Debut season for women's wrestling at San Joaquin Delta

STOCKTON - It's an exciting time for women's wrestling athletes and fans as the sport continues to grow and San Joaquin Delta College is at the forefront of that as the Mustangs women's wrestling team prepares for their first regular season competition this weekend at the Cerritos Open.

 

"There has been a big push because women's wrestling is the quickest and largest growing sport in the United States right now, especially at the high school level," said Mike Sandler, who has been at Delta since 2003 coaching the men's wrestling team.

 

While they will not have a full team this season, they have several talented wrestlers who were state qualifiers in high school, including Samira Mason, Valentia Ortega, Isabella Zepeda, and Perla Camacho. Also, on the team and looking to have a busy spring competing not just on the wrestling team but for track and field as well, is sophomore Tiana Colon.

 

"We got a late start on putting together the team this season, but we are happy to have the opportunity this season to compete and get better before having a full team next year."

 

Currently, the number of women's wrestling teams in the north is low compared to those in the south but that is expected to change quickly next season with the addition of women's wrestling at some places that don't even have a men's wrestling program.

 

The Cerritos Open will give the team a chance to compete against some of the state's best in their first open tournament of the season. 

 

With a huge number of talented women's wrestlers in the area and that talent now having a place to compete locally after high school, the future looks bright for wrestling to be a big success at Delta College.