North’s Coby Merrill, Orange Vista’s Zahra Stewart and Chino’s Natalie Blanco win titles – San Bernardino Sun

Coby Merrill put the finishing touches on a remarkable wrestling campaign.

After runner-up finishes each of his first two seasons, Merrill made his way to the top of the podium Saturday evening.

The heavyweight from North High School capped an unbeaten junior season with an 8-2 decision over Mark Marin of Clovis in the 285-pound final at the CIF State Championships at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Merrill scored on a takedown midway through the opening period and led 4-0 after the second. Merrill added another takedown in the third period to help secure the title.

Merrill was the state runner-up at 195 pounds while wrestling at Gilroy. He was second at 215 pounds last year, his first at North. Merrill is North’s first state wrestling champion and second in his family to win a state title (older brother Cody won titles at Gilroy in 2022 and 2024).

Orange Vista’s Zahra Stewart and Chino’s Natalie Blanco also made program history Saturday by capturing state titles on the girls side.

Stewart was the No. 5-seeded wrestler in the 125-pound bracket, but she took down top-seeded Lilyana Balderas of Anaheim in Saturday afternoon’s semifinals (8-6 decision) then dominated the title bout against No. 2-seeded Shayna Ward of Oakland Tech. After a scoreless opening period, Stewart took control in the second with an escape and a takedown. She took Ward down again midway through the third and locked in a pin at the 5:30 mark.

Stewart is the first wrestler from Orange Vista to claim a state title. It was her second time on the state podium. Stewart placed seventh at 120 pounds last season, when she wrestled at Yucaipa.

Blanco, who is only a sophomore, captured the 155-pound championship despite being the No. 7 seed in the bracket. She was the highest-seeded wrestler to win a state title this year. Blanco pinned No. 2-seeded Symone Jewell of Walnut Creek Northgate during the second period of Saturday’s semifinal match. She scored four takedowns and an escape in the championship against No. 5-seeded Angelina Jiang of Gunn and en route to a 13-4 major decision.

Blanco is the first wrestler in program history to win a state title and the school’s first state wrestling champion since Phil Alejandrino brought home the 215-pound boys title in 1999.

Two other Inland girls wrestlers advanced to championship matches Saturday.

Lakeside senior Jillian Wells was looking to win her second straight 100-pound championship. Wells advanced to the finals when she pinned Stephanie Martinez of Bakersfield Highland in the early session. Wells’ quest of a repeat came up short, however, as top-seeded Christina Estrada cruised to a 14-2 major decision in the title bout.

It did mark Wells’ third time on the state podium. Wells was a runner-up her sophomore season at Lakeside. She won the title last year while competing for Modesto Central Catholic.

San Dimas senior heavyweight Charlene Smith was looking to become a rare unseeded wrestler to win a state title. She reached the finals when she eked out a 1-0 decision over No. 6-seeded Olivia Ruacho on Saturday afternoon. Smith squared off against No. 4-seeded Trinity Tipton of Camarillo in the championship match. Smith used a reversal and added four near-fall points at the end of the second period to take a 6-3 lead. But a takedown and two stalling penalties helped Tipton emerge with an 8-6 decision.

An additional 10 Inland girls wrestlers ended their seasons with state podium finishes.

Colony senior Renice Gonzalez was third at 130 pounds, the third straight season she has been on the podium at the state meet. Gonzalez finished eighth at 131 pounds as sophomore and fifth at 135 pounds last season.

Corona’s Jestinah Solomua placed third in the 145-pound bracket for the second podium finish of her career. Solomua finished eighth at a135 pounds as a freshman.

Orange Vista’s Ayana Contreras was fifth at 110 pounds, and her teammate Alyssa Guzman finished fifth in the 170-pound division.

Three Inland girls wrestlers finished sixth in their respective divisions: King’s Giada Tanahara (110), Chino’s Tilly Kakuk (120) and Citrus Valley’s Gia Coons. Hemet’s Diara Pomares was seventh at 170 pounds, San Dimas’ Aubreyelle Baeza finished seventh in the 190-pound division and Vista Murrieta’s Maiya Bradley placed eighth at 145 pounds.

Orange Vista finished fourth in the teams standings with 67 1/2 points, 17 points behind first-time state champion Clovis East. Corona was ninth in the final standings with 53 1/2 points.