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Cardoza, Rangel fall in quarterfinals; 1 win from medal
SJS South Regional girls wrestling
Ripon's Riley Rangel fights off the bottom before being pinned by Chavez's Taydem Khamjoi for the championship at 139 pounds. - photo by Dave Campbell

Ripon High seniors Katelyn Cardoza and Riley Rangel both lost their quarterfinal matches Friday in the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships, but they’re still very much in the hunt for top-eight medals.

They’ll return to Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield this morning within reach of the medal rounds, needing just one win to get there. Consolation matches begin at 9 a.m. with championship semifinals starting at 11. The finals are scheduled to start at 6:15 p.m.

Both Cardoza and Rangel can finish as high as third place but will need to win three straight matches. They are the final two remaining out of eight grapplers from area schools who qualified for the state tournament.

Cardoza had a tough draw to begin the tournament but was able to knock off champions from the Los Angeles and San Diego sections to advance to the 150-pound quarterfinals. She faced yet another Section champ in her lone match Friday and was pinned by Savannah Lewis of Northview (Southern Section) in 1 minute, 31 seconds.

Cardoza next tangles with Corning junior Magdalena Leal, who placed seventh in the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships. Cardoza took fifth in the SJS.

At 137 pounds, Rangel was pinned in 1 minute by Downey’s Stephanie Chavez, the third-place finisher out of the Southern Section. Standing in her way of the medal rounds this morning will be Palm Desert sophomore Chloe Overgaag, the SS runner-up.

The only male state qualifier from the area was eliminated after his first match on Friday, finishing 2-2 overall. Sierra heavyweight Manny Zavala was upset by Bullard’s Roman Torres via 3-1 decision. Torres went on a four-match tear after dropping his opener on Thursday and is now a win away from medaling.

Five females from Manteca Unified schools also bowed out Friday.

Grace Lacanglacang and Yahidra Rodriguez dropped back-to-back after each won their first-round matches.

East Union’s Lacanglacang had a rematch with fellow SJS representative Malia Niimi of Granite Bay in the 106-poound division. Niimi again got the better of the senior Lancer, outpointing her, 8-4. Rodriguez of Manteca competed at 121 lost by pinfall in 3:35 against Corona’s Sydney Dizon.

East Union’s Amaiya Guyton (116) and Sierra’s Stefany Perez (111) and Marisa Rush (131) all went 0-2.