Ceres and Central Valley high school's varsity wrestling programs competed in the inaugural Big Valley Classic last week at Stockton Arena.
The Bulldogs finished in 17th-place in the team standings with 105 points. The Hawks took 40th (41). Central Catholic won the team title (332.5) followed by Ponderosa (220.5) and Turlock (216).
"It was a grueling tournament," Central Valley coach Joe Stewart said.
Anthony Martinez had a respectable showing for the Hawks. The senior placed sixth with a 5-3 record in the 172-pound division. He accounted for 16 of Central Valley's 41 points.
"He's wrestling up to where I thought he would be," Stewart said.
Martinez staved off elimination by winning four straight matches by decision. He beat Cesar Chavez's Darren Gacayan (7-1), Central Valley's Carlos Gonzalez (7-6), Enterprise's Nick Barthel (3-1) and Folsom's Trevor Ford (6-4).
"Anthony really kept it basic," Stewart said. "He didn't try a lot of fancy moves. That helped him a lot."
Martinez opened the tourney with a 14-8 victory over Ford in the second round. He lost by pin in the second period (2:48) to Waterford's Marcus McIIwain in the third round. Anthony lost by technical fall (16-0) to Granite Bay's Matt Klinger in the consolation semifinals.
McIIwain defeated Martinez for a second time by pin (2:50) to secure fifth place.
Teammates Victor Tubera, Justin Lomeli and Adrian Santana also contributed to the Hawks' point total.
Tubera earned 11 points. The junior posted a 2-2 record at 141 pounds. He pinned Waterford's Andrew Zipser (2:49) and Cesar Chavez's Andrew Vasquez (3:20). Victor lost 8-5 to Del Campo's John Vybomy and 13-6 to Reed's Mitchell Payne.
Lomeli tallied eight points. The senior compiled a 2-2 record at 113 pounds. He opened the tourney with a loss by pin (1:58) to Buhach Colony's Matt Sahota. Justin reeled off two victories before being eliminated. He won by major decision (9-1) over Oakmont's Randy Purdy and pin (1:41) against Enterprise's Brian Johnson. Edison's Zeke Tostodo eliminated Lomeli with a 8-3 triumph in consolation round four.
Santana accumulated six points. The freshman finished 1-2 at 120 pounds. He posted a 7-5 victory over Golden Valley's Jeff Edwards. Adrian lost by pin to Roseville's Dylan Janokovich (1:30) and Turlock's Justin Esquivel (2:03).
Three of Ceres High's nine grapplers placed in Stockton, including seniors Tony Chavez, Stephen Chavez and Rigo Guerra.
Tony won by injury default over McNair's Joe Madison in the 153-pound division's fifth-place match. He posted 5-2 overall record. Chavez won by major decision (15-2) over Lincoln's Peter Mitchell, pin over Vallejo's Adam Cruz (1:14) and Rocklin's Victor Lightle (4:30), and decision (4-3) over Ponderosa's Brett Blubaugh. He lost via decision (15-9) to Golden Valley's JayJay Terry and pin (2:34) to De La Salle's Luke Sheridan. Tony earned 26 points for the Bulldogs.
Steven placed sixth with a 5-3 record at 190 pounds. He amassed 20 points. Chavez's victories came against St. Mary's Joseph Golden (0:10), Golden Valley's Daniel Lopez (4:21), Clovis' Daron Barbo (7-1), Lincoln's Jasmeet Basara (7-1) and Roseville's Cody Palmer (11-4). He fell 7-2 to Merrill West's Alvaro Tellez in the fifth-place match. He was also defeated by Waterford's Jeff Moran (14-3) and Central Catholic's Giovanni Sani (6-0).
Guerra finished in eighth place with a 4-3 record at 131 pounds. He totaled 14 points. Rigo racked up four straight wins after losing 5-3 in the second round to Ponderosa's Garrat Marenelli. He won via pin against Rodriguez's Jensen Defiesta (2:57), Heritage's Clayton Hambrick (5:05), Grace Davis' Gabe Gonzalez (2:32), and decision (5-2) over Oakmont's Hirvin Gonzales. Sheldon's Xavier Vasquez dealt Guerra his second loss (7-1). Rigo's second loss to Marenelli cost him seventh place. The second meeting wasn't as close as Garrat won by major decision (10-1).
Sophomores Tony Spinella, Keegan Overbey and Christian Moore, and seniors Dustin Espinoza and Jess Gilmore helped Ceres High's cause as well.
Spinella (10 points) finished 3-2 at 146 pounds. He beat De La Salle's Brian Maloney (2:10), Rodriguez's Ben Wheeler (7-1) and Stagg's Alfredo Bustos (1:53).
Overbey (nine points) went 2-2 at 126 pounds. He beat Stagg's Anthony Ramos (6-3) and St. Mary's Carlos Carrasquel (0:59).
Hulstine (seven points) 2-2 at 113 pounds. Curtis topped Oakmont's Randy Purdy (9-5) and Rodriguez's Anthony Ghannam (3-1).
Espinoza (seven points) won one of three matches at 136 pounds. Dustin earned a major decision (12-0) against Stagg's Morgan Crowl.
Moore (six points) won one of three matches at 161 pounds. His lone victory came via injury default against Oakmont's Chris Lomeli.
Gilmore (six points) won one of three matches at 216 pounds. He edged Central Valley's Avi Garcia 5-2 in the second round.
The Bulldogs finished in 17th-place in the team standings with 105 points. The Hawks took 40th (41). Central Catholic won the team title (332.5) followed by Ponderosa (220.5) and Turlock (216).
"It was a grueling tournament," Central Valley coach Joe Stewart said.
Anthony Martinez had a respectable showing for the Hawks. The senior placed sixth with a 5-3 record in the 172-pound division. He accounted for 16 of Central Valley's 41 points.
"He's wrestling up to where I thought he would be," Stewart said.
Martinez staved off elimination by winning four straight matches by decision. He beat Cesar Chavez's Darren Gacayan (7-1), Central Valley's Carlos Gonzalez (7-6), Enterprise's Nick Barthel (3-1) and Folsom's Trevor Ford (6-4).
"Anthony really kept it basic," Stewart said. "He didn't try a lot of fancy moves. That helped him a lot."
Martinez opened the tourney with a 14-8 victory over Ford in the second round. He lost by pin in the second period (2:48) to Waterford's Marcus McIIwain in the third round. Anthony lost by technical fall (16-0) to Granite Bay's Matt Klinger in the consolation semifinals.
McIIwain defeated Martinez for a second time by pin (2:50) to secure fifth place.
Teammates Victor Tubera, Justin Lomeli and Adrian Santana also contributed to the Hawks' point total.
Tubera earned 11 points. The junior posted a 2-2 record at 141 pounds. He pinned Waterford's Andrew Zipser (2:49) and Cesar Chavez's Andrew Vasquez (3:20). Victor lost 8-5 to Del Campo's John Vybomy and 13-6 to Reed's Mitchell Payne.
Lomeli tallied eight points. The senior compiled a 2-2 record at 113 pounds. He opened the tourney with a loss by pin (1:58) to Buhach Colony's Matt Sahota. Justin reeled off two victories before being eliminated. He won by major decision (9-1) over Oakmont's Randy Purdy and pin (1:41) against Enterprise's Brian Johnson. Edison's Zeke Tostodo eliminated Lomeli with a 8-3 triumph in consolation round four.
Santana accumulated six points. The freshman finished 1-2 at 120 pounds. He posted a 7-5 victory over Golden Valley's Jeff Edwards. Adrian lost by pin to Roseville's Dylan Janokovich (1:30) and Turlock's Justin Esquivel (2:03).
Three of Ceres High's nine grapplers placed in Stockton, including seniors Tony Chavez, Stephen Chavez and Rigo Guerra.
Tony won by injury default over McNair's Joe Madison in the 153-pound division's fifth-place match. He posted 5-2 overall record. Chavez won by major decision (15-2) over Lincoln's Peter Mitchell, pin over Vallejo's Adam Cruz (1:14) and Rocklin's Victor Lightle (4:30), and decision (4-3) over Ponderosa's Brett Blubaugh. He lost via decision (15-9) to Golden Valley's JayJay Terry and pin (2:34) to De La Salle's Luke Sheridan. Tony earned 26 points for the Bulldogs.
Steven placed sixth with a 5-3 record at 190 pounds. He amassed 20 points. Chavez's victories came against St. Mary's Joseph Golden (0:10), Golden Valley's Daniel Lopez (4:21), Clovis' Daron Barbo (7-1), Lincoln's Jasmeet Basara (7-1) and Roseville's Cody Palmer (11-4). He fell 7-2 to Merrill West's Alvaro Tellez in the fifth-place match. He was also defeated by Waterford's Jeff Moran (14-3) and Central Catholic's Giovanni Sani (6-0).
Guerra finished in eighth place with a 4-3 record at 131 pounds. He totaled 14 points. Rigo racked up four straight wins after losing 5-3 in the second round to Ponderosa's Garrat Marenelli. He won via pin against Rodriguez's Jensen Defiesta (2:57), Heritage's Clayton Hambrick (5:05), Grace Davis' Gabe Gonzalez (2:32), and decision (5-2) over Oakmont's Hirvin Gonzales. Sheldon's Xavier Vasquez dealt Guerra his second loss (7-1). Rigo's second loss to Marenelli cost him seventh place. The second meeting wasn't as close as Garrat won by major decision (10-1).
Sophomores Tony Spinella, Keegan Overbey and Christian Moore, and seniors Dustin Espinoza and Jess Gilmore helped Ceres High's cause as well.
Spinella (10 points) finished 3-2 at 146 pounds. He beat De La Salle's Brian Maloney (2:10), Rodriguez's Ben Wheeler (7-1) and Stagg's Alfredo Bustos (1:53).
Overbey (nine points) went 2-2 at 126 pounds. He beat Stagg's Anthony Ramos (6-3) and St. Mary's Carlos Carrasquel (0:59).
Hulstine (seven points) 2-2 at 113 pounds. Curtis topped Oakmont's Randy Purdy (9-5) and Rodriguez's Anthony Ghannam (3-1).
Espinoza (seven points) won one of three matches at 136 pounds. Dustin earned a major decision (12-0) against Stagg's Morgan Crowl.
Moore (six points) won one of three matches at 161 pounds. His lone victory came via injury default against Oakmont's Chris Lomeli.
Gilmore (six points) won one of three matches at 216 pounds. He edged Central Valley's Avi Garcia 5-2 in the second round.
