Mitchell Marauders’ Erica Banks won first-place honors at the Sacramento Regional Middle School Wrestling Tournament on Jan. 22. Photos courtesy of head coach Joe Zilles

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) – Wrestlers, from W.E. Mitchell Middle School (the Marauders) in Rancho Cordova, stood out at the Sacramento Regional Middle School Wrestling Tournament in the Girls’ Division held in Folsom on Jan. 22. 

Erica Banks and Jayden McCullar won first-place honors and Aubrey Vasquez-Paz won second-place.

Banks, wresting at the 108-pound weight class, wrestled decisively using speed and a variety of moves to set up and outmaneuver her opponents, while McCullar, wrestling at 148 pounds, impressively dominated each of her opponents with pins in the first round of each match. 

Aubrey Vasquez-Paz won second-place at the Sacramento Regional Middle School Wrestling Tournament on Jan. 22. 

Vasquez-Paz, wrestling at 112 pounds, wrestled back to a hard-earned second-place finish showing tenacity and grit after an early round defeat.  

Head coach Joe Zilles described the girls’ success.

“The girls are fearless, never give up and work hard for their victories,” said Zilles. 

This marks a successful regular and regional post-season for the Lady Grapplers and qualifies them for the California Girls State meet on March 29 in San Leandro. 

Jayden McCullar won first-place honors at the Sacramento Regional Middle School Wrestling Tournament and earned her second trip to the State finals.

This is Banks’ third year of wrestling and second time going to the State finals, where she was the 2024 State Champion in her weight class. 

This is the second year of wrestling for McCullar and also her second trip to the State finals where she is poised for a podium finish this year.

This is the first time for first-year wrestler Vasquez-Paz where she too has her goal set on bringing home a tournament win.