WJ wrestling took on the 3A/4A West Regional Championship at Quince Orchard High School the weekend of March 1. Members of the coed and girls’ varsity wrestling teams competed with the opportunity of winning a regional title as well as the qualification for the state championships.
Five coed wrestlers qualified to be an alternate for the state championships: senior Sam Potter, junior Filippos Kakos and junior Jordan Alexiev. Junior Daniel Gershon achieved his second trip to the state championships, by winning three matches in the consolation bracket against Quince Orchard, Tuscarora and Oakdale High Schools.
This wasn’t Gershon’s first rodeo; he attended last year’s regional championship and has improved despite some challenges.
“I still feel nervous, but I trust my practice, I trust my coaching,” Gershon said. “I am excited for (the rest of) the season and excited to keep working.”
Ten girls from the girls wrestling team entered the regional championships and five managed to qualify for the state championships. Sophomore Essence Clarke continues to the championships after placing 3rd. Junior Sonia Pegoue finished as a regional finalist and a state qualifier. Sophomore Abigiya Asefa finished 3rd and managed to become a state qualifier, while senior Alex Mockel secured a spot in the state championship bracket.
“I’m still shocked, I can’t believe I made it to states,” Asefa said. “I worked so hard this year and I’m so proud that my work paid off.”
Senior Maddox Zuniga secured her regional championship title quickly, advancing to the state championships.
In the beginning of the Championship series, the WJ coed varsity and girls’ varsity wrestling teams went to the 62nd annual Montgomery County Wrestling Championships, where the Girls Varsity roster as a whole finished in 3rd place with two finalists, and the Coed Varsity roster finished in 14th place with two finalists.
Pegoue, who won a regional title as a sophomore, won as a county champion, and another chance for a second regional title. Zuniga had a high seed and only needed to wrestle against two people, automatically setting her in the semifinals. Once she beat both competitors, she became number one, securing her spot as a county champion.
“I just thought the ref was being unfair with the calls so it didn’t feel rewarding at first, but now I’m happy about it,” Zuniga said. “A win’s a win.”
Potter won his match against his opponent from Blake HS but then fell to the #1 ranked 3A/4A wrestler in the state to finish as a county runner-up, while Gershon advanced to the finals and defeated his opponent from Gaithersburg 6-5.
“I was very nervous leading up, but I just wrestled my match, wrestled my style, and came out with victory,” Gershon said.
The Wildcats extend their season to the state championships, which will take place at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. The three-day long competition starts Thursday Mar. 6 and ends Saturday, Mar. 8.
