SPOKANE — The Lady Tigers opened 2026 with a statement, capturing the team championship Saturday, Jan. 3 at the Lady M2 Mallet wrestling tournament at Rogers High School in Spokane.

Ephrata finished with 158.5 points to top a 33-team field featuring programs from across eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and Montana. Spokane’s University High School (146) took second, followed by host Rogers (100), Cheney (93), and Quincy (90.5).

The Lady Tigers crowned two individual champions in Adylene Sanchez and Carolina Monico.  

At 155, Sanchez earned a rematch in the finals against Deer Park's Hailee Orgill, who had beaten her in the championship match at the Winter Cup tourney in Hanford just days earlier. This time, Sanchez turned the tables, grinding through a scoreless match before winning by fall at 3:35 to claim gold.

Sanchez is ranked first in Washington 2A at 155 pounds and improved to 19-2 on the season. She went 4-0 on the day with four pins, including quick finishes against opponents from Medical Lake (0:47) and Glacier (1:19). 

Carolina Monico made quick work of her 235 bracket, going 3-0, all with first-period falls. Monico opened against Mt. Spokane’s Annelisse Zamora (1:03) and Quincy's Abigail Garcia (0:55) before pinning Cheney's Gigi Ajenifuja at 1:16 in the championship round after scoring on an escape and takedown.

Alexandra Estrada Rangel and Natalin Abundiz each finished with second-place silver medals.

Estrada Rangel (130) went 3-1, earning wins by fall over opponents from Shadle Park and Mead and an 8-2 decision over Deer Park's Evelyn Scott. She fell to Desirae Juarez of Southridge High School after a 14-0 major decision in the finals. 

Abundiz (115) also went on a three-round win streak: a first-period 7-4 decision, a first-period pin, and a 4-2 decision scoring on a nearfall. But Abundiz ran into trouble against host Rogers’ Savannah Taylor, losing 7-0 by fall after just 21 seconds.

Tessa Hausken placed third at 190, going 3-1 with three pins and winning her bronze medal round 3-0 with a takedown in the first period.

Rayn Castillo rounded out Ephrata's placers with a fourth-place finish at 145, picking up three pins on the day. 

Several other Tigers picked up mat time: Chenille Garcia (105) went 3-2 with two wins by fall plus a 6-1 decision. Emily Estrada Rangel (140) went 2-2, including a 17-0 technical fall. Beyonce Huerta Tapia (110), Dee Bazan (125) and Kashlynn Cobb (140) each went 1-2. Emma Lopez (120) went 0-2.

Ephrata coach Raul Tejeda praised the team's effort across the board and singled out Abundiz, Estrada Rangel, and Monico for standout performances.

Up next, the Tigers girls and boys host a dual match Tuesday against Othello. "We're just getting ready to go out there and wrestle tough like the past couple days," Tejeda said. "It'll be a good, tough dual."

Junior varsity boys and girls kick off at 5 p.m., followed by varsity girls at 6 p.m. and boys at 7 p.m.