Central Valley’s boys wrestling program had two individuals medal while competing at the 57th Ceres Invitational on Dec. 23 at Ceres High School.

Youth-laden Ceres High gained experience at its home event.

“I’m not worried about whether we win or lose,” Central Valley head coach Rob Beckhart said. “Right now, we’re trying to get tough quality matches. We did that. We’re just trying to get better.”

Fifth-seeded Angel Melgoza and unseeded Salvador Almazan led the crosstown-rival Hawks.

Melgoza took fifth with a 4-1 record in the 177-pound weight division.

He notched three consecutive wins after suffering a loss.

“It’s easy to hang your head after a loss,” Beckhart said. “He put it behind him and kept working. I’m proud of him for figuring it out.”

Melgoza topped Monache’s Shawn Franklin (pin, 1:57), Escalon’s Logan Dooley (pin, 1:40), McQueen’s Nate Koval (pin, 2:34) and Big Valley’s Andrew Grossman (pin, 0:52).

Unseeded Almazan took eighth with a 3-3 record at 287 pounds.

He topped Johansen’s Derik Wages (pin, 0:57), Modesto High’s Dinero Medina (pin, 0:43) and Escalon’s David Ingles (medical forfeit).

“I wouldn’t say he surprised me,” Beckhart said. “He can wrestle and place on any given day. He’s an athletic kid. That’s what really helps him.”

Hawk teammates Albert Gonzales (152s, 2-2), Anthony Diaz (167s, 2-2), Phillip Esparza (167s, 2-2), Kenneth Orrin (177s, 2-2), Caleb Beckhart (128s, 1-2), Santino Breshears (140s, 1-2), Enoc Reyes (108s, 0-2), Hector Valencia (115s, 0-2), Jayden Mattox (122s, 0-2), Julian Lugo (146s, 0-2) and Mahkai Smith (217s, 0-2) also wrestled at the Ceres Invitational.

McCoy Adams (115 pounds, 2-2 record), Parker Borges (134s, 2-2), Abraham Rodriguez (167s, 2-2), Ethan Salmon (108s, 1-2), Issac Bravo (140s, 1-2), Evan Burke (167s, 0-2), Hunter Hammons (287s, 0-2), Jaden Silva (287s, 0-2), Chase Borges (115s, 0-2), Jackson Kidd (122s, 0-2), Dakota Pickett (146s, 0-2) and Jonas Hayes (152s, 0-2) represented the Bulldogs at their home tournament.

The Ceres Invitational featured grapplers from 38 different schools.

Central Valley and Ceres High placed 22nd and 30th, respectively, in the team standings.

The Hawks and Bulldogs totaled 49 and 28 points.

BASKETBALL

Ceres High’s girls basketball team showed resiliency during its non-conference game against Hughson last month.

Down by double digits in the first quarter, the host Bulldogs cut the deficit to three in the final period before losing 51-45 to the Huskies on Dec. 19 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“We made it a game,” Ceres High head coach Megan McGill said. “It was exciting to watch these girls not give up even when they were tired. They left their hearts and souls on the court. I’m proud of them for that.”

The Bulldogs dropped to 9-3 overall.

The Huskies improved to 6-4 on the season.

Ceres High’s Sovannary Carter tallied 11 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks versus Hughson.

Arrayah Stallworth added 10 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and four steals.

Marissa Renteria collected nine points, eight assists, three rebounds, three steals and one block.

Jolissa Guillory had seven points, one rebound, one assist, one steal and one block.

The Bulldogs trailed 20-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Ceres High outscored Hughson 37-31 after struggling in the opening period.

“We’re capable of playing teams like that,” McGill said. “Technically, we beat them every quarter accept the first. We just dug ourselves too big of a hole.”