Ceres High's David Burris has accomplished a lot this season. He placed first at the Ceres Invitational, second at the NorCal, Bulldog and James Riddle tournaments and fourth at the Peterson Invitational. On Friday, the senior added another title to his collection.
Burris finished first in the 125-pound division at the Central California Conference Wrestling Championships at Downey High School. Burris, the No. 1 seed, compiled a 3-0 record. He defeated Golden Valley's Darren Peters 18-13 in the finals.
"He wrestled extremely well," said Ceres interim coach Bruce Scott.
Eight of Ceres High's 10 wrestlers advanced to the Sac-Joaquin South Delta Sub-Section Meet, which is being held at Pitman High in Turlock on Friday and Saturday. The top six wrestlers in each weight class at the league meet were invited.
"The kids never gave up even when they lost a couple of matches," Scott said. "They gave 110 percent."
Ceres finished seventh in a field of 10 with 81 points at the CCC championships. Turlock won the team title (259.5), Golden Valley took second (173.5) and host Downey placed third (157).
Ryan Rodriguez, the No. 2 seed, placed second in the 119-pound division with a 2-1 record. The senior lost 9-2 to Turlock's Billy Exline in the finals. Exline, who is one of the top-ranked wrestlers in California, has defeated Rodriguez three times this season.
"Ryan wrestled a smart match," Scott said. "He just needs to score some points now.
"He has a good chance to meet Exline in the finals (at the sub-section meet)."
Johnny Bridges, the No. 5 seed, placed fourth in the 103-pound division with a 2-2 record. The junior won by pin, lost by pin, won by decision (8-5) and lost by decision (8-3).
"He has the potential to go to sections," Scott said. "He has to cut out some of the mistakes and continue to work hard."
Bridges' biggest victory came against Downey's Daniel Ippolito. Bridges won by pin. Ippolito had beaten Bridges twice in the past 27 days.
"That was a big step for him," Scott said.
Roger Chiprez, the No. 1 seed, placed fifth in the 145-pound division with a 2-2 record.
The senior won by major decision (14-8), lost by pin, lost by decision (6-0) and won by pin.
"He's better than where he placed," Scott said.
"I think he has the potential to make it to sections. He's been there before."
Peter Betschart placed fifth in the 189-pound division with a 2-2 record. The senior lost by pin, won by pin, lost by pin and won by major decision (12-2).
"I was real pleased with his fifth-place performance," Scott said.
Zach Van Wagoner finished sixth in the 152-pound division with a 1-3 record. The freshman lost by pin, won by decision (2-0), lost by decision (8-2) and lost by decision (3-2).
"For him to get to sections would be a really big surprise," Scott said.
Ignacio McKenzie finished sixth in the 135-pound division with a 1-3 record. The senior lost by technical fall, won by decision (4-1), lost by pin and lost by pin.
Senior Dante Ribeiro finished sixth in the 130-pound division with a 1-3 record.
Ribeiro, McKenzie, Van Wagoner and Betschart were not seeded.
Ceres seniors Chris Coelho and Leo Ayala didn't advance.
Coelho took seventh in the 140-pound division with a 1-2 record.
Ayala took eighth in the 215-pound division with an 0-3 record.
"They tried really hard," Scott said.
The top six finishers in each weight class at the sub-section meet advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Burris finished first in the 125-pound division at the Central California Conference Wrestling Championships at Downey High School. Burris, the No. 1 seed, compiled a 3-0 record. He defeated Golden Valley's Darren Peters 18-13 in the finals.
"He wrestled extremely well," said Ceres interim coach Bruce Scott.
Eight of Ceres High's 10 wrestlers advanced to the Sac-Joaquin South Delta Sub-Section Meet, which is being held at Pitman High in Turlock on Friday and Saturday. The top six wrestlers in each weight class at the league meet were invited.
"The kids never gave up even when they lost a couple of matches," Scott said. "They gave 110 percent."
Ceres finished seventh in a field of 10 with 81 points at the CCC championships. Turlock won the team title (259.5), Golden Valley took second (173.5) and host Downey placed third (157).
Ryan Rodriguez, the No. 2 seed, placed second in the 119-pound division with a 2-1 record. The senior lost 9-2 to Turlock's Billy Exline in the finals. Exline, who is one of the top-ranked wrestlers in California, has defeated Rodriguez three times this season.
"Ryan wrestled a smart match," Scott said. "He just needs to score some points now.
"He has a good chance to meet Exline in the finals (at the sub-section meet)."
Johnny Bridges, the No. 5 seed, placed fourth in the 103-pound division with a 2-2 record. The junior won by pin, lost by pin, won by decision (8-5) and lost by decision (8-3).
"He has the potential to go to sections," Scott said. "He has to cut out some of the mistakes and continue to work hard."
Bridges' biggest victory came against Downey's Daniel Ippolito. Bridges won by pin. Ippolito had beaten Bridges twice in the past 27 days.
"That was a big step for him," Scott said.
Roger Chiprez, the No. 1 seed, placed fifth in the 145-pound division with a 2-2 record.
The senior won by major decision (14-8), lost by pin, lost by decision (6-0) and won by pin.
"He's better than where he placed," Scott said.
"I think he has the potential to make it to sections. He's been there before."
Peter Betschart placed fifth in the 189-pound division with a 2-2 record. The senior lost by pin, won by pin, lost by pin and won by major decision (12-2).
"I was real pleased with his fifth-place performance," Scott said.
Zach Van Wagoner finished sixth in the 152-pound division with a 1-3 record. The freshman lost by pin, won by decision (2-0), lost by decision (8-2) and lost by decision (3-2).
"For him to get to sections would be a really big surprise," Scott said.
Ignacio McKenzie finished sixth in the 135-pound division with a 1-3 record. The senior lost by technical fall, won by decision (4-1), lost by pin and lost by pin.
Senior Dante Ribeiro finished sixth in the 130-pound division with a 1-3 record.
Ribeiro, McKenzie, Van Wagoner and Betschart were not seeded.
Ceres seniors Chris Coelho and Leo Ayala didn't advance.
Coelho took seventh in the 140-pound division with a 1-2 record.
Ayala took eighth in the 215-pound division with an 0-3 record.
"They tried really hard," Scott said.
The top six finishers in each weight class at the sub-section meet advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
