Norwalk girls wrestling makes history
Casey Altero, left, and Aryssa Eslava, right, who led the Norwalk High School girls wrestling team to victories in their final match, stand with teammates, from left, Ruby Hubbard, Celeste Ortega, Zitlali Sarmiento, Anahy Aguilar, Mia Farr and Liyah Salazar. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
NORWALK – Norwalk High School Girls Wrestling coach Bryan DeVries recently talked about the past year with his team. He summed it up in three little words, which said it all for 2020-21.
“What a season,” DeVries said. “These girls fought hard all season to fight through the negative stereotypes of being a female wrestler from peers.
“We have created a family atmosphere. We look out for one another.”
It began last season with a program first – all five girls that were eligible, went to CIF. That increased to nine in 2021, with four freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and two seniors.
The season ended with a CIF-SS dual team invite, but the Lancers lost to Foothill, 69-12, which had five more weight classes.
“These high school girls are paving the way for future generations of female wrestlers,” DeVries added. “History was made this year with our first league championship.”
Both coach DeVries and assistant coach Frank Soto have led the way for the Lancer program, along with fourth grader and daughter Lylah DeVries.
Little Lylah has attended all of the meets and is affectionately known as Little coach.
“They have fought for equality for (themselves) and for the sport of women’s wrestling,” DeVries said. “Oftentimes, basketball or football gets all the attention because they are a “TV Sport” and popular.
“At times our girls have felt disrespected by the lack of acknowledgement of our current accomplishments. They continue to walk tall and wrestle for one another. We are a wrestling family and they have truly embodied a woman warrior mentality, while building confidence, self-discipline, a good work ethic, self-resiliency, and mental toughness.”
Leading up to the historic CIF qualification was a crazy series of ups and downs in this unusual year.
After the season was salvaged and the usual winter start was delayed until February, the CIF-SS finally allowed schools to start practicing.
However, heavy COVID restrictions were put in place and teams had to start a conditioning program outdoors only.
In late March, actual practice was allowed, but still outdoors.
April 13 was moving day – actual practice inside the gymnasium.
It was followed the next day with the announcement all the athletes were waiting to hear.
“On April 14, the (Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District) officially announced we could have a season,” DeVries said.
Nine days later (April 23), after months of delays, Norwalk finally had its first dual.
Norwalk High School girls wrestling team head coach Bryan DeVries, right, and assistant coach Frank Soto. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
The Lancers won both duals against Mayfair and Bellflower for the 2-0 Suburban League start, but then it happened – a positive test resulted in one of the male wrestlers in the program and everything came to a halt.
That happened just as the Lancers were preparing for their final dual (May 15) in league against La Mirada and were on the verge of the historic first title.
The district shut down the entire program (boys and girls).
“Our wrestlers’ spirits were down to say the least,” said DeVries, of the disappointment. We can’t go undefeated in league, we’re quarantined at home for 10 days, and can’t make history.”
La Mirada was informed that Norwalk would have to forfeit and eventually have to share a league title.
Then intra-district rival La Mirada did the unexpected.
“Their coach, who only had five wrestlers, knew we were going to beat them based on our numbers and strength, felt it wasn’t right for us to have this moment taken from us,” explained DeVries. “To everyone’s surprise, they forfeited. That gave us the 3-0 record in league and claim to our first ever league title.” Or, so they thought.
Meanwhile, Norwalk applied for an At-Large berth (May 15) in the CIF team duals, since it would take place after the mandatory 10-day shut down.
Three days later (May 18), Norwalk was notified that it would not be league champions since there weren’t enough teams.
The Lancers still consider themselves as league champions for their first-ever accomplishments.
A day later, the team was informed it’s At-Large bid was accepted.
“This was the first time in school history that the girls wrestling qualified for team duals,” DeVries said. “Their spirits were instantly lifted and they began home workouts.”
The team resumed practice two days later and was informed that the positive COVID result was actually a false positive.
Five days later, Norwalk faced Foothill in the CIF team dual.
“The girls wrestled hard and every match was close,” DeVries said. “Foothill had a full team and we gave up 30 team points in forfeits, as they had 14 weight classes and we only had nine.”
CIF-SS Dual Results – Foothill 69, Norwalk 12
101 Lbs – Ruby Hubbard, freshman – L by pin
DeVries: It was her first year wrestling and wrestled hard. She has shown great improvement. She was taken down and pinned by foothill in the first round at the 1:26 minute mark.
106 Lbs – Forfeit
111 Lbs – Forfeit
116 Lbs – Liyah Salazar, junior – L by pin
DeVries: She is a third-year wrestler and wrestled a four-year wrestler and captain for Foothill. Liyah scored an early takedown (1-0) with a beautiful outside single. She stayed in control attempting to turn foothill to get back points. Liyah was winning 2-0 after round 1. In round 2 the Foothill wrestler chose the bottom and gets the 1-point escape on a standup and Liyah trips over herself to regain balance. The Foothill wrestler shoots and capitalizes on the stumble, immediately putting Liyah to her back and getting the pin at the 3:26 mark.
121 Lbs – Zitlali Sarmiento, sophomore – L by Dec, 3-0
DeVries: She is a second-year wrestler, set up a very nice Hi-C. The two wrestlers scrambled, and she was not able to secure the takedown. After round 1, the score was tied, 0-0. In round 2 the Foothill wrestler started with the one-point escape, then got a 2 point takedown, but was unable to put Zitlali on her back. Down, 3-0, Zitlali chose the bottom in round 3, but was unable to secure the escape.
126 Lbs – Aryssa Eslava, senior – W by pin
DeVries: Our first win came from Eslava. A second-year wrestler, Aryssa has grown from a shy, timid first year wrestler into a strong, confident, woman warrior. The match starts and Aryssa’s takedown attempt is countered by Foothill. Foothill goes up 2-0. Then the experienced foothill girl throws in a strong leg ride and power half, to get a 3 point near fall (5-0). She continues to fight and refuses to be pinned. She survives the 1st round. In round 2, the Foothill wrestler reverses Aryssa for two points (7-0) and throws in another leg ride. Again Foothill goes for the power half and gets 2-point near fall (9-0). Aryssa continues to fight and her opponent gets too high on the back position and Aryssa Tripods up, forcing foothill to become off balance and abandon the leg ride. Aryssa swims over the off balanced Foothill wrestler and reverses her. She puts her in a half Nelson and in a pinning combination. Aryssa pins her opponent. Fights the entire match and her resilience pays off huge for Norwalk’s first ever CIF team duals win.
131 Lbs – Casey Otero, freshman – W by pin
DeVries: Our second win came from Otero and thanks to facing teams without her weights and most recently the FALSE COVID shutdown, Casey was entering CIF with no matches. CIF was her first Match outside of practice. Since stepping foot on the mat, and thanks to a background in ju-jitsu, Casey has been picking up wrestling very quickly.
This was a back and forth match and Casey attempts a takedown and the Foothill wrestler counters. Her opponent gets the takedown and is up 2-0. Casey, with a half nelson, rolls through, earning a 2-point reversal for the 2-2 tie. Foothill builds a base and goes for the switch and gets a 2 point reversal (4-2). Casey then continues to fight and gets a 1- point escape (4-3) through a stand-up. The 2nd round starts and Casey throws in a half nelson and grabs the near ankle to flip her opponent over. She then gets the pin in her first match and first-ever pin. Great job Casey.
137 Lbs – Celeste Ortega, freshman – L by pin
DeVries: She is in her first year and wrestled a very tough opponent. Foothill got the takedown, (0-2), but Celeste fought hard to get the escape, (1-2). Foothill gets a takedown and again Celeste fights to get the escape, (2-4). Foothill gets one more takedown as the period ends. Round 1 ends with Celeste losing 6-2. Foothill chooses neutral and gets another takedown and pins Celeste at the 3:03 mark.
143 Lbs – Forfeit
150 Lbs – Forfeit
160 Lbs – Miriah Negrette, sophomore – L by pin
DeVries: Negrette is also in her first year and wrestled a tough foothill opponent, who immediately engaged Miriah in a standing Hawkeye. She took her down and pinned her at the 1:01 mark. Miriah joined us late as she was waiting to get her physical.
170 Lbs – Anahy Aguilar, senior – L by pin
DeVries: Aguilar, a 4 year wrestler, immediately locked up with her opponent and was caught in a head and arm throw. She landed directly on her shoulder and attempted to fight off the pin. She lost via pin in the first round and fractured her shoulder in the process. She continued to fight with the fracture. She is one of the toughest individuals I have ever met. I wish she could have had that final match back, but her fighting even through that pain is very inspiring.
189 Lbs – Forfeit
Heavy weight – Mia Farr, freshman – L by pin
DeVries: Farr, a first year wrestler, had a great season up until CIF. It was her only loss was against a state qualifier from Downey in her first match. Round 1 starts and Mia attempts a snap down, but the Foothill wrestler lands out of bounds. No points and reset back to the middle of mat. Mia then sets up the over/under throw from standing position. She doesn’t quite get the torque needed and foothill lands on top of her for a takedown and then pins her.
What they said:
Bryan DeVries, coach: “We recruited four new wrestlers this year. I tell the girls constantly that I’m very proud of them. They really pioneers of the sport, at least here at Norwalk. They’re helping pave the way for future wrestlers.
“We work really hard to make sure it’s a family culture.
“They don’t want to wrestle hard for themselves, but wrestle for the team. Even when one loses, they’re still there cheering ontheir teammates.
“They really have embraced the wrestling family that we’re trying to preach here.”
Aryssa Eslava, 126 Lbs: “Throughout the season, I only wrestled two or three times and up until CIF I did not get a win. and the day of CIF I was very satisfied with my win. The girl that I wrestled was dominating most of the match, but when she took her second shot I put her to her back and got the win.”
Casey Otero, 131 Lbs: “I think the team did really well and tried their best. I’ve never wrestled before and I’ve done Ju-jitsu … for two years and it’s pretty similar.
Mia Farr, Heavyweight: “We did alright this year and went to CIF for the first time as a team and are league champions this year. I won four matches and lost one match against a girl from Downey. At this weight class you can wrestle anybody.
“I enjoy the team atmosphere and it’s like a family and it’s really a challenge.”
Zitlali Sarmiento, 121 Lbs. “I like it all and the adrenaline and love raising my hand (winning). I just love winning and hate losing. I like the atmosphere and everybody is always hyping everyone up.
“My favorite match was wrestling a boy at Mayfair. I didn’t win and it was a good memory and learned a lot from that to stay more aggressive.”