GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The first ever Northern Section California Interscholastic Federation Masters Girls Wrestling Championship Tournament was held in Chico, on February 18th.

Both Gridley and Biggs High Schools had lady wrestlers attending the historical meet with multiple placing.

Biggs High School sophomore, Karma Olivarez, wrestling in the 108-weight class took 3rd place in the Championship. Olivarez was voted MVP at an awards night held later that week.

Gridley High School had two ladies, Phoenix Brynnan and Angela Gutierrez. Gridley’s Wrestling Head Coach Jimmy Ripley said that Brynnan had a good year, placing 1st at league and at Division 2 championships. She would take 3rd place at the Masters Championship wrestling in the 121 lb. weight class.

Gutierrez, who had a strong performance last year, would improve in 2023, dropping from the 191-weight class to 172 weight class which Coach Ripley says “paid off.” Gutierrez placed 1st in league and Division Championships, and then would top it all off taking 1st place in the NSCIF Masters Tournament. That win sent her to State Championships for the second year in a row. She placed 7th in 2022.

Of Gutierrez’s performance at State, Coach Ripley said that she battled hard, working her way up the tournament brackets from being unseeded to nearly placing 7th. After a heartbreaking loss in overtime, Gutierrez would end up placing 8th at State.

Coach Ripley says, “It’s very hard to make it to the state tournament let alone place there. Then to place 2 years in a row is quite the accomplishment. Very proud to be part of the journey (of Gutierrez) the last 2 years.