Ceres High School's varsity wrestling team boosted its chances of a top-two finish in the Valley Oak League dual-meet standings last Thursday by collecting a pair of dominant victories.
A decent-sized home crowd watched as the Bulldogs handled Sonora, 53-24, and Manteca, 51-27, on Senior Night at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium
"We got something special going this year," Ceres High 160-pounder Tony Spinella said. "We're really excited. We're trying to meet our goal of going to team sections."
The Bulldogs beat the Wildcats for the first time in over four years.
"I'm really surprised," Tony said. "I thought it was going to be closer. Once we got rolling, no one could stop us. A lot of our wrestlers came through."
Spinella, Wesley Schwieger (103), Curtis Hulstine (125), Keegan Overbey (135), Nick Moran (140), Shawn Amirfar (152), Christian Moore (171), Erik Eisenbeis (189) and Kevin Hartley (285) notched wins against Sonora.
Spinella, Schwieger, Hulstine, Overbey, Amirfar, Eisenbeis and Hartley pinned Irl Barajas (5:21), Cal Johnson (1:21), Austin Ramirez (3:12), Austin Davis (1:28), Brandon Mierop (1:18), Shane Kirby (3:07) and Shane McHoul (5:34), respectively.
Moore won by major decision (13-2) over Rocco Pallante.
Moran won by forfeit.
Ceres High's Brandon Christeson, Christian Rodriguez, Ruben Sanchez and Gabe Balderas suffered losses.
Christeson lost by decision (8-6) to Dylan Ledbetter at 119 pounds.
Rodriguez lost by major decision (9-1) to Adam Hammerbeck at 145 pounds.
Sanchez lost by pin (3:35) to Ian Fremd at 215 pounds.
Balderas lost by pin (3:12) to Jared Mantzouranis at 112 pounds.
The Bulldogs won nine individual matches during their one-sided affair with the Buffaloes.
Hulstine, Overbey, Spinella and Schwieger pinned Aaron Smith (1:30), Matt Brumbaugh (1:35), Sean Cerventy (2:57) and Charlie Altrea (3:21), respectively.
Christeson edged Derek Benson, 6-4, in overtime.
Rodriguez, Amirfar, Moore and Eisenbeis all won by forfeit.
Nick Moran lost 3-2 to Gabe Rellamos.
Sanchez lost by pin (1:43) to Andrew Ornelas.
Hartley lost by pin (1:33) to John Callahan.
Ceres High (3-1) will travel to Lathrop today to face the host Spartans and Weston Ranch Cougars in a VOL double-dual meet.
The Bulldogs have plenty of motivation, especially the upperclassmen.
"For all us seniors, this is our last year wrestling," Spinella said. "We're going to make the most of it."
A decent-sized home crowd watched as the Bulldogs handled Sonora, 53-24, and Manteca, 51-27, on Senior Night at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium
"We got something special going this year," Ceres High 160-pounder Tony Spinella said. "We're really excited. We're trying to meet our goal of going to team sections."
The Bulldogs beat the Wildcats for the first time in over four years.
"I'm really surprised," Tony said. "I thought it was going to be closer. Once we got rolling, no one could stop us. A lot of our wrestlers came through."
Spinella, Wesley Schwieger (103), Curtis Hulstine (125), Keegan Overbey (135), Nick Moran (140), Shawn Amirfar (152), Christian Moore (171), Erik Eisenbeis (189) and Kevin Hartley (285) notched wins against Sonora.
Spinella, Schwieger, Hulstine, Overbey, Amirfar, Eisenbeis and Hartley pinned Irl Barajas (5:21), Cal Johnson (1:21), Austin Ramirez (3:12), Austin Davis (1:28), Brandon Mierop (1:18), Shane Kirby (3:07) and Shane McHoul (5:34), respectively.
Moore won by major decision (13-2) over Rocco Pallante.
Moran won by forfeit.
Ceres High's Brandon Christeson, Christian Rodriguez, Ruben Sanchez and Gabe Balderas suffered losses.
Christeson lost by decision (8-6) to Dylan Ledbetter at 119 pounds.
Rodriguez lost by major decision (9-1) to Adam Hammerbeck at 145 pounds.
Sanchez lost by pin (3:35) to Ian Fremd at 215 pounds.
Balderas lost by pin (3:12) to Jared Mantzouranis at 112 pounds.
The Bulldogs won nine individual matches during their one-sided affair with the Buffaloes.
Hulstine, Overbey, Spinella and Schwieger pinned Aaron Smith (1:30), Matt Brumbaugh (1:35), Sean Cerventy (2:57) and Charlie Altrea (3:21), respectively.
Christeson edged Derek Benson, 6-4, in overtime.
Rodriguez, Amirfar, Moore and Eisenbeis all won by forfeit.
Nick Moran lost 3-2 to Gabe Rellamos.
Sanchez lost by pin (1:43) to Andrew Ornelas.
Hartley lost by pin (1:33) to John Callahan.
Ceres High (3-1) will travel to Lathrop today to face the host Spartans and Weston Ranch Cougars in a VOL double-dual meet.
The Bulldogs have plenty of motivation, especially the upperclassmen.
"For all us seniors, this is our last year wrestling," Spinella said. "We're going to make the most of it."
