Central Valley High School enjoyed its best season to date in varsity girls wrestling this past winter.

The Hawks claimed their first-ever league championship.

Central Valley placed first during the Western Athletic Conference dual season and tournament. All 12 of the Hawks’ grapplers brought home individual medals from the WAC Championships.

Central Valley also finished fourth overall at the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regional Tournament.

“Wrestling is a lot like life,” coach Rob Beckhart said. “You’re not going to win every day. But you’re going to try.”

The Hawks will compete in a different league this year.

Central Valley was moved from the WAC to the Central California Conference as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s realignment plan.

The Hawks will battle El Capitan, Merced, Atwater, Buhach Colony, Golden Valley and Patterson.

“I expect to see some good competition from all the teams we wrestle,” Beckhart said. “Atwater has an established girls’ team that has been around for years. We have a great opportunity to win a league championship.”

Central Valley’s roster features 20 grapplers.

The Hawks’ top returners are Brianna Quiroz (Sr., 160 pounds), Ellena Markham (Sr., 143s), Carla Martinez (Jr., 131s), Aryanna Jimenez (Jr., 126s) and Vanesa Contreras (Sr., 106s).

Quiroz qualified for the CIF State Meet for the first time a season ago.

She placed fourth at Masters, second at Regionals and first at the WAC finals.

Markham placed sixth at Regionals and second at the league championships.

Martinez and Jimenez both won conference titles. Contreras took third.

Newcomers Abigail Garcia (So., 137s), Angelina Sanchez (So., 235s), Hannah Duncan (Jr., 235s) and Samantha Espinoza (So., 189s) will also be counted upon this year.

“They’re all going to contribute throughout the season,” Beckhart said. “We have a great foundation. We have a good mix of experience and new blood.”