More PAL wrestling drama for Darer sisters

That didn’t stop Darer from realizing her championship dream, though, as she advanced to the Central Coast Section tournament, where the the then-sophomore claimed the 110s championship and advanced to the state tourney. This year as a junior, Darer shrugged off the PAL tournament as a stepping stone to her ultimate goals.

“Not a big goal,” Darer said. “CCS is everything. This is nothing. ... I just needed to prove to everyone here that I deserve to be here.”

Darer rebounded at the PAL finals Saturday at Woodside, earning the 112s championship by making quick work of Capuchino’s Olivia Lewis, earning the pin 27 seconds into the first round.

“I’m the champion now and I’m going to go and win state,” Darer said.

Things did not go as smoothly Saturday for Sophia Darer’s younger sister Emily Darer. Wrestling in the finals at 102s, Emily Darer was ahead 3-2 on the scoreboard as the final seconds of the third period were ticking down against Oceana’s Angeline Galon. Time seemed to expire with the younger Darer still ahead, but then a confusing scene ensued when the referee whistled after the final buzzer, awarding Galon a point on a stalling call against Darer.

“I thought I was getting a point for a throw,” Galon said. “But then I looked at the points, and it was 3-2. And, of course, I was like: ‘Oh, I lost.’”

As Terra Nova’s corner complained to the referee — including Sophia Darer standing nearby, hands on hips, obviously displeased with the ruling — the match was sent to overtime, where Galon earned the takedown 33 seconds in to settle the sudden-death format.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to get her down in overtime,” Galon said. “I didn’t even think I was going to go to overtime. And then once she shot on me and I sprawled, I was like: ‘I have to score now or else I won’t be able to score later.’”

Galon and Emily Darer are no strangers to one another. In fact, they’ve got a teammate-like kinship as Oceana and Terra Nova practice together two times a week.

“They were close friends so she came into the match a little worried,” Sophia Darer said. “A lot of anxiety. But me, Coach Sirena, Coach Felipe, we told her: ‘Don’t worry, you got this.’ And that’s what she did. She got the takedown (in regulation).”

Galon’s takedown in overtime was the decider, though — a cross-face tangle followed by a cow catcher to settle the PAL championship.

“I just tried, and I kept going, and then I was able to pin her,” Galon said.

By virtue of medaling at the PAL tournament, both Galon and Emily Darer advance to the CCS championship tournament, with the Northern Regionals qualifier round set for Saturday at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. Championships will be decided the following weekend at the CCS Masters tournament.

“Emma did give up the takedown but she knows she won that match and they will see each other next week,” Darer said.