SHS wrestler Julissa Gonzalez 1st winner of Masters

FRESNO – Sophomore Julissa Gonzalez keeps making history in the world of Shafter High sports as she hit another milestone, becoming the first female wrestler to win a Central Section Masters title with a win at Selland Arena in Fresno on Saturday.

Gonzalez won the 132 lbs. championship a week after losing in the final of the 132 lbs. match at the Divisional tournament. There, Gonzalez came into the tourney as the top seed and fell to Sage Reyes of Justin Garza in the final, costing her a top seed in the Masters tournament. Gonzalez ended up with the third seed coming into this weekend. She dominated her first three matches with pins in all but one match. In the final at Selland Arena, Gonzalez pinned the top seed Juliana Alvarez of Selma at 1:34 of the first period.

The win gave Gonzalez a trip to Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield to the State Championships this weekend. Gonzalez will not be alone at the event either. Rising star Mikayla Weller of Shafter got fourth place in her division, stamping her ticket to the State tourney. "This is the first time in school history that Shafter will take two girls to the State Tournament," said Head Coach Eli Espericueta. "And this is only Mikayla's second year wrestling."

Gonzalez has been wrestling for years and has a vast collection of hardware, picking up the sport when she would come to practices with her brothers. "I just fell in love with it and have been doing it ever since," she said.

Seeds had not been announced for the State tourney, but it is expected that Gonzalez may end up with a higher seed going in. The tourney takes place on Friday and Saturday in downtown Bakersfield.