As San Marino High sophomore and lightweight wrestler Malia Manibog was preparing for her championship match at the seventh annual Ayala Women’s Wrestling Invitational on Jan. 20, a game plan was being arranged between her and Titans wrestling coach Morris Bird.
Before Manibog walked out to the single-mat championship bout amid a roaring crowd, Bird showed her how to do the move, the “Iowa Ride.”
On the mat, the sophomore employed her new move, transitioned to a nearside cradle and pinned her opponent to win the tournament title in the 95-pound weight class.
As a reward, Manibog was presented with a trophy and complimentary wrestling socks fittingly stitched with the phrase “Iowa Ride.”
“One thing that stands out to you if you watch her is that she walks out like a lamb, but she wrestles like a lion,” Bird said.
Manibog pinned all five of her opponents during her title-winning run. The sophomore also earned tournament MVP honors among her peers in all the lightweight divisions, Bird said.
Bird added that Manibog, who practices judo and has participated in national competitions, defeated opponents she previously lost to last season. Her experience in judo has separated her from the rest of the competition, Bird noted.
“It’s very clear to everyone when she wrestles that she has judo skills,” Bird said. “Anytime a girl ties up with her … they’ll tie up with her and she’ll just throw them with their legs flying in the air and they’ll land on their back.”
The sophomore was the No. 4 seed in the tournament. In the invitational semifinal, Manibog faced the top-seeded Elizabeth Brunson, a grappler from Nevada who “dominated” Manibog last season according to Bird. This time around, the sophomore pinned her opponent early in the first period.
The championship match was not so quick for Manibog, who faced Lina Rodriguez of Chino High. Rodriguez was favored, 3-2, following the first period of grappling, but Manibog’s new move proved to be the difference in the second period.
Up next for the Manibog and the Titans are the Rio Hondo League finals on Friday, Feb. 2 at Monrovia High School.
First published in the Jan. 25 issue of the San Marino Tribune
