Upland sophomore Sophia Lopez was seeded No. 6 at 170 pounds but made her way into the championship match following a pin, a major decision and two decisions. Lopez faced top-seeded Leilani Lemus of Clovis in the final. Lemus needed only 34 seconds to pin Lopez and became the state’s fifth four-time girls champion.

Ten additional Inland girls wrestlers were standing on the podium Saturday night.

San Dimas sophomore Aubreyelle Baeza reached the quarterfinals and placed fourth at 190 pounds. It is the second straight podium finish for Baeza, who placed seventh at 190 pounds as a freshman.

The other nine Inland girls wrestlers were first-time state placers.

Hemet senior Adelena Martinez was unseeded in the 235-pound bracket, but she reached the semifinals after back-to-back wins over the No. 5 seed and No. 4 seed. Martinez ultimately took home the fifth-place medal.

Corona senior Itzel Herrera advanced to the quarterfinals and finished fifth at 120 pounds, and Orange Vista sophomore Sophia Galindez reached the quarterfinals and placed fifth at 145 pounds.

Hamilton junior Olivia Lopez advanced to the semifinals and placed sixth at 120 pounds, and Etiwanda junior Lillian Zediker finished sixth at 140 pounds.

Orange Vista junior Audriana Rodriguez reached the quarterfinals and finished seventh at 105 pounds, while her teammate Tiffany Bell, a sophomore, advanced to the quarterfinals and finished seventh at 170 pounds. Etiwanda junior Sussette Bell placed seventh in the 125-pound division.

Orange Vista tied with Covina Northview for third place in the team standings with 100 1/2 points, 47 points behind Clovis Buchanan and  8 1/2 points behind Huntington Beach Marina. Orange Vista had five placers, tied for the second most with Marina and Northview. The Coyotes became the first Inland girls team to score more than 100 points at the state championships. The previous Inland best was 97 1/2 by Hillcrest in 2016.