Local girls' wrestlers shine at the Napa Valley Classic

Placer County has been a hotbed of talented girls wrestlers with strong programs emerging from several local schools, since its inception as a varsity sport. Placer County was well-represented at the 23rd annual Napa Valley Classic over the weekend, as top girls' wrestlers from Del Oro, Rocklin, Whitney, Placer, and Roseville High schools challenged themselves against some of the best in the state. The regional wrestlers didn't disappoint, with two wrestlers taking home gold medals. Several wrestlers competing are expected to be in the running for a state championship, so getting a sneak preview of the competition is key as wrestlers prepare for the season's home stretch. Del Oro High freshman Kaiya Maggini entered the tournament ranked fifth in the state for the 103-pound weight class but that will surely change after defeating state No. 2 Jaelle Cortez of Gilroy in the championship. It went down to the wire, as Maggini won in double overtime. Rocklin High's Gemma Templeman, who entered the tournament as the top-ranked wrestler in the state at 237, proved why on Saturday as she defeated Chico-Pleasant Valley's Jamie Shapton. Templeman pinned Shapton at the two-minute, 53-second mark of the match. Other notable performances include Whitney High School sophomore Alex Maday, who took silver at 139 and Placer High junior Breanna Packheiser, who took fifth at 118. Del Oro High's Ally Cortez and Leilani Igarashi, Roseville High's Emma Meadows and Whitney High's Julia Boboc each had top 12 finishes as well. In the boys' wrestling landscape, Del Oro's Siraj Sidhu, Isaac Herrera, Jagger French and Kainoa Acia went to Clovis to compete in the nationally-recognized Doc Buchanan Invitational. Sidhu was the lone placer of the four, as he finished fifth with a 3-1 record on the weekend. Sidhu entered the tournament as the 12th seed at 108 pounds but pulled off a string of upsets to place. Del Oro High also took on Whitney High in a Sierra Foothill League dual meet on Wednesday in a 54-25 winning effort.