GALT, CA (MPG) – The Liberty Ranch Hawks girls wrestling team gave everything it had on Senior Night, but ultimately fell 30-27 to crosstown rival Galt High School in a match that came down to the numbers game rather than the competition on the mat. Despite winning five of six contested matches, the Hawks were forced to forfeit four bouts due to lack of roster depth, handing crucial points to the Warriors and ending Liberty Ranch’s quest for a league championship.

“Our girls were on a mission this season to become league champions,” said first-year Head Coach Cesar Candido. “They gave everything they had and, while we fell short due to lack of numbers, I couldn’t be prouder. These athletes stepped into every dual fully aware of the challenge of being outnumbered, and they still went out there and made a statement. Their toughness, heart and determination never wavered.”

 

Hawk Emma McLain looks to the referee to call the pin on Isabella Miranda.

The mathematics of the evening told a bittersweet story. Liberty Ranch fielded six wrestlers compared to Galt’s 10, creating an uphill battle from the start. The Hawks knew they would have to forfeit four weight classes, automatically giving Galt 18 points before a single whistle blew. What followed was a display of dominance by the Liberty Ranch wrestlers who did take the mat, as they won five of the six contested matches in impressive fashion.

Kaydince Silva set the tone for the Hawks with a pin, showcasing the technical skill and aggression that has defined Liberty Ranch’s approach all season. Jordan Gold followed suit with another pin, building momentum for the home team. Sofia San Juan demonstrated her wrestling IQ and conditioning by winning her match by decision, grinding out a hard-fought victory that had the Senior Night crowd on its feet.

Amieleah Muela continued the Hawks’ dominance with a pin of her own, and Emma McLain capped the individual performances with another pin victory. The five wins represented not just technical superiority, but the heart and determination that Candido referenced in his postgame comments. Each Liberty Ranch wrestler understood the stakes and delivered when the team needed them most.

 

Galt’s Madisen Gutierrez pins Liberty Ranch’s Merlina Panteleon in the first girls match during the Hawks senior night.

Galt’s lone contested victory came from Madisen Gutierrez, who won her match to provide the Warriors with their only points earned on the mat. Combined with the three forfeit victories worth six points each, Galt accumulated just enough points to edge Liberty Ranch 30-27 in a match that will be remembered for what might have been.

The loss was particularly poignant given the occasion. Senior Night is meant to celebrate the careers of graduating wrestlers and send them off with positive memories. Instead, the Liberty Ranch seniors had to watch their championship dreams slip away not because they were outperformed, but because their team simply didn’t have enough bodies to fill every weight class.

Yet Candido’s message to his team was one of pride and forward momentum rather than disappointment.

“Now the focus shifts forward as these girls set their sights on qualifying for Masters and State,” he said. “The mission isn’t over.”

 

Hawk Kaydince Silva gets Warrior Jacqueline Dahl’s shoulders pinned despite the back bend technique.

Indeed, the individual performances on Senior Night demonstrated that Liberty Ranch has the talent to make noise in the postseason. Four pins and a decision victory against a league rival show that these Hawks can compete with anyone when they step on the mat.

For Candido, in his first year as girls’ wrestling head coach, the evening represented both the challenges and rewards of building a program. The lack of numbers is a reality many girls wrestling programs face as the sport continues to grow in California. Yet the quality of the wrestlers he does have – athletes willing to compete knowing they’re outnumbered, who still find ways to dominate their individual matches – speaks to the culture he’s building.

The Hawks’ five victories in six contested matches sent a clear message: Liberty Ranch may not have won the team battle, but they won the war on the mat. As these wrestlers prepare for Masters and State qualifying tournaments, they’ll carry the confidence that comes from knowing they can beat anyone in their weight class.

As the postseason approaches, Liberty Ranch will look to turn individual excellence into championship hardware. The mission, as Coach Candido said, isn’t over; it’s just entering a new phase.

 

Liberty’s Jordan Gold prepares to take on Galt’s Nikolette Gonzalez.