Jake Keidel missed the first five weeks of the season with an ankle injury. On Saturday, the sophomore helped lead the Ceres High wrestling team to a 13th-place finish in a field of 19 at the G.W. Wingo Memorial Tournament at Turlock's Pitman High School.
Keidel, Marc Dias and Nate Niemeyer all placed in the top six in their respective weight classes.
"These guys are going to have a pretty good future as long as they stick with it and keep working hard," said Ceres coach Steve Vieira.
Keidel won four of five matches for fifth place in the 140-pound class. He racked up four straight wins after losing by decision to Pitman's Jesse Gimeno-Brown in the opening round.
Keidel pinned Livingston's Jeff Bertalato and Buchach Colony's R.J. Regart, and defeated St. Mary's Zach Ybarra by major decision.
"He's starting to wrestle a little bit better now," Vieira said. "He's one of the better guys on the team."
Dias won three of five matches for sixth place at 135 pounds.
The sophomore won his first match. He defeated Modesto High's Adrian Rodriguez by decision.
Dias fell into the consolation bracket after losing by decision to Pitman's Jake Zehrung. He won two of his final three matches. He pinned Waterford's Chris Hadley and won by decision over Union Mine's Nick Palacio.
Livingston's Shaman Johal defeated Dias by decision in the fifth-place match.
"He's believing in himself now and it's helping him out," Vieira said.
Niemeyer won two of four matches for sixth place at 275 pounds. The sophomore lost twice to St. Mary's Rudy Anzo. Anzo pinned Niemeyer in the fifth-place match. He also defeated Niemeyer by decision in the first round.
Ceres' Zack Van Wagoner, Justin Larson, Steven Chavez, Jason Hardenbergh, Mike Tubera, Louis Bracamonte, Tony Chavez and Anthony Martinez didn't place.
Van Wagoner compiled a 2-2 record at 152 pounds. The sophomore lost by technical fall to Modesto High's Corbett Schnatmeyer in the consolation semifinals. Van Wagoner won two of his first three matches. He won by decision over Livingston's Alonzo Enriquez and by pin over Turlock's Nikko Nascimento.
Larson compiled a 2-2 record at 189 pounds. The sophomore lost by pin to Union Mine's Wes Crawley in the consolation semifinals. Larson won two of his first three matches. He pinned East Union's Richard Pulter and won by decision over Turlock's John Griffith.
Steven Chavez went 1-2 at 160 pounds. The freshman won his first match by decision over Pitman's Emanuel Pepe. He lost by pin to Nevada Union's Zach Callas and East Union's Greg Miculinich.
Hardenbergh (103s), Tubera (119s), Bracamonte (125s), Tony Chavez (130s) and Martinez (171s) all lost twice. Hardenbergh, Tubera, Bracamonte, Chavez and Martinez are freshmen.
Golden Valley won the team title with 234 points. Buhach Colony (197.5) and Waterford (129) placed second and third, respectively.
The Bulldogs earned 47 points.
"This was by far our best weekend performance as far as tournaments go," Vieira said. "Three guys placed.
"They're getting a lot more confident in their ability."
Santillan takes second
Sophomore Andrew Santillan took second with a 3-1 record at the JV tournament at Pitman High School. The sophomore competed at 152 pounds. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Keidel, Marc Dias and Nate Niemeyer all placed in the top six in their respective weight classes.
"These guys are going to have a pretty good future as long as they stick with it and keep working hard," said Ceres coach Steve Vieira.
Keidel won four of five matches for fifth place in the 140-pound class. He racked up four straight wins after losing by decision to Pitman's Jesse Gimeno-Brown in the opening round.
Keidel pinned Livingston's Jeff Bertalato and Buchach Colony's R.J. Regart, and defeated St. Mary's Zach Ybarra by major decision.
"He's starting to wrestle a little bit better now," Vieira said. "He's one of the better guys on the team."
Dias won three of five matches for sixth place at 135 pounds.
The sophomore won his first match. He defeated Modesto High's Adrian Rodriguez by decision.
Dias fell into the consolation bracket after losing by decision to Pitman's Jake Zehrung. He won two of his final three matches. He pinned Waterford's Chris Hadley and won by decision over Union Mine's Nick Palacio.
Livingston's Shaman Johal defeated Dias by decision in the fifth-place match.
"He's believing in himself now and it's helping him out," Vieira said.
Niemeyer won two of four matches for sixth place at 275 pounds. The sophomore lost twice to St. Mary's Rudy Anzo. Anzo pinned Niemeyer in the fifth-place match. He also defeated Niemeyer by decision in the first round.
Ceres' Zack Van Wagoner, Justin Larson, Steven Chavez, Jason Hardenbergh, Mike Tubera, Louis Bracamonte, Tony Chavez and Anthony Martinez didn't place.
Van Wagoner compiled a 2-2 record at 152 pounds. The sophomore lost by technical fall to Modesto High's Corbett Schnatmeyer in the consolation semifinals. Van Wagoner won two of his first three matches. He won by decision over Livingston's Alonzo Enriquez and by pin over Turlock's Nikko Nascimento.
Larson compiled a 2-2 record at 189 pounds. The sophomore lost by pin to Union Mine's Wes Crawley in the consolation semifinals. Larson won two of his first three matches. He pinned East Union's Richard Pulter and won by decision over Turlock's John Griffith.
Steven Chavez went 1-2 at 160 pounds. The freshman won his first match by decision over Pitman's Emanuel Pepe. He lost by pin to Nevada Union's Zach Callas and East Union's Greg Miculinich.
Hardenbergh (103s), Tubera (119s), Bracamonte (125s), Tony Chavez (130s) and Martinez (171s) all lost twice. Hardenbergh, Tubera, Bracamonte, Chavez and Martinez are freshmen.
Golden Valley won the team title with 234 points. Buhach Colony (197.5) and Waterford (129) placed second and third, respectively.
The Bulldogs earned 47 points.
"This was by far our best weekend performance as far as tournaments go," Vieira said. "Three guys placed.
"They're getting a lot more confident in their ability."
Santillan takes second
Sophomore Andrew Santillan took second with a 3-1 record at the JV tournament at Pitman High School. The sophomore competed at 152 pounds. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
