Temecula Valley High School freshman Solana Mottola won two matches and lost two at the girls’ state wrestling tournament February 22-23 in Visalia.
Mottola competed in the 131-pound division and won her first two matches before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual state champion Candice Corralejo of Del Oro High School in Loomis, who was also the defending state champion and two-time national champion. Mottola then lost her consolation match to eventual seventh-place finisher Alyssa Gomez of Walnut High School.
“It went pretty well,” Mottola said.
Mottola, who qualified for the state tournament by finishing fifth in the CIF Southern Section tournament February 9-10 in Corona, began the state tournament with a match against San Fernando High School freshman Samantha Larios, who was the Los Angeles Section champion. Mottola pinned Larios 46 seconds into the match.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Mottola said of her win.
Her first-ever state tournament match placed Mottola into an unknown situation for her. “I had no idea what I was walking into,” she said. “Everything just happened so quickly.”
Mottola noted that the result of the first-round match determines the wrestler’s future bracket and competition. “I think the first one’s always the hardest,” she said. “I was just happy to continue on to the next round.”
Mottola and Larios were among four freshmen in the 131-pound class. Itzel Galaviz of Albany High School and Nile Jernigan of Cerritos High School both lost first-round matches, making Mottola the only freshman to prevail to the second round. Jernigan, who placed sixth in the Southern Section tournament, won one consolation bracket match so Mottola was the only freshman in her weight division to win two matches during the state tournament.
Mottola’s second match was against junior Aliya Smithson of Sierra High School in Tollhouse, who placed second in the Central Section tournament. “I knew I was definitely the big underdog when it came to her because she was a tough chick,” Mottola said.
“We were going back and forth,” Mottola said. “I just had to stick to my game and trust my stuff”.
An 18-6 major decision advanced Mottola to the quarterfinals.
“I’m very happy,” Mottola said. “I was very excited.”
Corralejo is a senior and was the San Joaquin Section champion as well as the state champion.
“My goal for that match was just to stay on my game and trust my stuff,” Mottola said.
Corralejo pinned Mottola 1:15 into the second period. “I lasted two periods,” Mottola said. “A little disappointing.”
Although the loss placed Mottola into the consolation bracket, she put the result aside. “When you lose a match, you can’t let it affect your other ones,” she said.
The level of competition Mottola had when facing Corralejo is something Mottola will carry over to future matches. “I was really honored and excited to face her because she’s an amazing wrestler,” Mottola said.
Gomez placed seventh in the Southern Section tournament. The consolation match was tied at 1-1 until Gomez obtained two points for a near fall with eight seconds left, allowing her to defeat Mottola by a 3-1 decision.
“It happens. I got caught,” Mottola said. “She was just a tough girl.”
Mottola pinned Gomez during the Southern Section tournament. “I was disappointed because I knew I could have done a lot better,” Mottola said.
Mottola was the highest-placing freshman in her weight class at the Southern Section tournament and beat four higher-seeded competitors.
The loss to Gomez ended Mottola’s time on the mat during the state tournament. “I don’t have any complaints,” Mottola said. “It’s just a process of growing and learning.”
Even with the two losses Mottola considers the state tournament to be a positive experience. “I was grateful to be there,” she said. “It was really awesome to be there.”
Mottola was the only girl on Temecula Valley’s 2017-18 team. The Golden Bears’ wrestling program includes instructing middle school students, and Mottola began wrestling through that opportunity while at Margarita Middle School. The 14-year-old Mottola will turn 15 in May.
“Next year I’m going to come back better because I know what it feels like to be there,” she said of the state tournament.
