Kelly’s Martinez Lopera wins third girls wrestling city title; Kelly, Ag. Science, Speer and Lane with two individual title winners

By Mike Clark

Sara Martinez Lopera already has done some big things, and she wants to do more.

The Kelly junior became the first state placer in program history last season. On Jan. 17 at Curie, she won her third Public League title, putting her on track to become the first four-time city champ next season.

Martinez Lopera, who moved to Chicago from Colombia three years ago, already made a college choice, committing to Division II McKendree.

“I already met the coach, Alexio (Garcia), and he’s a really nice person,” Martinez Lopera said. “I love the environment over there.”

And there’s another perk, she said jokingly: “I love the (school) color purple.”

All kidding aside, Martinez Lopera said she also wants to compete internationally, “maybe … for Colombia or even (Team) USA,”

Martinez Lopera said she was a national team member in Colombia before coming to the United States.

“So when I (made) the decision to come to this country, my biggest goal was continuing, improving,” she said.

Besides her coaches at Kelly, she has worked with the Beat the Streets youth program, including former Oak Park-River Forest state champion boys coach Mike Powell.

It’s all paid off. Ranked No. 2 at 170 pounds by Illinois Matwomen, Martinez Lopera pinned all three opponents en route to another Public League title.

Junior 135-pounder Liliana Monserrat Dimas also had three falls to earn a title for Kelly.

The Trojans were one of three teams with a pair of champs along with dual-team champ Lane, Ag. Science and Speer.

Lane’s winners were junior Zabby Badru at 140 and sophomore Layla Moreland at 155.

Ag. Science’s sixth-ranked Carmen Jackson, who took first at 100 pounds as a sophomore, won three first-period falls en route to the 110 title. Her junior teammate Danita Palmore won at 115.

“It’s my last year,” Jackson said. “So as a senior, I knew I couldn’t take second place. I knew I had to take first.”

Speer sophomore Idali Cruz pinned defending champ Sofia Guerrero of Lane in the semifinals and scored her third fall of the tourney in the 100-pound final. The Pride also had a title at 235 from ninth-ranked sophomore Esmerelda Bustamante.

“I feel like now I understand the sport more,” said Bustamante, who competed in the open division as a first-year wrestler last season.

Why did she take the plunge? “I had friends from other sports who encouraged me to join, and it looked fun,” she said.

Phoenix senior 145-pounder America Cabrera, ranked fifth in the state, reached her third Public League final and won her second title.

As she did in 2025, Cabrera shared the podium with her 2-year-old son Ezra. It’s not always easy juggling motherhood, school and wrestling, but Cabrera credits her family and team for their support. And she believes her journey can inspire others.

“I hope my story does help people,” she said. “I know sometimes people can take my story the wrong way. But for the people that it does help, I hope that people know that … nothing is stopping them no matter the circumstances. You could do anything that you want.”

Also winning titles were Curie senior Giselle Arambula at 105, Crane/Young sophomore Hannah Chong at 120, Goode freshman Kendra Chatman at 125, Taft junior Layla Zbiec at 130 and Mather senior Julissa Az at 190.

Photos by Jim Vincent/OSA

Championship matches