Valeria Alonso (12), became the CIF SS Girls Individuals Champion after an impressive season in girls varsity wrestling. Valeria stands out from other wrestlers due to her unique wrestling techniques and relentless effort to be the best version of herself on and off the mat.
To qualify for CIF, competitors must first win the South Coast League. Valeria not only placed first in the South Coast League but has an impressive record of staying consistently in the top 5 at cutthroat competitions. She placed first at the Coast View Conference Finals, second at the Ralph Harris Invitational and third recently at SCWAY Girls Grade State.
She placed first out 66 different schools for the 170 pound weight class at CIF and ended her season with an impressive record of 14-4. Valeria isn’t new to winning and qualifying at impressive levels, as she has won South Coast League two times in the past and has qualified for CIF four times in the past with this being her first year winning the overall title.
This season also meant more to Valeria because it was her final one. Valeria shared that “this season was different knowing it was my last one and so I made sure to take in every single moment I had this season.”
Competing for a CIF title also required the right mindset before each match. Valeria explained that staying calm and focused was something she worked on throughout the season. The support from the people around her played a big role in helping her stay confident before stepping onto the mat.
She shared that “talking to my coach and also praying before matches helps to get rid of any kind of anxiety I had.”
That support system also served as her biggest motivation throughout the season.
When asked about who motivated her the most, Valeria frequently mentioned her coaches and parents and how “they kept pushing me to go to practice and work as hard as I could.”
She explained that the season was difficult both mentally and physically, but remembering the encouragement from her coaches and parents helped her continue pushing forward even when things felt difficult.
Valeria’s season shows the results of the hard work she has put into wrestling over the years, and as she finishes her final season, Valeria leaves behind a strong example for future wrestlers of what can be achieved through hard work and determination.
