Green wins state crown

Two years of frustration were wiped out in two days.

Sutter High junior Ariel Green swept through five matches Friday and Saturday to win the girls state championship at 118 pounds.

The shock of winning the state championships hadn't quite worn off yet for Green when reached by phone in Hanford.

"It's really exciting, and I'm still nervous for some reason even though I just won," Green said after beating Ashley Matthews from Canyon High, 14-7, in the finals.

The match was harder than Green had anticipated.

"She was actually really good," Green said of Matthews.

The match was neck and neck with Green down 8-7 going into round three.

"It was nerve-wracking throughout the whole match," Green admitted.

But she was able to gain control of the match in the last round to capture the title, and remained undefeated against girls competition.

Green is 33-2 wrestling both girls and boys.

Green did not get to wrestle in the state championships last year because of a shoulder injury. She was eliminated prior to the finals her freshman year.

On Friday, Green traveled to Hanford for the first day of the state championships. She went 3-0 to advance to Saturday's round. She then won her semifinal and ultimately the championship.

Green still has to finish up the high school season before the girls Nationals in Michigan in March.