Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci freshman Arianna Sarrett gets the advantage over classmate Jordan Fernandez during a recent practice session. She went 2-3 with two pins following her initial high school varsity meet, the 2019 Digger O’Dell / Gila Valley Invitational on Dec. 7, and was 3-1 with three pins in the first girls Doc Wright Invitational on Jan. 18. Sarrett emerged as the Section I champion Feb. 1
By Raymundo Frasquillo
PHOENIX – Diminutive Morenci 101-pound freshman Arianna Sarrett and Pima 118-pound junior Angelina Berume left the Desert Vista campus as Section I champions Feb. 1. Sarrett competed in a field of four and Berume against nine.
Sarrett became Morenci’s second sectional entrant, placer, champion and state qualifier behind Class of 2019 grad Nesa Martinez. She posted a pair of first period pins for the title, in 1:12 over Tempe Marcos de Niza junior Gabby Ramirez during the semifinal and in 40 seconds over Mesa Dobson sophomore Jennifer Thieu.
Thieu pinned Miami freshman Sherry Shadle in 1:22 to advance to the title bout. Shadle pinned Ramirez in 3:25 for third place.
Berume is Pima’s initial sectional entrant, placer, champion, and state qualifier. She drew a first-round bye and posted three consecutive pins for the title. Her times were 3:57 over Queen Creek san tan Valley sophomore Makayla Gregory in quarterfinals, 4:31 over Mesa Red Mountain junior Carlee Pobieglo in the semifinals, and 3:18 over Dobson senior Kiarra Celaya in the final.
Sarrett (2-0, 2 pins) and Thieu (1-1, 1 pin) will vie for state honors against the champions and runner-ups from the other sectional meets, Sierra Linda senior Alexa Loreto (1-0, 1 pin) and Glendale Copper Canyon freshman Kassandra Ruiz (0-1) from Section II, Tucson Sunnyside freshman Tatiana Hernandez (3-0, 3 pins) and Sahuarita sophomore Emily Hernandez (2-1, 2 pins) from Section III, and Cottonwood Mingus sophomore Caylee Townsend (2-0, 1 pin) and Tuba City sophomore Rain Eagle Begaye (0-1) from Section IV.
The rest of the 101-pound state meet field includes Section V champion Gilbert sophomore Tori Miller (2-0, 2 pins) and runner-up Campo Verde freshman Kathryn Simms (2-1, 1 pin), Section VI champion Glendale Ironwood sophomore Emily Porras (2-0, 2 pins) and runner-up Glendale Raymond Kellis freshman Erica Pastoriza (1-1, 1 pin), Section VII champion Phoenix Barry Goldwater sophomore Amethyst Baek (2-0, 2 pins) and runner-up Surprise Willow Canyon freshman Jazmine Rivera (1-1, 1 pin), and Section VIII champion Bullhead City Mohave junior Angelina Rediger (3-0, 2 pins) and runner-up Kylee Gerber (1-1) of Gila Ridge.
Berume (3-0, 3 pins) and Celaya (2-1, 1 pin) join a field of other section champions and runner-ups, Laveen Cesar Chavez junior Alizay Morales (4-0, 3 pins) and Phoenix North freshman Akshaya Lord (3-1, 1 pin) from Section II, Bisbee freshman Adacelli Noriega (3-0, 3 pins) and Tucson Pueblo sophomore Arika Rodriguez (2-1, 1 pin) from Section III, and Winslow sophomore Riley Davila (2-0, 1 pin) and Jiiniibah Redhorse () of Fort Defiance Window Rock from Section IV.
The other 118-pound state qualifiers are Section V champion Casteel freshman Isabelle Munoz (3-0, 3 pins) and runner-up Casa Grande freshman Briana Quiroz (1-1, 1 pin), Section VI champion Glendale Centennial freshman Adrianna Lloyd (1-0) and runner-up Peoria Liberty freshman Savannah Siqueiros (1-1, 1 pin), Section VII champion Goldwater freshman Lily Perez (2-0, 2 pins) and runner-up Scottsdale Arcadia junior Aaliyah Terrazas (1-1, 1 pin), and Section VIII champion Payton Kessler (3-0, 3 pins) of Gila Ridge and runner-up Sofia Carranza (2-1, 1 pin) of Desert Edge.
The state meet begins in the Prescott Valley’s Findlay Toyota Center, 3201 Main Street, on Feb. 14.
A total of 439 entrants representing 133 schools in 10 weight classes went to the eight sectional meets. Tucson Pueblo had the most participants with 10, followed by Chandler Basha (9), Gila Ridge (8), and eight teams had seven apiece.
The participants numbered 35 at 101, 45 at 110, 50 at 118, 53 at 125, 52 at 130 and 145, 44 at 135, 48 at 160, 30 at 185, and 32 at 225.
There were 45 entrants from 16 schools at the Section I meet on the Desert Vista campus, 58 from 18 schools at the Section II meet on the Tolleson campus, 61 from 21 schools at the Section III meet on the Tucson Flowing Wells campus, 53 from 15 schools at the Section IV meet on the Winslow campus, 57 from 17 schools at the Section V meet on the Basha campus, 59 from 13 schools at the Section VI meet on the Phoenix Moon Valley campus, 40 from 13 schools at the Section VII meet on the Surprise Shadow Ridge campus, and 66 from 20 schools at the Section VIII meet on the Mohave campus.
Last year, a total of 71 entrants were on hand at the Section I meet on the Gilbert Campo Verde campus, 66 at the Section II meet on the Moon Valley campus, 50 at the Section III meet on the Flowing Wells campus, 44 at the Section IV meet on the Winslow campus, and 53 at the Section V meet on the Shadow Ridge campus.
The 284 participants numbered 24 at 101, 35 at 110 and 118, 36 at 125, 29 at 130, 21 at 135, 33 at 145, 30 at 160, 18 at 185, and 23 at 225.
