May 2, 2026

Panthers finish 3rd at State Championships with 7 State Placers; Stubbs places 2nd (131 lbs) & Gales voted coach of the year

The Sacramento City Women's Wrestling team completed the 2026 season with a 3^rd place finish at the 3C2A State Championships - the highest finish in program history. Three wrestlers earned All-American status, by virtue of 3 finishes in their respective weight classes, and seven wrestlers total placed in the top-8 of their weight class.

The Panthers were led by Brenaye Stubbs, who finished 2^nd place at 131 lbs. Stubbs reached the finals match after a 59 second fall over Modesto JC, a 10-technical superiority over Victor Valley, and an 8-6 decision over Mt. SAC. She lost by fall to Aubree Kooren from Cuesta College in a back-and-forth match.

Karissa McDaniel (Fairfield, CA/Armijo HS) placed 3^rd at 103 lbs. After a tight 4-3 Quarterfinals loss to Brenda Nuñez from Fresno city College, McDaniel rebounded to win 4 straight matches in the consolation bracket, including a 5-4 victory over Nuñez in the third-place match. With her second straight third place finish at state, McDaniel finishes her Sac City career as a two time All American, the second person in program history to accomplish that feat.

Grace Mercado placed third at 235 pounds. After an opening round of victory, Mercado was defeated by Yvette García from Fresno city College on two consecutive matches by fall, including a first period fall over more park in the third place match. After placing seventh last year, Mercado becomes a two-time state placer.

Samantha Gutierrez had her breakout performance of the season by reaching the semifinals after two victories over ranked opponents, including an Injury Default victory over the #2 seed from Palomar College. After three losses, including the semifinal match against the eventual second place finisher from Bakersfield, Gutierrez finished in sixth place at 103 pounds.

Rubí Lopez-Paz placed 6th at 138 pounds after reaching the semifinals. Veronika Shayhen placed 7th at 160 pounds. Paula Aguilar placed 4th 207 pounds, finishing her Sac City career as a two-time state placer. Also competing for the panthers were Zion Green at 180 pounds, Kaylyn Williams at 138 pounds, Shelby Banovitz at 124 pounds, Ana Reed at 124 pounds, Marina Ramsey-Gilbert at 117 pounds, and Zoe Lopez-Rodriguez at 117 pounds.

The team placed 3rd out of 20 teams, with 114.5 points, 22.5 points ahead of 4th place Fresno City College. Panthers Head Coach, Marques Gales, was voted NWCA Women's Head Coach of the Year for California Community College.

RESULTS

103

Karissa McDaniel (25-5) placed 3rd and scored 17.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Karissa McDaniel (Sacramento City College) 25-5 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Brenda Nunez (Fresno City College) 17-5 won by decision over Karissa McDaniel (Sacramento City College) 25-5 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Karissa McDaniel (Sacramento City College) 25-5 won by fall over Ashley Maldonado (Santa Ana College) 3-7 (Fall 0:36)
Cons. Round 3 - Karissa McDaniel (Sacramento City College) 25-5 won by fall over Stephany Zamora (Santa Ana College) 7-7 (Fall 0:39)
Cons. Semi - Karissa McDaniel (Sacramento City College) 25-5 won by fall over Samantha Gutierrez (Sacramento City College) 12-13 (Fall 2:13)
3rd Place Match - Karissa McDaniel (Sacramento City College) 25-5 won by decision over Brenda Nunez (Fresno City College) 17-5 (Dec 5-4)

103

Samantha Gutierrez (12-13) placed 6th and scored 12.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Samantha Gutierrez (Sacramento City College) 12-13 won by fall over Darci Chiu (Cerritos College) 14-11 (Fall 2:06)

Quarterfinal - Samantha Gutierrez (Sacramento City College) 12-13 won by injury default over Marie Gil (Palomar College) 18-6 (Inj. 2:58)
Semifinal - Celia Esquivel (Bakersfield College) 3-1 won by fall over Samantha Gutierrez (Sacramento City College) 12-13 (Fall 1:15)
Cons. Semi - Karissa McDaniel (Sacramento City College) 25-5 won by fall over Samantha Gutierrez (Sacramento City College) 12-13 (Fall 2:13)
5th Place Match - Marisa Alvarez (Cerritos College) 15-9 won by tech fall over Samantha Gutierrez (Sacramento City College) 12-13 (TF-1.5 3:00 (10-0))

117

Marina Ramsey-Gilbert (3-10) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Marina Ramsey-Gilbert (Sacramento City College) 3-10 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Lynette Legados (East Los Angeles College) 4-1 won by fall over Marina Ramsey-Gilbert (Sacramento City College) 3-10 (Fall 0:34)
Cons. Round 2 - Marina Ramsey-Gilbert (Sacramento City College) 3-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Alexandra Lorretto (Lassen College) 19-10 won by fall over Marina Ramsey-Gilbert (Sacramento City College) 3-10 (Fall 1:06)

117

Zoe Lopez (2-6) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Zoe Lopez (Sacramento City College) 2-6 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Katelynn Oswalt (Modesto College) 3-2 won by fall over Zoe Lopez (Sacramento City College) 2-6 (Fall 0:54)
Cons. Round 2 - Leila Palacios (Santa Rosa College) 2-2 won by fall over Zoe Lopez (Sacramento City College) 2-6 (Fall 0:29)

124

Shelby Banovitz (14-8) place is unknown and scored 5.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Shelby Banovitz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Shiella Paredes-Akimoto (Skyline College) 7-10 won by decision over Shelby Banovitz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 (Dec 15-9)
Cons. Round 2 - Shelby Banovitz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 won by fall over Ana Reed (Sacramento City College) 6-5 (Fall 1:23)
Cons. Round 3 - Shelby Banovitz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 won by fall over Ava Anguiano (Cerritos College) 4-12 (Fall 3:45)
Cons. Round 4 - Charlotte Devlin (Santa Rosa College) 3-2 won by tech fall over Shelby Banovitz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 (TF-1.5 2:02 (10-0))

124

Ana Reed (6-5) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Lynelle Legados (Skyline College) 19-5 won by fall over Ana Reed (Sacramento City College) 6-5 (Fall 1:04)

Cons. Round 1 - Ana Reed (Sacramento City College) 6-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Shelby Banovitz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 won by fall over Ana Reed (Sacramento City College) 6-5 (Fall 1:23)

131

Brenaye Stubbs (19-6) placed 2nd and scored 18.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Brenaye Stubbs (Sacramento City College) 19-6 won by fall over Ruth Ruiz (Modesto College) 0-2 (Fall 0:59)

Quarterfinal - Brenaye Stubbs (Sacramento City College) 19-6 won by tech fall over Dayanara Ramirez (Victor Valley College) 4-5 (TF-1.5 1:23 (10-0))
Semifinal - Brenaye Stubbs (Sacramento City College) 19-6 won by decision over Zitlali Sarmiento (Mt. San Antonio College) 21-7 (Dec 8-6)
1st Place Match - Aubree Kooren (Cuesta College) 25-7 won by fall over Brenaye Stubbs (Sacramento City College) 19-6 (Fall 4:44)

138

Rubi Lopez-Paz (14-8) placed 6th and scored 12.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Rubi Lopez-Paz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 won by fall over Makayla Anderson (Victor Valley College) 5-9 (Fall 1:39)

Quarterfinal - Rubi Lopez-Paz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 won by fall over Anais Nunez-Perez (Santa Ana College) 12-5 (Fall 0:57)
Semifinal - Luana Stathopoulos (Santa Rosa College) 4-0 won by tech fall over Rubi Lopez-Paz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 (TF-1.5 2:59 (14-4))
Cons. Semi - Alondra Juarez (Lassen College) 21-5 won by fall over Rubi Lopez-Paz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 (Fall 0:24)
5th Place Match - Anais Nunez-Perez (Santa Ana College) 12-5 won by fall over Rubi Lopez-Paz (Sacramento City College) 14-8 (Fall 4:43)

138

Kaylyn Williams (2-7) place is unknown and scored 2.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Ahlexis Terry (Cuesta College) 18-10 won by fall over Kaylyn Williams (Sacramento City College) 2-7 (Fall 4:31)

Cons. Round 1 - Kaylyn Williams (Sacramento City College) 2-7 won by fall over Emily Alvarez (Mt. San Antonio College) 0-2 (Fall 0:44)
Cons. Round 2 - Anais Nunez-Perez (Santa Ana College) 12-5 won by tech fall over Kaylyn Williams (Sacramento City College) 2-7 (TF-1.5 4:48 (10-0))

160

Veronika Shayhen (18-8) placed 7th and scored 10.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Veronika Shayhen (Sacramento City College) 18-8 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Veronika Shayhen (Sacramento City College) 18-8 won by decision over Liliana Sarmiento (Cerritos College) 19-8 (Dec 10-8)
Quarterfinal - Alexandria Perez (Palomar College) 15-2 won by fall over Veronika Shayhen (Sacramento City College) 18-8 (Fall 1:09)
Cons. Round 4 - Veronika Shayhen (Sacramento City College) 18-8 won by fall over Grace Parent (Palomar College) 9-13 (Fall 2:53)
Cons. Round 5 - Esperanza Cadena Ortiz (Lemoore College) 22-9 won by decision over Veronika Shayhen (Sacramento City College) 18-8 (Dec 13-6)
7th Place Match - Veronika Shayhen (Sacramento City College) 18-8 won by fall over Zoey Devaughn (Sierra College) 3-3 (Fall 1:17)

180

Zion Green (6-13) place is unknown and scored 2.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Kinsey Konrad (Cerritos College) 13-1 won by fall over Zion Green (Sacramento City College) 6-13 (Fall 1:12)

Cons. Round 1 - Zion Green (Sacramento City College) 6-13 won by fall over Jasmine Morales (Santa Ana College) 0-4 (Fall 1:39)
Cons. Round 2 - Olivia Marker (Mt. San Antonio College) 9-11 won by fall over Zion Green (Sacramento City College) 6-13 (Fall 2:01)

207

Paula Aguilar (19-6) placed 4th and scored 15.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Paula Aguilar (Sacramento City College) 19-6 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Paula Aguilar (Sacramento City College) 19-6 won by fall over Ana Garcia Delgado (Cuesta College) 20-15 (Fall 1:05)
Semifinal - Avalynn Ramos (Moorpark College) 4-0 won by decision over Paula Aguilar (Sacramento City College) 19-6 (Dec 9-4)
Cons. Semi - Paula Aguilar (Sacramento City College) 19-6 won by fall over Tara Johnson (Sierra College) 6-9 (Fall 4:05)
3rd Place Match - Jax Saeed (Skyline College) 22-8 won by fall over Paula Aguilar (Sacramento City College) 19-6 (Fall 1:15)

235

Grace Mercado (22-3) placed 3rd and scored 18.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Grace Mercado (Sacramento City College) 22-3 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Grace Mercado (Sacramento City College) 22-3 won by fall over Valeria Fuentes (Moorpark College) 2-2 (Fall 1:59)
Semifinal - Yvette Garcia (Fresno City College) 7-1 won by fall over Grace Mercado (Sacramento City College) 22-3 (Fall 3:43)
Cons. Semi - Grace Mercado (Sacramento City College) 22-3 won by fall over Destiny Barnes (Lemoore College) 17-7 (Fall 0:38)
3rd Place Match - Grace Mercado (Sacramento City College) 22-3 won by fall over Valeria Fuentes (Moorpark College) 2-2 (Fall 4:03)