Sunnyside, Grandview girls going after Mat Classic team title

Casi Sambrano has often been asked if he prefers to coach girls or boys.

The Sunnyside High School girls wrestling coach has a simple answer: “If you love what you do, it doesn’t matter.”

This week, Sambrano might tell you it’s the girls.

The Grizzlies ran away with the Region 4 title last week, despite having no individual champions. They have eight girls going to Mat Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

“The goal was to get to state,” Sambrano said. “From there, it is a whole new season. Every time we step on the mat, it is a whole new season. What happened last week is past tense.”

Sambrano has a diverse group of girls this season, ranging from veteran Daisy Chavez (125) to freshman Stephanie Blankenship (105), who is 32-4 this season. He has just shy of 50 girls on his team.

“Every time we have wrestled, we have never had the same lineup,” Sambrano said. “That’s how deep we are. We had 19 at districts, 16 at regionals and are taking eight to state.”

With girls wrestling on the rise and colleges starting to offer the sport, Sambrano makes sure his wrestlers know the sport can help them achieve their dreams if they are willing to work.

“Ninety-five percent of the girls on this team are from migrant worker families, and so was I,” Sambrano said. “They understand my work ethic. If they want to be good, all they have to do is listen. I also teach them life skills. I’m preparing them for the future.”

Sunnyside was fifth last year at state in the team race, while Grandview, which had just three wrestlers, won the team title by one-half point.

The Greyhounds have four entrants this year: Maria Reyes (100), Jasel Perez (120), and regional champions Viannei Perez (105) and Desiree Zavala (145). Zavala is a three-time state champion.

“Looking at the brackets, Mount Baker has 10 girls, and I think they will be our main competition,” Grandview coach Bob Johnson said.

Zavala (29-0) is going after her fourth consecutive state title. Of her 29 wins, all have come by fall. She has signed to wrestle at Southern Oregon University in Ashland.

Viannei Perez (37-0) is seeking her second state title. She won last year at 105 and was third as a freshman. She was injured her sophomore year and was unable to compete.

The surprises come with sophomores Jasel Perez (40-3) and Reyes (31-6). The younger Perez was upset at regionals and finished third. Reyes was second to Granger’s Esmeralda Roman, who dropped down after competing at 105 most of the season.

“Finishing third, Jasel has a much tougher draw at state,” Johnson said. “She could meet three-time state champion Jordyn Bartelson (Puyallup) in the semifinals. Maria hurt her ankle in the finals at regionals, but she’s moving around. She will be fine. The Roman girl is pretty tough. She wrestled Viannei all year, and I think she wanted something different. Now, she gets another Grandview girl.”

Flying high

Hanford junior Libby Graham, who is making her first trip to state this weekend, will be the school’s second girls wrestler to compete at Mat Classic.

Amanda Hamill went in 2010 at 152 pounds, where she finished 0-2.

Graham (130 pounds) was second at subregionals and fourth at regionals to earn a trip to the Tacoma Dome.

“I’m really nervous and excited, mixed together,” Graham said. “This year, I’ve been working hard to be a state participant. I was an alternate last year, and my goal was to go to state.”

Graham has wrestled for nine years. She caught the bug watching her brother, David, who was second at districts at 126 but didn’t make it out of regionals.

“I have bragging rights at home,” Graham said with a smile. “I really like the competitiveness of wrestling. I like to butt heads and see who comes out on top.”

State qualifiers

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Sunnyside, Grandview girls going after Mat Classic team title."