UPPER LAKE >> Christina Wilson and Adriana Lopez became the first two Upper Lake High School girls to win medals at the CIF State Championships last month in Visalia. A little more than a month later they are now both the first two All-American female wrestlers from the Northshore school.
Wilson, competing at 127 pounds in the junior division, and Lopez, competing at 117 pounds in the junior division, both brought home medals from the USA Wrestling-sanctioned U.S. Marine Corps Girls Folkstyle Nationals last weekend at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
Wilson, who placed third in the state for Upper Lake this past high school season, nearly won the 127-pound division for Team California, her only loss a back-and-forth 10-8 decision to Kaden Campbell of SOT Academy in Colorado.
En route to her berth in the championship match and second-place medal, Wilson beat Katlin Wells of Team California by second-round pin, Teniya Alo of Hawaii by 7-6 decision, Alyssa Aceval of Team California by 5-3 decision in the quarterfinals, and Jessica Sanchez of Team California by 11-3 decision in the semifinals.
In the 117-pound division, Lopez of Team California lost her first match to Kasey Baynon of Team Georgia by 4-2 decision, which dropped her into the consolation bracket. Lopez battled back with a first-round pin of Anja Tshoi of Team Kansas, a 16-1 win by technical fall over Lillian Humphries of Team South Carolina, and an 8-2 decision over Mya Kretzer of Team Kansas. Lopez found herself paired with Baynon again in her next match and was pinned in the third round. In the seventh-place match that followed, Lopez beat Glory Konceny of Team Montana by 6-2 decision.
All-American status was bestowed on all medalists in each weight class (first through eighth). Wilson and Lopez, who placed sixth at the CIF State Championships last month, were among 37 California wrestlers to bring home medals and Wilson was one of nine Team California members to reach the finals (three won titles).
