Oh Boy, Ocampo One for the Book

At 103 pounds, Olivia Ocampo relies more on brains than brawn on the wrestling mat.

“I don’t overpower them,” Ocampo said. “I just outsmart them. I trick them. I like changing direction on them. They think I’ll do one thing and then I’ll do another.”

Ocampo, a senior at Channel Islands High, did it Saturday, outpointing three boys to win her division in the Irvine tournament.

Although the number of girls competing in high school wrestling has increased in recent years, Ocampo, a martial arts enthusiast who turned to wrestling two years ago, is believed to be the first to win a varsity coed tournament in California.

“Those records just aren’t kept,” said Bill Clark, Southern Section administrator in charge of wrestling. “But I am not aware of any girl who has ever won a coed tournament at the varsity level.”

Neither is Ocampo’s coach, Valo Barajas, a former wrestler at Channel Islands and state champion for Moorpark College.

Barajas said Campos, who was 9-18 last season, has improved remarkably and is a co-captain.

“I’ve followed wrestling for many years and I’ve never heard of a girl even making the semifinals,” Barajas said. “Girls tend to wrestle with a distinct style. They don’t have the strength to go with the weight that they’re at and they get out-muscled. They wrestle mostly on the JV.

“Olivia is a solid 103-pounder, a good technician, a good all-around wrestler.”

Ocampo recorded victories in three matches Saturday, including a 6-0 decision in the final.

“I was really close to pinning them,” Ocampo said. “I’m a little surprised. When I get on the mat, though, I use my conditioning and my techniques. I guess you could say my hard work is paying off.”

Ocampo’s accomplishments have made her a sensation on campus.

About the only people who don’t make a fuss, she said, are other wrestlers--including those she has defeated.

“They say the same thing they’d say to any wrestler,” Ocampo said. “They say, ‘Good job.’ ”