CYPRESS — Jessica Villanueva looked across the mat at her opponent towering over her.
The scene was reminiscent of the biblical encounter between David and Goliath.
Except Villanueva, though shorter in stature, was no underdog and the PSJA High senior ran her record to 38-0 while dominating the 6-foot-2 Annmarie Janssen (34-3) of Katy Seven Lakes to a 14-6 decision victory Friday and a spot in today semifinals at the UIL state wrestling meet at The Berry Center.
While she was racking up the points in the 185-pound weight division in Class 6A, PSJA Memorial’s Lorena Torres was working on a pin of Richmond Foster’s Taylor Rich (28-5) to up her record to 26-2, also securing a spot in the Class 5A semifinals.
By the end of Day 1, five Region IV champions from the Valley each won both of their matches, earning a spot in the semifinals and keeping their chances alive for individual state titles.
Also remaining alive to fight today were McAllen Memorial twins Serenity and Eternity De La Garza and Weslaco High’s Roman Saldana.
Saldana advanced to today’s semifinals with a pair of decisions. The 285-pound Region IV-6A champ improved to 28-2 after he defeated Southlake Carroll’s Dylan Vaughn 6-5 before earning a 3-1 victory over Logan Latham of Clear Springs. He will face off against Region I champ, Caleb Jinks (34-1) for his shot in the finals later today. All five semifinalists have earned themselves a spot on the wrestling podium, reserved for the top six wrestlers in each weight class.
PSJA Memorial’s Damien Aguilera won his first-round match before falling in the second round. Fellow 106-pounder Thiago Almeida of Los Fresnos also won his first match before being pinned.
Wrestlers who lost one match Friday are still in the mix to place through the consolation bracket. However, two losses Friday eliminated them from competition.
The boys semifinals and third-round consolation matches begin at 8:30 a.m. today and the girls semis and third round-consolation round will follow approximately at 10:30 a.m.
The 5A and 6A boys and girls championship matches will be held simultaneously, the boys using mats one and four, the girls using mats two and three, beginning at 4:45 p.m., following the traditional Parade of Champions.
Villanueva led by as much as 14-4 in her match but said she was a little troubled by the huge height advantage her opponent had.
“In the end, I took her height as an advantage for me,” Villanueva said. “Now I’m hoping for another good day tomorrow.”
Torres pinned Foster in 2 minutes, 31 seconds, after earning a pin in her first match in 1:36. The Region IV-5A champ at 185 will look to improve upon her sixth-place finish a year ago.
“My match was a little difficult and tiring but I’m always trying my best to come through with it,” Torres said. “I saw that she was kind of weak on bottom and took advantage of that even though I’m not great on top.
“It the first time I’ve won two matches in a row at state and for sure getting a medal. Hopefully, it’s gold.”
Donna High’s Precious Hernandez is the last girl, and most recent wrestler, to win a state title from the Valley, doing so Feb. 22, 2020. Victor Segura is the most recent Valley boy to win the state championship, doing so for Grulla at 106 pounds, Feb. 20, 2016.
McAllen High’s Sam Mangum, now head coach for Sharyland High, is the Valley’s only two time state champion winning the 180-pound title in 2009 and the 189-pound title in 2010.