Half Moon Bay’s Micallef medals at state wrestling tournament

Even though she was all smiles Saturday night following the three-day state tournament at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, Micallef’s performance was certainly no joke. The senior made program history by becoming the first HMB girls’ wrestler to reach the podium since girls’ wrestling was officially sanctioned by the CIF in 2014, earning a fifth-place finish in 155s. The top eight finishers land on the podium at the state tourney.

“She was super happy,” HMB coach Sam Temko said. “I think she’s super happy with her performance. I don’t think she was even ranked in the top 10, so to come out in fifth place and be a state placer, she should be super happy with that.”

Micallef is the first HMB wrestler to medal since 2006. Josh Wilson, the last sanctioned wrestler to reach the podium for the Cougars, earned a third-place finish in the boys’ tournament that season. Catherine Fulp-Allen won a state championship for HMB the same year, but this was before girls’ wrestling was sanctioned by CIF. Her older sister, Sarah Fulp-Allen — a four-time PAL champion wresting against predominantly against boys in the boys’ ranks — previously won an unsanctioned girls’ state championship in 2003.

“It’s amazing,” Temko said. “She went in there not ranked in the top eight after taking third in CCS, but we always knew she had a chance to place this year.”

Micallef had quite a family fanbase in attendance. Her father Ron made the trip to Bakersfield, as well as her older sister Taylor. Even her stepsister, Chloe Manchester, was present as a competitor, qualifying for the state tournament for HMB in 115s.

Posting a 5-2 record in the three-day tourney, Micallef finished her run with a second-period pin of Northgate’s Symone Jewell in the fifth-place match.

“There were moments where I could have wrestled better, and there were moments I wrestled better than I expected,” Micallef said. “I was just happy I placed … and I was happy to be here with everyone who supported me.”

Micallef won her first two matches Thursday, pinning Franklin’s Alejandra Ochoa in the second period, followed by a first-period pin of Hillcrest’s Nyomi Mesa in the round of 16. In Friday’s quarterfinals, Micallef fell early in the third round via pin to Newport’s Duda Rodrigues — a former freestyle national champion in the club season — the No. 1 seed and eventual champion in 155s.

“It was pretty close,” Micallef said. “I kind of knew it wasn’t going to go how I wanted it to go, because she’s a national champion. … So, I just went in there trying to play defense and catch her on something she was lacking in. … She’s really tough, though. She’s a really good wrestler.”

Saturday, Micallef went 3-1, opening with a first-period pin of Western’s Adrea Vidrio. She then won in the blood round against Redwood’s Audrey Segura with a third-period pin, clinching a podium spot. She fell in the consolation semifinals on a first-period pin to Davis’ Avangeline Turner.

In the fifth-place match against Jewell, Micallef escaped a second-period takedown that nearly ended in disaster.

“After she almost pinned me, I was like: ‘OK, this needs to get done,’ … because I started getting tired after that,” Micallef said.

Micallef then countered a leg shot by Jewell with a front flip. She used an arm bar, rolled the wrist and walked it around to earn the pin.

Micallef was the only wrestler from San Mateo County schools to medal. Terra Nova’s Sophia Darer went 2-2 in girls’ 110s; Burlingame’s Lauren Aguilar went 1-2 in girls’ 120s; Capuchino’s Mariah Gonzalez went 1-2 in girls’ 135s; and Manchester went 0-2 for HMB in girls’ 115s.

Serra’s Preston Dixon went 2-2 in boys’ 215s; Menlo-Atherton’s Eric Ruiz went 0-2 in boys’ 175s; and HMB’s Franco Zilla went 0-2 in boys’ 165s.