FRESNO, CA — Following a hard-fought fifth-place finish in the Greco-Roman division, the Santa Clara Valley Wrestling Association (SCVWA) bounced back spectacularly, storming to a perfect 5-0 record to capture the 2026 CAUSAW Freestyle Association Dual Championship.

SCVWA’s championship run combined early-lineup dominance with just enough cushion to withstand furious late-match rallies from California’s top wrestling associations.

Pool Play: SCVWA Sets the Pace

After receiving a first-round bye in pool competition, SCVWA opened its day with a commanding 45-28 victory over the Orange County Wrestling Association, winning 10 of the 16 contested bouts.

They carried that momentum straight into their final pool dual, putting on a clinic against the Bay Area Wrestling Association (BAWA) with a dominant 53-11 victory to punch their ticket to the championship bracket.

The Semifinal: A Down-the-Wire Thriller vs. LAWA

In the championship bracket, SCVWA faced its fiercest test of the tournament against its neighbors, the Los Angeles Wrestling Association (LAWA).

SCVWA built a massive lead early, weaponizing the lower half of its lineup. Between 95 lbs and 130 lbs, SCVWA captured six out of seven matches, racking up five pins in that stretch alone. The most explosive performance came from Lillian Fonceca (115 lbs), who caught her opponent for a lightning-fast pin in just 22 seconds.

However, LAWA refused to go quietly. Completely owning the upper weights, LAWA mounted a furious comeback, winning the final five matches in a row from 155 lbs to 235 lbs. Racking up three pins, a forfeit, and a major decision, LAWA outscored SCVWA 23-1 in the final stretch. Fortunately for SCVWA, their early-round damage was enough to stave off the upset, hanging on for a thrilling 41-36 victory to advance to the finals.

The Finals: SCVWA Weathers the Storm to Defeat TCWA

The championship dual against TCWA followed a nearly identical script, with SCVWA jumping out to an insurmountable lead before TCWA mounted a heavy-hitting heavyweight rally.

The Perfect Start

SCVWA ignited the dual by ripping through the first five weight classes, securing maximum team points in every single bout. Kaila Robles Rials (95 lbs) set an aggressive tone immediately with a 34-second pin. Briana Ochoa Castro matched that intensity at 115 lbs, locking up a pin in just 32 seconds to give SCVWA a commanding 25-0 lead.

Trading Blows in the Middleweights

TCWA finally got on the board at 120 lbs when Alexia Hernandez stopped the bleeding with a swift 49-second pin. SCVWA answered back immediately; Abigail Lee (125 lbs) secured a late-match fall, and Jocelynn Mendoza (130 lbs) battled to a 19-9 Technical Fall. TCWA’s Shaire Anzures (135 lbs) kept her team’s slim hopes alive by picking up a massive first-period pin over Maya Camarena, moving the scoreboard to 34-7 in favor of SCVWA.

Locking Up the Title

SCVWA mathematically sealed the dual championship in the upper middleweights. Mei Elgierari (140 lbs) secured a vital pin, followed by dominant technical superiority wins from Sarai Cortez (145 lbs) and Haru Duus (155 lbs), extending the SCVWA lead to a definitive 47-8.

TCWA’s Heavyweight Pride

With the team title out of reach, TCWA wrestled for pride and completely dominated the final four weight classes. Samya Bazile (170 lbs) and Teagan Moise (207 lbs) locked down pins in 1:00 and 0:46, respectively. The Matagi sisters then closed out the tournament in dominant fashion for TCWA, with Tasi (190 lbs) picking up a forfeit and Taya (235 lbs) delivering a 24-second pin.

While TCWA swept the final four weights 24-0 to close the gap, the day belonged to the Santa Clara Valley Wrestling Association, who walked away with the 47-32 victory and the 2026 State Dual Championship crown.