Channel Islands Girl Wins Wrestling Title

Oh, boy, does Olivia Ocampo like to wrestle. And win.

“Awesome,” Ocampo exclaimed. “I made history.”

Ocampo, a 4-foot-9, 103-pound senior for Oxnard Channel Islands High, became the first girl in California to win a league wrestling championship by defeating Hank Robles of Camarillo, 12-7, in the Marmonte League finals last Saturday at Channel Islands.

Ocampo, 23-4, in December became the first girl in the state to place first in a varsity tournament. Ocampo, who began wrestling three years ago, finished the season with a 7-0 record in league dual meets.

Throughout the season, “O,” as Ocampo is affectionately known around campus, has made believers of skeptics, including her coach.

“For me, wrestling had no room for women,” said Valo Barajas, who is in his first season. “I said, ‘Yeah, she’ll win a few matches.’ But you should see her work ethic. It changed my perception from coaching a woman to coaching a wrestler.”

Ocampo looked the part while outmaneuvering Robles for the second time this season. She recorded a takedown seconds after the opening whistle and never trailed, despite taking breaks to nurse a sore elbow.

“Last time I wrestled him, he took me down and I said that’s not going to happen again,” Ocampo said. “My elbow has been real fatigued, but I can still wrestle.

“I feel like whatever I’ve been working for has paid off. I pushed out all the negative thoughts and it became possible.”

Pairings for the team dual-meet wrestling playoffs will be announced today. Division championship meets are Saturday at sites to be determined. Individual championship meets are Feb. 21 at Moreno Valley Canyon Springs (Division I), Westlake (II), Chino Hills Ayala (III) and Garden Grove Santiago (IV).

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Playoff pairings for boys’ basketball will be announced Sunday. Pairings for girls’ basketball, girls’ water polo and boys’ and girls’ soccer will be announced Monday. Competition begins Feb. 18.

Boys’ basketball championship games will be played March 6 at the Bren Center at UC Irvine and March 7 at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. Girls’ finals will be played March 6 and 7 at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

Soccer finals will be played March 6 or 7 at Cerritos Gahr. Girls’ water polo finals are March 2 at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.