Ceres High’s shorthanded varsity girls soccer team earned back-to-back wins against Western Athletic Conference rivals this past week.

The Bulldogs improved to 8-6-1 overall and 4-2-0 in the WAC standings following Wednesday’s 3-1 home triumph over the Los Banos Tigers.

Ceres High had just nine players in uniform for the league game, including Jacqueline Ruiz, Kalyani Hermosillo, Jennifer Duncan, Maria Trevino, Siriana Gudino, Daisy Duran, Adela Covarrubias, Arianah Martinez and Yanelli Rodriguez.

The Bulldogs used a 3-1-3-1 formation versus the Tigers.

Ceres High had three defenders, one defensive midfielder, three midfielders and one forward.

“We struggled but got the win,” head coach Miguel Saldate said. “The girls knew what they were doing. They touched the ball well.”

Ceres High earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory while battling host Mountain House on Jan. 7.

The Bulldogs suited up 12 players for the contest.

“It was a tough game,” Saldate said. “We attacked when we could.”

Ruiz accounted for the game’s lone goal.

Trevino assisted.

Gudino had seven blocks.

“She (Siriana) helped us a lot,” Saldate said. “She saved us a couple times.”

Ruiz broke a scoreless tie off a pass from Trevino 10 minutes into the second half.

Ruiz and Hermosillo both collected one goal and one assist.

Duncan scored once.

Trevino tallied one assist.

Gudino made five saves.

Ceres High will travel to Modesto today to face Grace Davis.

The game will begin at 3 p.m.

“We’re not where we want to be,” Saldate said. “We’d like to be in first place. It’s been tough not having a full squad.”

WRESTLING

Central Valley’s varsity boys wrestling team made program history by earning its first-ever Central California Conference dual-meet victory this past week.

The Hawks moved from the Western Athletic Conference to the CCC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s realignment plan.

“The biggest change has been adapting to the overall gamesmanship,” head coach Rob Beckhart said. “The coaches scheme a little differently in the CCC. The way they attack the game plan and make changes on the fly, you always have to be on your toes.”

Central Valley earned a hard-fought 48-31 win over host Atwater on Thursday.

“I’m proud of the kids,” Beckhart said. 

The Hawks improved to 1-2 in the CCC standings.

The Falcons dropped to 0-2.

“By not starting the season the way we wanted to, our backs are against the wall,” Beckhart said. “We’ll keep working hard and trying to get better.”

Ryan Palecek, Michael Miller, David Martinez, Kyle Hendrix, Eric Rivera, Juan Lezama, Ruben Valenzuela and Nic Genasci propelled Central Valley past Atwater.

Palecek won by pin (0:26) over Christian Macias at 195 pounds.

Miller won by pin (0:49) over Wryan Ayala at 152 pounds.

Martinez won by pin (0:58) over Adriel Ramirez at 160 pounds.

Hendrix won by pin (1:02) over Skylar Sullivan at 138 pounds.

Rivera won by pin (1:46) over Jose Suarez at 145 pounds.

Lezama won by pin (5:24) over Isaiah Zamora at 182 pounds.

Valenzuela won by forfeit at 170 pounds.

Genasci won by forfeit at 106 pounds.

“We had a little more experience,” Beckhart said. “That helped us out.”

Falcons 49, Hawks 27

The members of Central Valley’s varsity girls wrestling team gave flowers to Atwater grapplers prior to the start of last Thursday’s CCC dual.

Berl Middlebrooks, head coach of the Falcons, passed away over the summer.

 “That’s one of the things I felt we could do to show our respect,” Beckhart said. “He was a great guy. He did a lot for girls wrestling. He was super active in the sport all over the state.”

Atwater defended its home turf with a 49-27 win against Central Valley.

“They’re tough,” Beckhart said. “We knew that going into it. Their depth and experience got them through that dual.”

The Falcons improved to 2-0 in the CCC standings.

The Hawks dropped to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in league.

Isabella Pelayo, Emily Hill, Angelina Sanchez, Brianna Quiroz and Aryanna Jimenez contributed to Central Valley’s point total.

Pelayo won by pin (1:10) over Kendra Schorwald at 131 pounds.

Hill won by pin (1:25) over Claudia Reyna at 111 pounds.

Sanchez won by pin (1:35) over Megan Brock at 235 pounds.

Quiroz won by pin (3:49) over Ana Ceja at 160 pounds.

Jimenez won by decision (11-10) over Yvette Hurtado at 116 pounds.

Central Valley will compete at Golden Valley this Thursday.

Dawgs split with Tigers

Grapplers Argel Arroyo, Daniel Arendt, Joshua Garcia, Pablo Gonzalez, Janiel Marcos, Marcus Martinez, Kyara Rodriguez and Vanessa Sanchez, and stat keepers Abril Rivera and Maria Soliz were recognized during the Ceres High wrestling program’s Senior Night on Jan. 8 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow wrestling here for the final time,” Arroyo said. “We still got two more (away) matches.”

Ceres High’s varsity boys team improved to 4-1 in the Western Athletic Conference dual-meet standings with a 39-29 victory over the Tigers.

Los Banos dropped to 2-3 in league.

 “Every year is a battle with them,” Bulldogs’ head coach Steve Festa said. “Tonight was just our night.”

Arroyo pinned Jason Mendoza in the first round (0:22) during their 220-pound matchup to secure the team victory.

Los Banos would have won the dual if Arroyo lost by pin.

“Whether we won or lost depended on me,” he said. “I like being in those situations.”

Allen Thy, Edison Jimenez and Diego Armas also had memorable victories.

Thy outlasted Caleb Bustamate, 11-10, at 195 pounds.

“It gives me goose bumps thinking about what Allen did on the mat tonight,” Festa said. “He was wrestling up a weight class. He was giving up at least 20 pounds.”

“I felt a lot of pressure at the beginning of the match because there was a weight difference,” Thy said. “I used what I learned in the wrestling room. I didn’t stop moving. That really helped propel me to the win.”

Jimenez pinned Sebastian Vergara in the first round (1:41) at 132 pounds.

Jimenez lost to Vergara at the 2017-18 WAC Championships.

Armas, a 138-pound freshman, earned his first varsity dual win.

Armas pinned Deven Silveira in the first round (1:19).

Martinez and Bulldog teammates Elias Saldana and Israel Esparza were also victorious.

Saldana won by third-round pin (4:51) over Colten Graham at 285 pounds.

Martinez won by forfeit at 120 pounds.

Esparza won by forfeit at 170 pounds.

Ceres High’s varsity girls team won just two individual matches during last week’s 48-12 loss to Los Banos.

The Bulldogs dropped to 2-3 in the WAC.

The Tigers improved to 4-1.

Sanchez and Alexandra Lugo were awarded forfeit victories at 235 and 143 pounds, respectively.

Rodriguez lost her final home match.

Linda Pelayo pinned Rodriguez in the second round (2:45) at 189 pounds.

The Bulldogs forfeited matches to the Tigers at 101, 106, 111, 116, 126 and 139 pounds.