Carlsbad wrestler shines at Queen of the Realm tournament; Poway boys win in Temecula

SAN MARCOS – For Carlsbad’s Caroline Collins, wrestling at San Marcos High School seems to be something she enjoys very much.

And for good reason.

The senior captured the 110-pound title Saturday evening in the finals of the fourth annual Queen of the Realm Girls Wrestling Tournament by pinning Keiva Tang of Mira Mesa.

“I feel really blessed,” said Collins, who scored four pins enroute to the title and being named lightweight MVP. “I’m thankful for my coaches, including my dad, my teammates and everyone at San Marcos.”

Collins, who won a CIF title last year after taking third the two previous seasons, finished the tournament with three first-period pins and a second-period fall to run her record to 24-3 on the season.

As for the team title, it all came down to the finals and the 145-pound match. The Marauders’ Isabel Manalansan, despite wrestling with a 100-degree temperature, scored a pin in 1:35 over West Hills’ Athena Romensas to give her team the title after trailing second-place Walnut most of the day.

“My mom didn’t want me to wrestle today,” said the flu-ridden Manalansan. “I knew I had to push through. I prayed before every match I would make it.”

She helped herself by scoring first-period pins in each of her four matches on the day.

Other Marauders in the finals included Tang at 110 and Vivienne Wright at 157.

Host San Marcos put three wrestlers in the finals, with two winning twice.

The first Knight to win the final was Diana Duarte at 190 pounds. She pinned Walnut’s Fernanda Solis in 4:47 to claim the crown.

“It’s amazing,” said Duarte, who won the event for the third time. “Ever since I won my first one I just wanted to keep doing it. So I’m pretty happy.”

Chloe Hervas won the 130-pound title for the host school.

It seems her high school career has gone by quickly for the defending CIF and master’s champion.

“It seems like such a short time now but I remember when I was a freshman it seemed like forever,” she admitted.

Duarte had a bye and three pins to earn Upper Weight MVP honors.

Other San Diego section champions included: Mia Aljo of Clairmont (100), Celeste Meyer of Oceanside (115), Gizelle Fort of West Hills (120), Anna Armenta-Wright of El Capitan (135), Aliana Gonzalez of Granite Hills (155) and Robin Moore of Ramona (235).

Poway boys win in Temecula

Despite leaving some of their top wrestlers home, Poway sent five into the finals of the Battle for the Belt at Temecula Valley High School to win the event with 257 points.

Poway champions were Rene Cordero (126), Bailey Holman (165) and Dominic Dotson (190). Other finalists included Tas Storer (132) and Jack Malinconico (138) for the Titans. Poway had 12 total medals.

Led by 157-pound champion Aiden Chur, Granite Hills took fourth at the Five Counties Tournament at Fountain Valley High School with 187.5 points. Gilroy won the event with 321.5. Ames-Michael Hoevker took second for the Eagles, and Brawley’s Adam Avila took second at 215.