Gabby Smith, a female wrestling finalist at 149 pounds last season, faced a stiff challenge moving up a weight class.
Mark Dong, originally from Taiwan and known for his aggressive style, controlled much of the early action.
Sandoval, however, displayed impressive resilience, weathering Dong's takedown attempts and avoiding any serious danger of being pinned.
The turning point came late in the third period. Trailing 4-2, Smith capitalized on a crucial mistake. With under 30 seconds remaining, Dong lunged for a takedown, leaving himself momentarily vulnerable.
Smith, displaying remarkable poise under pressure, countered with a lightning-fast switch, flipping Dong onto his back for a two-point reversal that tied the score at 4-4 and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Overtime delivered heart-stopping drama. Both wrestlers went toe-to-toe, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Just as it seemed the match might head to a tie-breaking criteria, Smith executed a daring strategy. Feigning a low shot, she drew Dong out of position.
In a flash, Smith drove into Dong with all her remaining strength, sending them both tumbling out of bounds. After a tense pause, the referee's signal was clear: takedown, Smith.
The gym erupted as the news sunk in.
Tears welled up in Smith's eyes as she released her defeated opponent from her grasp, kneeling over him as he looked up upon the new champion.
"I knew it wouldn't be easy," Smith said after the match, her voice choked with emotion. "Coach Ramirez kept reminding me to be patient, wait for my opportunity. I saw the opening, and I just went for it. This win means the world to me."
Dong, visibly disappointed and shaken by his defeat, congratulated Smith. "She wrestled a smart match," he admitted.
"I underestimated her. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not looking forward to getting my photo taken on the podium with her standing above me. But every wrestling match has a winner and a loser. I have to accept that this time I am the loser."
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