Central Valley’s boys wrestling program claimed the team title while competing at the Kermit Bankson Invitational on Jan. 11 in Albany.
Members of Ceres High’s squad gained valuable experience at the Tim Brown Memorial Invitational, staged Jan. 10-11 in Sacramento.
“It’s nice for the kids to get that attention,” Hawks’ head coach Rob Beckhart said. “But progress is what we’re looking for.”
Central Valley finished first overall with a team score of 194 at the Bankson Invitational.
Vacaville (156) and Arroyo (144) took second and third, respectively.
The tournament featured wrestlers from 42 different teams.
“We’ve been wrestling well lately,” Beckhart said. “The goal was to finish in the top three. I’m proud of the kids for their effort. They all performed well.”
Central Valley had nine individual medalists.
Angel Melgoza claimed the 217-pound title.
He compiled a 4-0 record.
Melgoza topped George Washington’s Noah Kontsevich (pin, 0:32), Las Lomas’ Logan Stewart (pin, 0:16), Albany’s Samuel Garcia (pin, 1:12) and Corning Union’s Peyton Stewart (decision, 3-0).
Sal Almazan placed second with a 3-1 record at 287 pounds.
He topped Castlemont’s Jalen Brown (pin, 0:39), Skyline’s Josiah Cola (pin, 2:30) and Las Lomas’ Ryan Slavet (pin, 3:02).
Rotceh Mendez placed third with a 5-1 record at 134 pounds.
He topped Tenyson’s Manuel Tejeda (pin, 0:42), Castro Valley’s Jalen Gomez (pin, 5:13), Pittsburg’s Nathaniel Ozuna (major decision, 10-1), El Cerrito’s Oliver Findley (decision, 9-4) and Corning Union’s Nick Johnston (pin, 4:02).
Sunny Breshears placed fourth with a 3-2 record at 146 pounds.
He topped Vallejo’s Khwaja Ali (pin, 5:46), Red Bluff’s Houston Sundquist (pin, 2:40) and Bethel’s George Delgado (decision, 14-8).
Isaac Davalos placed fourth with a 3-2 record at 115 pounds.
He topped Berkeley’s Victor Ozzello (technical fall, 17-1), Vacaville’s Will Parsons (pin, 3:00) and Alameda’s Kurtis Wong (decision, 14-11).
Zack Esparza placed fourth with a 3-2 record at 167 pounds.
He topped Richmond’s Emmanuel Celadon (pin, 1:08), Antelope’s Ricky Salamanca (pin, 3:08) and Central Valley’s Sean Vernon (pin, 1:38).
Carlos Zepeda placed fourth with a 4-2 record at 177 pounds.
He topped Arroyo’s Ceasar Garcia (pin, 1:34), Berkeley’s Giovanei (pin, 5:05), Rosemont’s Victor Brown (pin, 1:52) and Albany’s Teko LaRosa (pin, 4:33).
Jayden Mattox placed fifth with a 3-2 record at 128 pounds.
He topped Rosemont’s Artur Minasyan (pin, 4:52), Lowell’s Alexander Mangot (pin, 2:22) and Las Lomas’ Asa Pelletier (forfeit).
Sean Vernon placed sixth with a 2-3 record at 167 pounds.
He topped Irvington’s Agyey Uniyal (pin, 3:10) and Foothill’s Rudraveer Chaudhary (pin, 2:05).
The Bulldogs had six grapplers wrestle at the Tim Brown Memorial.
“It’s a big tournament,” Bulldogs’ head coach Adam Borges said. “A lot of the schools we’ll see at Masters.”
Ceres High freshman Alijah Jackson compiled a 3-2 record in the 106-pound weight bracket.
“He was the only one who made it to the second day of the tournament,” Adam Borges said. “He’s improving every day.”
Parker Borges (144s) and Michael King (113s) both compiled 2-2 records in their respective divisions.
Daniel Tubera (132s) and Abraham Rodriguez (175s) both compiled 1-2 records.
GIRLS WRESTLING
Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s girls wrestling teams competed at tournaments in Fresno and Napa, respectively, earlier this month.
The Bulldogs finished 12th overall at the 10th Annual Lady Apache Invitational, which was staged Jan. 10-11 at Selland Arena.
Ceres High posted a team score of 85 at the 56-team tournament.
Madeline Schultz placed fifth with a 4-2 record in the 192-pound weight bracket.
She beat Coalinga’s Celeste Gonzalez (pin), Sanger West’s Brianna Jones (pin), Morro Bay’s Ella Lewis (pin) and Edison’s MaryJane Reyna (pin).
Mezmeriah Zuniga placed fifth with a 5-2 record at 137 pounds.
She beat Righetti’s Faith Jovanelly (pin), Atascadero’s Jordyn Best (decision), Redwood’s Glorisbey Hernandez (pin), Pioneer Valley’s Natalia Ojeda (pin) and Centennial’s Chelsea Odom (pin).
Elizabeth Boyd placed fifth with a 5-2 record at 172 pounds.
She beat Tulare Union’s Arian Espinoza (pin), Foothill’s Alyssa Rubalcado (pin), Pacheco’s Melaya Soto (decision), Bakersfield Christian’s Kailee Cadena (decision) and Atascadero’s Skylar Pisor (injury default).
Dayanna Alvarez placed sixth with a 2-3 record at 147 pounds.
She beat Bakersfield’s Alejandra Rodriguez-Chacon (decision) and Morro Bay’s Ashliegh Terry (decision).
Alanize Moreno posted a 4-3 record at 237 pounds.
Abigail Schultz posted a 2-2 record at 132 pounds.
Isabella Nungaray posted a 1-2 record at 112 pounds.
Illiana Enriques posted a 1-2 record at 157 pounds.
The Hawks finished 29th overall while wrestling at the 25th Annual Napa Valley Classic, Jan. 10-11, at Vintage High School.
Central Valley posted a team score of 58.5.
Brianna Espinoza posted a 3-2 record in the 237-pound weight bracket.
Espinoza topped Lincoln’s Lutimila Otuhouma (pin, 1:31), Chico’s Brianna Reid (pin, 3:36) and Pittsburg’s Jax Saeed (forfeit).
Jayden Corona posted a 3-2 record at 112 pounds.
Corona topped Vintage’s Blair Mays (pin, 2:27), Dougherty Valley’s Emily Yeung (pin, 2:06) and Cerritos’ Rochelle Coomes (pin, 0:46).
Tarnjot Kaur posted a 3-2 record at 122 pounds.
Kaur topped Salinas’ Josselyn Torres (pin, 1:54), Mountain View’s Mim Capak (pin, 2:32) and Wheatland’s Alyssa Littleton (pin, 0:50).
Giana Breshears posted a 4-2 record at 142 pounds.
Breshears topped Napa’s Naomi Vega (technical fall, 18-0), Santa Teresa’s Peyton Frost (decision, 7-1), Rocklin’s Ashlyn Giomi (decision, 4-0) and Palos Verdes Peninsula’s Gianna Lopez (major decision, 15-4).
Alicia Espinoza posted a 2-2 record at 172 pounds.
Espinoza topped Fountain Valley’s Laiyah Aguilar (decision, 8-7) and Brawley Union’s Milagros Tellez (pin, 1:26).
Madelyn Morales posted a 2-2 record at 132 pounds.
Morales topped West’s Bailey Dunn (pin, 1:46) and Willits’ Dannyka Smith (pin, 1:41).
Arely Camarena posted a 2-2 record at 157 pounds.
Camarena topped San Marin’s Derilem Rodas Mazariegos (major decision, 11-1) and Palos Verdes Peninsula’s Alissa Luna (pin, 2:28).
