Girls SnakeBite Invitational

The SnakeBite Invitational is a wrestling tournament that families and schools look forward to every year. It’s the first big competition after the holidays, and you can feel the excitement as the gym fills with young athletes ready to give it their all. As a parent, it’s amazing to watch these girls wrestle. Each one of them has worked so hard to be here, and the matches are packed with action and determination.

In the 100-pound category, Abigail Mendoza from Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, a senior with an impressive 21-1 record, showed why she’s one of the best. She won against Hailyn Gonzalez from Mission Sharyland Pioneer with a score of 9-2. For third place, Julieta Chapa from La Joya Juarez-Lincoln pinned Shelby Garcia from Brownsville Veterans Memorial in less than two minutes. Abigail’s experience and Julieta’s quick pin set a strong tone for the rest of the tournament.

At 107 pounds, Ava Aragon from McAllen, a junior with a perfect 24-0 record, showed her strength by pinning Yazmin Cruz from Weslaco in the final seconds of the match. For third place, Audrey Zarate from Rio Grande City Grulla pinned Sophia Borrego from McAllen Memorial in just over two minutes. Ava’s undefeated record was impressive, and Audrey’s determination was exciting to see.

The 114-pound class had a lot of energy. Kiana Riggenbach from San Antonio Roosevelt, a junior, pinned Mya Maronen from Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial in just a minute and a half. In the third-place match, Destiny Salinas from Mission Sharyland Pioneer pinned Victoria Salinas from Brownsville Lopez in under two minutes. These matches were fast and full of excitement, showing how prepared these girls were for the competition.

At 120 pounds, Matilda Villareal from Brownsville Rivera, who has yet to lose this season, pinned Georgina Rangel from McAllen Memorial in just over a minute. For third place, Allison Salaya from Weslaco beat Miranda Ramos from McAllen in a tough match with a score of 13-9. Matilda’s quick pin and Allison’s hard-fought win were highlights of this weight class.

In the 126-pound division, Elvia Davila from Mission Sharyland won her match with an 8-2 decision over Ava Rodriguez from McAllen Memorial. Meanwhile, Amy Montoya from Rio Grande City Grulla pinned Monserrat Benitez from Rio Grande City to secure third place. Elvia’s precise moves and Amy’s quick pin showed the variety of styles that make wrestling so exciting to watch.

At 132 pounds, Graciela Juarez from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North stayed undefeated with a perfect record, pinning Abigail Fuentes from McAllen just before the end of the first period. In the third-place match, Allie Salas from Mission Veterans Memorial pinned Jacklyn Ruelas from McAllen Memorial after four minutes of wrestling. Graciela’s skill and Allie’s persistence made this division a standout.

The 138-pound class was dominated by sophomore Jenelle Ramirez from Weslaco, who pinned Lena Cavazos from Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial in under two minutes to win first place. For third place, senior Kara Hidalgo from McAllen defeated Ayva Mendez from Donna with an 18-3 technical fall. Jenelle’s powerful win and Kara’s sharp technique stood out.

In the 145-pound division, senior Bronwyn Sadlier from McAllen kept her perfect season alive with a 21-0 record. She defeated Ruby-ann Garces from Weslaco with a technical fall in just over four minutes. For third place, senior Saphira Martinez from Brownsville Veterans Memorial pinned Sofia Wood from San Antonio Roosevelt in just over a minute. Bronwyn’s control and Saphira’s quick finish made this weight class exciting to watch.

At 152 pounds, senior Maia Sandoval from Weslaco pinned Yveritxe Ramirez from Mission Veterans Memorial in just over three minutes to win the championship. In the third-place match, senior Joselyn Gloria from La Joya Juarez-Lincoln pinned Kimberly Reyes from Rio Grande City in just over a minute. Maia and Joselyn’s performances showed the strength and skill these girls bring to the mat.

The 165-pound class saw senior Alekzandrea Uresti from Edcouch-Elsa pin Jacklyn Navarro from La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in just under three minutes. For third place, Lexus Hernandez from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo pinned Mia Herrera from McAllen Memorial in just over a minute. Alekzandrea’s dominance and Lexus’s quick pin were highlights of this division.
At 185 pounds, freshman Carolina Herrera from McAllen Memorial showed incredible focus, winning her match in sudden victory over Janessa Garcia from Rio Grande City with a 4-1 score. In the third-place match, sophomore Kailey Soliz from Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial pinned Shantel Diaz-Trigo from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo in just 45 seconds. Carolina’s determination and Kailey’s speed were remarkable.

Finally, at 235 pounds, sophomore Melanie Avila from Weslaco stayed undefeated with a 10-0 record. She pinned Arivian Evans from San Antonio Roosevelt in just under four minutes to win first place. Senior Dora Olivarez from Rio Grande City Grulla pinned Isabella Cavazos from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo in under two minutes to secure third place. Melanie’s strong performance and Dora’s quick pin ended the tournament on a high note.

The Snake Bite Invitational was full of exciting matches, showing how hard these girls have worked all season. From quick pins to close decisions, each match had its own story. As a parent, it’s incredible to see their dedication and passion for the sport. Watching them wrestle is a reminder of how much effort they put into every practice and every match. This tournament wasn’t just about wins and losses; it was about celebrating their hard work and growth as athletes.