Central Valley High School’s varsity boys wrestling program finished in the middle of the pack at the Sierra Nevada Classic this past month.

The Hawks earned 42 points while placing 46th overall at the 87-team event, staged Dec. 27-28 at the Reno Livestock Events Center.

Rancho Bernardo (208), Spring Creek (193.5) and Del Oro (170.5) took first, second and third, respectively.

“This is the toughest tournament we go to,” Central Valley head coach Rob Beckhart said. “It serves a couple purposes.  We get mat time. It’s also an eye-opening experience for a lot of the kids. They get to see what it takes to be successful in the sport.”

The Hawks had just one grappler advance to the second day of the tournament—junior Kyle Hendrix.

Hendrix compiled a 4-2 record in the 138-pound weight bracket.

He fell two wins shy of placing.

“He works his tail off in the wrestling room and always has a positive attitude,” Beckhart said. 

Hendrix topped Lakeview’s Mason Hall (pin, 0:29), Carmel’s Devin Meheen (pin, 3:23), Beyer’s Blake Albino (pin, 1:44) and Reno’s Aiden Layfield (pin, 0:47).

He lost to Yerington’s Dante Reviglio (decision, 6-0) and Chester’s Bonner Montgomery (decision, 8-4).

Hendrix’s two losses were by a combined 10 points.

“I’d like to see him get on the podium next year,” Beckhart said

Junior Thomas Carrillo (195 pounds) and freshman Ruben Valenzuela (160s) posted identical 2-2 records in their respective weight divisions.

Carrillo topped Modoc’s Alex Olson (pin, 2:00) and Lakeland’s Jacob Lafollette (pin, 0:34).

He lost to Reed’s Zachary Johnson (pin, 1:54) and Vista del Lago’s Austin Walker (pin, 1:32).

Valenzuela topped Escalon’s Brad Hagglund (pin, 5:45) and Evergreen Valley’s Chris Wright (pin, 0:56).

He lost to Lakeland’s Colton Boettcher (decision, 6-0) and Castro Valley’s Max Plotzeneder (decision, 7-0).

Seniors Bryant Angulo (220s), Ryan Palecek (182s) and David Martinez (152s), and freshman Enrique Gonzales (145s) all went 1-2.

Angulo topped Reno’s Kedrick White (forfeit). 

He lost to Folsom’s Kyle Richards (pin, 0:43) and Central Catholic’s Sergio Bravo (pin, 1:22).

Palecek topped Damonte Ranch’s Daniel Mendoza (pin, 0:45).

He lost to Yerington’s JayDan Vasquez (pin, 2:37) and Cardinal Newman’s Ethan Kollenborn (pin, 1:30).

Martinez topped Churchill County’s Cody Shelton (pin, 2:51).

He lost to Culver’s Isaiah Toomey (pin, 1:59) and Shasta’s Aydin Facey (pin, 2:31).

Gonzales topped Owyhee’s Dalen Thomas (pin, 0:54).

He lost to Folsom’s Caiden Cohen (pin, 1:52) and Pershing County’s Jayce Leyva (pin, 0:44).

Seniors Moises Galeana (285s) and Alex Alvarez (126s), and freshmen Giancarlo Pena (170s), Elijah De Leon (132s), Juan Melgoza (120s) and Nic Genasci (106s) all finished 0-2.

“I try to set up the schedule where tournaments get tougher each week,” Beckhart said. “You want to be at your best at the end of the season.”