PERRIS — Orange Vista girls wrestling standout Zahra Stewart is a bit shy and reserved when it comes to the words she speaks. On the mat, however, Stewart holds nothing back. Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State ch ampion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 8Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Stewart continued her ascent as one of the Inland Empire’s elite grapplers. She finished her junior campaign with a 33-1 record and avenged that lone loss at the CIF State Championships. Stewart found herself atop of the podium plenty of times throughout the season. She brought home her third CIF Southern Section individual championship and her second section Masters Meet title. But it’s how Stewart closed out the season that truly set her apart. She defeated the top two seeded wrestlers in back-to-back matches to claim this year’s state championship at 125 pounds. Stewart is the first wrestler from Orange Vista to win a state title. For those reasons. Stewart has been chosen the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Stewart starred at Yucaipa her first two years, but she and her family made the decision to transfer to Orange Vista this season. Stewart had to sit out the first 5 1/2 weeks of the season because of that transfer, but a fresh start helped her take another leap forward. Stewart showed little to no rust, as she won her second Queen of the Hill crown nine days after regaining her eligibility. “It was hard just watching,” Stewart said of the sit-out period. “I just couldn’t wait to be back out there wrestling matches again.” Stewart tried her hand at several sports growing up. She also was on the golf and swimming teams during her years at Yucaipa. But wrestling became Stewart’s passion over time. She decided to give up the other endeavors to focus on her wrestling career. “Wrestling is a great mix for me,” Stewart said. “There’s enough of a team aspect that I can be out there with friends, but I really do enjoy individual sports the most. I want to be able to control my own destiny and not have to rely on too many other factors.” The lone blemish on Stewart’s record came in January when she dropped a 12-5 decision to Anaheim’s Lilyana Balderas in the 125-pound final at the Lady Tournament of Champions. Stewart was ill that weekend and had to wait two months for a rematch. Balderas received the No. 1 seed for the CIF State meet, and Stewart was seeded fifth. Both wrestlers took care of business in the early rounds, so they squared off in the semifinals. Balderas scored an early takedown to take a 3-0 advantage, but Stewart quickly turned the tables. She used two escapes and a pair of takedowns to surge into the lead and held on for an 8-6 decision. “I just knew I was going to win that match,” Stewart said. “I just wanted to wear her down. I knew I could get her if I did my best.” Stewart faced No. 2 seed Shayna Ward of Oakland Tech in the finals. Stewart dominated and won via pinfall in the third period. “She just missed the podium as a freshman, and she was on there last season (seventh at 120 pounds),” said Suzanne Stewart, Zahra’s mother. “She saw the champions celebrating and was determined that she would be one of those celebrating this year.” Stewart then placed a cherry on top of a great season, winning the 126-pound title at the NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va. As a returning state champion, Stewart knows other wrestlers are going to be looking to take her down next season. “That just means I have to work harder,” she said. “I’m not satisfied with one state title. The goal is to win another one next year.” IE VARSITY COACH OF THE YEAR Jim Bowers, Corona Bowers has helmed the powerhouse program for several years, but the Panthers enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history. Corona went 16-0 in duals and reclaimed the CIF Southern Section’s Division 1 dual-meet championship with a 46-30 victory over Marina. The Panthers brought home the team title at all four tournaments they entered, captured the team title at the Eastern Division individual championship meet with a section record 332 points and also won the team title at the section’s Master Meet. Corona had nine wrestlers win Big VIII League titles and five claimed section titles. The Panthers sent 12 wrestlers to the Masters Meet and eight to the CIF State Championships. 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