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15 schools set to compete at CHS wrestling tournament
Adrian Vizcaino in finals
Adrian Vizcaino and Central Valley High School's wrestling team will compete at the 48th Annual Ceres Invitational this Saturday at Ceres High School. Vizcaino captured the 195-pound title last season. - photo by Courier file photo

Six leagues will be represented at the 48th Annual Ceres Invitational this Saturday at Ceres High School, including the Western Athletic Conference, Modesto Metro Conference, Trans Valley League, Central California Conference, Valley Oak League and Mother Lode League.

The following teams will participate: Ceres High (WAC), Central Valley (WAC), Central Catholic (WAC), Beyer (MMC), Downey (MMC), Grace Davis (MMC), Johansen (MMC), Modesto High (MMC), Hilmar (TVL), Hughson (TVL), Riverbank (TVL), Buhach Colony (CCC), Sierra (VOL), Linden (MLL) and Summerville (MLL).

The tournament will get underway at 9 a.m.

The top three teams win trophies.

Individual medals will be awarded to first- through sixth-place finishers.

The crosstown Hawks and host Bulldogs finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the team standings last year.

“We should compete for a team trophy and quite a few individual medals,” said Steve Festa, Ceres High’s new head coach.

The Bulldogs’ lineup will feature Benzell Williams (106 pounds), Michael Vargas (113s), Louis Camarillo (120s), Brandon Ramirez (Fr.), Nick Santibanez (132s), Gabriel Roman (132s), Daniel Raya (138s), John Alba (145s), Cameron Thatcher (152), Jorge Sandoval (160s), Diego Diaz (170s), Tyree Williams (182s), Jonathan Rodrigues (195s), Abel Morales (220s) and Felix Feliciano (275s).

“The kids are really excited for it (the tournament),” Festa said. “We did our challenge matches yesterday.”

Adrian Vizcaino, Michael Manzur, Eddy Nunez, Joaquin Garcia and Rick Brown will lead Central Valley.

Vizcaino won the 195-pound title at the 2012 Ceres Invitational.

Manzur finished second overall in the 120-pound division.

Nunez (170s) and Garcia (182s) both placed fifth.

Brown wrestled for the Hawks in 2011. He took second at the Ceres tournament.

Central Valley’s top newcomers are freshmen Ethan Rotondo (106s) and Christian Oliver (120s).

 “We want to finish in the top five,” Hawks head coach Rob Beckhart said. “If we can get a trophy, that would be a pretty good accomplishment. There’s going to be some good teams there.”