Katelyn Cardoza and Riley Rangel, seniors at Ripon High School, both placed 8th in their weight classes at the CIF Wrestling State Championships. Cardoza competed in the 150lb weight class and Rangel in the 137lb class. The girls competed in Bakersfield on Feb. 24-26, 2022.  To compete in the Championships, they had to train for success during the regular season and place in a series of other finalist meets in order to qualify. 

The girls each had to go through a number of matches at the meet in order to place. The first were consolations on Feb. 25 followed by quarterfinals. Next on the morning of Feb. 26 were another set of consolations and then the semi-finals. Later that night were the championship finals. 

“I had previously hyperextended my elbow, so it was a lot of mental toughness that I had to prepare for the three days,” stated Rangel, “It wasn’t wrestling I had to prepare for because I knew what I was capable of.” 

With wrestling for four years in high school the challenge was not performance based, but all about being driven and self-assured. Being able to develop mental toughness allows athletes to work at full potential under extreme pressure. Mental preparedness helped both Rangel and Cardoza in their journey to 8th place.

“I knew this would help determine my future for college wrestling as well as recruitment processes,” concludes Rangel.