Antillon ready to defend her title

 

A year ago, Alina Antillon was a relative unknown in a female sport seeking recognition as well as sanctioning.

All the Mullen freshman did was put up a 20-1 record in a growing Colorado girls wrestling tournament and become a state champion at 136 pounds, the Mustangs’ first as a female.

This weekend, Antillon, undefeated and still her school’s lone competitor, will enter the latest version of the girls field as one of the premier qualifiers at Thornton High School.

Now 27-0, the sophomore breezed through the past weekend’s regionals at Chatfield with three pins, two in the first period, and a major decision.

“It was pretty good,” Antillon said. “I had some really good matches.”

As one of the five undefeated competitors in the 10 weight-class state field, Antillon is a favorite and should attract lots of attention. She will open against Pomona freshman Jada Lange (13-4). Miya Trujillo (John F. Kennedy, 27-5), Kami Flordalis (Chaparral, 27-8) and Sheccid Aguirre (Skyview, 23-10) account for some of the best records in the class. There are 15 entrants at 136 with one bye.

Antillon says bring on the competition.

“I feel good,” she said. “I feel like I’m ready and have put in the work.

“I have another year of experience, obviously. I feel confident regardless.”

There have been multiple girls gatherings in recent years billed as state tournaments, but the 2019 and 2020 versions are termed as pilot programs, adding more legitimacy.

Below is a schedule:

Friday: Wrestling starts at 5:30 p.m., Round of 16, followed by quarterfinals & first consolation round.

Saturday: Wrestling starts at 9 a.m., second consolation round, Semifinals & third consolation round, Consolation semifinals.

Break for lunch and 45-minute required rest (no set time/length).

Third- and Fifth-place matches followed by State Championship matches.