GIRLS WRESTLING: Crook-Meyers, Navejas cruise to titles

She admittedly didn’t break a sweat.

But Kentwood’s Jolene Crook-Meyers hardly needed to this past Saturday during the girls Region II wrestling tournament at Emerald Ridge High.

For the second-straight weekend, Crook-Meyers needed hardly any time to bring home a championship. The 140-pound Kentwood senior pinned three-straight opponents on Saturday, the first in 34 seconds, the second in 52 and the third in 1:08 to grab the title.

“I haven’t broken a sweat yet in postseason,” said Crook-Meyers, who needed a total of 1:19 to win a title the previous weekend at the sub-district tournament.

Crook-Meyers, who improved to 25-3 this season, was joined atop the podium by 152-pound teammate Antonia Navejas. Navejas, 19-0 this season and 94-20 for her prep career, also pinned three-straight opponents to earn the title.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class earned berths to Friday and Saturday’s state tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

Both Crook-Meyers and Navejas took second at state last year. And both enter this weekend’s meet as heavy favorites to win it all.

“I would like the title and I am going to go in there and wrestle like I know how to,” said Crook-Meyers.

Kent-Meridian’s Elizabeth Stone, fourth at 103, was the only other female wrestler among the four Kent schools to earn a state berth.