Southern California girls converge for Angel City Grand Prix

May 3, 2017 | On April 22nd, over 150 athletes from across Southern California participated in the 4th annual Angel City Grand Prix held at Mountain View High School in El Monte. Wrestlers from seven California counties converged to compete in the all-girls freestyle tournament. Contestants competed in Junior, Cadet, Schoolgirl, Novice, and Intermediate age divisions. The top three contestants in each weight class were awarded medals and each champion received an Angel City Grand Prix t-shirt. Additionally, each Junior division champion received a custom BTSLA singlet, each Cadet division champion received a custom Angel City Grand Prix backpack, and each Schoolgirl, Novice, and Intermediate division champions received a custom Angel City Grand Prix cinch bag.

Tatiana Padilla, 2x bronze world medalist and UFC Ultimate Fighter Season 23 champion, kicked off the event with a message to the girls about the impact wrestling has had on her life.

“MMA was a new and challenging experience for me, but I was able to improve because of my positive outlook and my preparation from my past as a wrestler. These are ideals that I have carried over into my everyday life.”

She attributes much of her resiliency and work ethic to wrestling as it prepared her for life and her career as a MMA fighter. She closed her speech by encouraging the girls to have the perspective that life’s experiences are opportunities for growth and positivity.

BTSLA extends a heartfelt thanks all the volunteers and guests that made the Angel City Grand Prix such a successful and rewarding event. Specifically, BTSLA wishes to thank Tatiana Suarez and El Monte Union High School District Board Member Ricardo Padilla and for sharing their words of wisdom and perspective with the athletes. Additionally, special thanks to the BTSLA wrestling programs at South El Monte, Mountain View, San Pedro, and Topanga for their assistance with set-up, scorekeeping, and clean-up and to all those who assisted with the brackets and staging. The event ran smoothly because of the collective effort of a lot of people. Finally, BTSLA would like to thank South El Monte City Council Member Hector Delgado for all of his work in making the Angel City Grand Prix the premiere all-girls freestyle event in Southern California.

Select Photos:

Complete Results:

Intermediate – 45 lbs

1^st: Jasmine Arce, Tuff Kids

2^nd: Amayah Sanez, San Pedro Storm

3^rd: Bridgette Soliz, Beat the Streets Tigers

Intermediate – 50 lbs

1^st: Jai’Lynn Jose, Brigade Wrestling

2^nd: Alexah Sanez, San Pedro Storm

3^rd: Taylor Murillo, BTSLA

Intermediate – 55 lbs

1^st: Janae Tessandere, TRU MMA

2^nd: Natalie Castillejo, Beat the Streets Tigers

3^rd: Natalie Zeon, BTSLA

Intermediate – 60 lbs

1^st: Juliet Salazar, Tuff Kids

2^nd: Yvonne Rincon, Guadalupe Brigade

3^rd: Chrystal Benavidez, Beat the Streets Tigers

Intermediate – 70 lbs

1^st: Juliet Salazar, Tuff Kids

2^nd: Brooklyn Perez, Beat the Streets Tigers

3^rd: June Marquez, Beat the Streets South El Monte

Novice – 70 lbs

1^st: Sumaya Lazaro, So Cal Fury

2^nd: Alexa Gomez, Brigade Wrestling

3^rd: Andrea Guevara, Montclair Lady Cavs

Novice – 90 lbs

1^st: Brandy Lira, Brigade

2^nd: Nisa Rodgers, Brigade Wrestling

3^rd: Aolani Letofu, Top Dog Wrestling Club

Novice – 95 lbs

1^st: Ysabella Hinojosa, Titan Mercury

2^nd: Leilani Lazaro, So Cal Fury

3^rd: Juliana Marquez, Beat the Streets South El Monte

Novice – 102 lbs

1^st: Katherine Hernandez, Century YAL

2^nd: Mariah Lobos, Jr. Drillers

3^rd: Aliya Rooney, Beat the Streets Topanga

Novice – 110 lbs

1^st: Alani Marrajo, Beat the Streets El Monte

2^nd: Donna Hernandez, Bell Wrestling

3^rd: Izabel Moran, Beat the Streets Topanga

Novice – 118 lbs

1^st: Audrey Chavez, Stars Wrestling Academy

2^nd: Angelina Rincon, Guadalupe Brigade

Schoolgirl – 97 lbs

1^st: Brianna Gonzalez, Pico Rivera Dons

2^nd: Patricia Arana, Beat the Streets Tigers

3^rd: Emilie Gonzalez, Pico Rivera Dons

Schoolgirl – 113 lbs

1^st: Leah Gaitan, CVBJJ

2^nd: Viviana Garcia, Beat the Streets Tigers

3^rd: Katie Gomez, LAWC

Schoolgirl – 120 lbs

1^st: Yasmine Scherer, Star Wrestling Academy

2^nd: Elisa Jimenez, TMWC

3^rd: Cynthia Rodriguez, Santa Maria All American

Schoolgirl – 128 lbs

1^st: Vivian Velazquez, Beat the Streets Topanga

2^nd: Victoria Velazquez, Beat the Streets Topanga

3^rd: Aliana Lefotu, Top Dog Wrestling Club

Schoolgirl – 145 lbs

1^st: Alyssa Arana, Brigade Wrestling

2^nd: Barbara Kelly Sanders, Stars Wrestling Academy

3^rd: Karina Vazquez, All American Juijitsu

Schoolgirl – 175 lbs

1^st: Cynthia Benavidez, Beat the Streets Tigers

2^nd: Mia Delgado, Beat the Streets South El Monte

Cadet – 101 lbs

1^st: Tatiana Guevara, San Dimas High School

2^nd: Christy Jose, Gr818ers

3^rd: Analee Razo, Montclair Lady Cavs

 Cadet – 124 lbs

1^st: Alexis Medina, Northview High School

2^nd: Allyson Arrington, Titan Mercury

3^rd: Michelle Golstab, Lakeside

Cadet – 132 lbs

1^st: Priscilla Ramirez, Peterson Grapplers

2^nd: Estefany Garcia, Mountain View

3^rd: Amaya Tinoco, Northview High School

Cadet – 143 lbs

1^st: Sydney Barrios, San Pedro Storm

2^nd: Nelly Mendoza, Lady Pounders

3^rd: Chloe DeSouza, Gr818ers

Cadet – 154 lbs

1^st: Madison Camp, All American Juijitsu

2^nd: Stephanie Zambrano, Montclair Lady Cavs

3^rd: Assata Lewis, Top Dog wrestling Club

Cadet – 172 lbs

1^st: Tiki Jaime, San Dimas High School

2^nd: Gabriela Espinosa, Menifee Wrestling Club

Cadet – 198 lbs

1^st: America Lopez, Peterson Grapplers

2^nd: Tiana Sichinga, All American Juijitsu

3^rd: Carissa Ramirez, Montclair Lady Cavs

Cadet – 210 lbs

1^st: Cristina Santoyo, Monroe High School

2^nd: Cece Boyd, San Dimas High School

3^rd: Desiree Cortez, Menifee Wrestling Club

Junior – 97 lbs

1^st: Pauline Granados, Eisenhower

2^nd: Alaura Couch, AATT

3^rd: Maggy Ramos, Montclair Lady Cavs

Junior – 112 lbs

1^st: Jaslyn Avila, San Fernando Tigers

2^nd: Marisa Charvensi, Menifee Wrestling Club

3^rd: Paris Valencia, BTSLA Tigers

Junior – 117 lbs

1^st: Trina Nguyen, TMWC

2^nd: Jessica Vazquez, Beat the streets Tigers

3^rd: Rachel Gutierrez, B&H

Junior – 121 lbs

1^st: Brianne Penunuri, Lady Pounders

2^nd: Diana Leyva, Monroe High School

3^rd: Rosie Arana, Beat the Streets Tigers

Junior – 125 lbs

1^st: Magdalena Miranda, Eisenhower

2nd: Serene Ong

Junior – 139 lbs

1^st: Nelly Mendoza, Lady Pounders

2^nd: Laila Contreras, Redlands East Valley

3^rd: Lelaina Navarro, Menifee Wrestling Club

Junior – 148

1^st: Alexandra Banag, Gr818ers

2^nd: Caroline Camarillo, San Dimas High School

3^rd: Carla Sanchez, Lady Pounders

Junior – 159 lbs

1^st: Tiki Jaime, San Dimas High School

2^nd: Angelica Sosa, All American Juijitsu

3^rd: Elizabeth Vazquez, Star Wrestling Academy

Junior – 172 lbs

1^st: Dymond Guilford, SOMAR

2^nd: Abbi Turner, Corona Hs

3^rd: Jodie Hartlein, Etiwanda

Junior – 198 lbs

1^st: Avealoumamalu Lefotu, Top Dog Wrestling Club

2^nd: Hayley Martinez

3^rd: Fernanda Robles, Mountain View

Junior – 210 lbs

1^st: Leann Chapman, Gr818ers