Catasauqua’s Esmeralda Serrano and Anaiz Espinal have taken different paths in their high school wrestling careers.

However, both are headed to the Southeast Regional Tournament at Quakertown this weekend.

Serrano, a junior, posted a 11-8 record last season, and she didn’t place at districts in her first year of the sport. This year, she has improved her mark to 20-2 overall and placed third in the 170-pound division.

She credits her success to a new approach after her initial journey. It also has become a surreal moment.

“It feels unbelievable to be moving on to regionals this year,” gushed Serrano. “The thing that changed my approach this year was a changed mind set and personal motivation. I incorporated both confidence and positivity, but not cockiness. My motivation was to always beat the goal I set for every match and every tournament.”

Her career began after a future teammate’s encouragement, and her brother’s career.

“I started wrestling my sophomore year because the year prior Aeriel Stallworth came up to me wanting girls for next year’s team,” recalled Serrano. “I have always been interested in the sport because I have watched my older brother wrestle for six years, and it always made me angry when he was not in such a great position.

“I felt like I needed to go out and do something for him.”

She isn’t short on self-motivation, but also keeps everything in front of her.

“I feel as confident as I can be right now, but I know that I need to be back in the room and grind because I want to be realistic. Everyone going to regionals is going to fight harder than at districts because you can go to states.”

Espinal, a sophomore, is in her first year on the mats. She has recorded an overall 11-8 mark and notched a third-place finish in the 190-pound bracket.

With each match, Espinal has gained a better sense of comfortability.

It feels great moving onto regionals and I’m excited to see how I do there,” beamed Espinal. “Throughout the wrestling season I’ve noticed I’ve been feeling more confident with my approach, which makes a lot of a difference in how I’ve been performing.”

Her move from two prior sports has proved to be productive.

“I started wrestling this season because my cross country coaches told me to give it a shot,” added Espinal. “I wanted to try something new. I definitely feel super confident right now and excited.”

Head coach Mike Rusnock has been pleased with both of his wrestlers’ overall growth.

“It was a good day for Esmeralda and Anaiz qualifying for the regional tournament,” stated Rusnock. “Esmeralda is very athletic with great hips, giving her a chance each time she is on the mat.

“She was down 6-1 before she hit a flying cement job to win 8-6. She lost her quarterfinal match but she took her 5 minutes to be upset, then moved on mentally. We preach, take it in, digest it, then move onto what is next. That mentality helped her win four consecutive consolation bouts.

“Anaiz qualifying for regionals was a great surprise and yet at the same time not surprising. Anaiz is a first year wrestler that was playing basketball last winter. That is what makes it surprising. At the same time seeing how she has gotten better the more she practiced, it is not a surprise. She is a strong girl that maintains great position. When she attacks, she doesn’t hold back. She will continue to only get better the more she learns.”

Rusnock is confident both girls can continue their success this weekend, and they both will be part of returning nucleus. Sophomore Ashlie Montano-Grion (17-5), placed fourth at 155, and fellow sophomore Arianna Stallworth (24-7), who advanced to the second round of consolations at 118, are also key returnees.

“The quality of girls wrestling has improved exponentially over the last couple years,” boasted Rusnock. “I believe both girls have a chance of placing in next weekend’s tournament. Both of them return next season plus Ashlie Montano-Giron and Arianna Stallworth.