Trailing 9-1 and on her back, you couldn’t have faulted Julianna O’Campo for giving up and accepting defeat.
Julianna O’Campo falls behind by a score of 9-1 to Alonzon Chantea of Plymouth in the opening round of the IHSAA State Finals at 106 pounds.
But that isn’t who Julianna is.
Julianna O’Campo scores a takedown to cut the lead to 9-3 in the second period Friday at 106 pounds. (Photo by Kris Everett)
“I just knew I needed to get to my choice and survive and I would be ok,” said O’Campo afterwards.
And come back she did.
In one of the most memorable Friday matches in recent memory, O’Campo captured the imagination and admiration of the crowd at the Ford Center in Evansville and charged back from two separate incidents where she faced giving up a fall.
New Haven head coach Jimmy Linn (right) and Julianna’s father, Sam O’Campo, cheer on the talented junior at the IHSAA State Finals Friday. (Photo by Kris Everett)
She got the opportunity to get back on her feet in the second period and never yielded another point.
O’Campo mounts a second period comeback.
Julianna made it 9-8 with a couple of nearfall situations in that period and in the third chose down with a chance to tie the match at nine.
Plymouth’s Alonzo Chantea rode O’Campo for over a minute before a stalling warning prompted a whistle and a restart.
The Z Team calls the first half of the third period leading up to the restart after the stalling call. Julianna O’Campo faced a 9-1 deficit after the first period in her Friday match, but came back to take the lead and then score the fall. (Photo by Kris Everett)
O’Campo immediately got a reversal off the whistle, then caught Chantea and made history by securing the fall for good measure.
The Z Team calls the fall for O’Campo as she makes history. Julianna looks for the fall late in the third period against Alonzo Chantea of Plymouth. (Photo by Kris Everett)Julianna O’Campo discusses her historic victory in the IHSAA State Finals with the Z Team Friday.
Already a three-time state champion in the girls state tournament, O’Campo has now become the first female to medal in the IHSAA tournament. Despite over 1000 girls across the state wrestling this season, there is no IHSAA-sanctioned state tournament for just the girls.
Julianna O’Campo has her hand raised by official Tyrone Wilson after becoming the first female medalist in in IHSAA state tournament Friday in Evansville. (Photo by Kris Everett)
O’Campo will face freshman Royce Malone of Monrovia in the Saturday morning round for a spot in the semifinals.
Dane Fuelling has been passionate about high school sports since childhood. Coming to WZBD via his previous position as sports editor at the Decatur Daily Democrat, Dane is highly involved in high school wrestling with the IHSWCA and is a past winner of the organization's Distinguished Media Award.
