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CV girls wrestling team claims CCC title
• CV boys wrestling finishes fourth in conference dual standings
Jayden Corona
Jayden Corona, Marianna Carranza, Brianna Espinoza, Savannah Gomez and Mia Mendoza helped lead Central Valley’s girls wrestling team to the CCC dual title this year. - photo by DALE BUTLER/ Courier file photo

Central Valley High School’s wrestling program closed out the Central California Conference regular season this past week.

Central Valley’s girs team claimed the CCC dual-meet title on Wednesday with a 42-12 win over Patterson on Senior Night in Ceres.

The Hawks compiled a perfect 6-0 record. Central Valley beat the Tigers, El Capitan Gauchos, Golden Valley Cougars, Merced Bears, Buhach Colony Thunder and Atwater Falcons.

The Hawks won all 12 of their duals this season.

“This was definitely the expectation,” head coach Brandy Cordova said. “I see how hard the girls work every day to prepare themselves.”

“I’m proud of them,” coach Rob Beckhart added. “I don’t know if they realize the significance. Atwater has been the powerhouse when it comes to girls wresting.”

Central Valley’s Soriah Corona, Aliyah Badillo, Keilani Torres, Cinthia Martin, Mia Mendoza, Savannah Gomez and Brianna Espinoza all won their individual matches versus Patterson.

Corona topped Piper Mirelez (pin) during their 103-pound match.

Badillo topped Kateln Vargan (pin) at 128 pounds.

Torres (108s), Martin (118s), Mendoza (162s), Gomez (172s) and Espinoza (237s) all prevailed by forfeit.

Central Valley’s boys team cruised to a 60-18 victory over Patterson.

The Hawks posted a 10-7 overall record and placed fourth in the CCC dual-meet standings (3-3).

“I’m happy with the way the boys performed,” said Beckhart, head coach. “They worked hard. It’s been a difficult season. With COVID, we had guys out. Every week, we wrestled with a different lineup.”

Nick Genasci, Juan Melgoza, Isaac Ochoa, Roberto Rosales, Alex Vargas, Andrew Torres, Elijah DeLeon, Samuel DeLeon, Glen Valenzuela and Ruben Valenzuela contributed to Central Valley’s point total against Patterson.

Genasci defeated Omar Simental (pin) at 122 pounds.

Melgoza defeated Thomas Flores (pin) at 154 pounds.

Ochoa (115s), Rosales (128s), Vargas (134s), Torres (184s), Elijah DeLeon (162s), Samuel DeLeon (285s), Glen Valenzuela (172s) and Ruben Valenzuela (197s) all prevailed by forfeit.

Central Valley’s wrestling program recognized a total of 10 wrestlers during Senior Night, including Julia Roton, Savannah Gomez, Kylie Maines, Stephanie Aguilar, Cintia Martin, Ruben Valenzuela, Juan Melgoza, Enrique Gonzalez, Nick Genasci, Elijah DeLeon, Andrew Torres, Roberto Rosales, Alex Vargas, Glen Valenzuela and Cesar Pacheco.

“They’re all hard workers and love the sport,” Cordova said while talking about her five upperclassmen. “I wish we had them for more years.”

Central Valley will host the CCC Tournament this Saturday at 9 a.m.


CV girls 15th in Madera

Central Valley’s girls wrestling team finished in 15th place while competing at the Lady Chukchansi Invitational on Friday at Madera South High School.

“Even though I couldn’t be there physically, I was there in spirit,” said Cordova, who didn’t attend the tournament due to illness. “I was getting text messages from the girls when they’d win a match. I was following how they were doing on trackwrestling.”

Savannah Gomez, Mia Mendoza, Jayden Corona, Marianna Carranza and Brianna Espinoza brought home individual medals.

Gomez placed fourth in the 173-pound weight division.

She compiled an 0-2 record.

Gomez lost to Firebaugh’s Linda Martinez (pin) and Alisal’s Jazzaray Lopez (pin).

Mendoza (163s) placed fifth.

She compiled a 3-2 record.

Mendoza beat Mission Oaks’ Natasha Sehjal (pin), Selma’s Esmeralda Garibay (pin) and Reedley’s Lexamarie Sandoval (pin).

Corona (104s), Carranza (124s) and Espinoza (237s) all placed sixth.

Corona compiled a 2-3 record.

She beat Mission Oaks’ Katherina Vejar (pin) and Sanger’s Jenna Garcia (decision).

Carranza compiled a 1-3 record.

She beat Los Banos’ Alisha Lopez (pin).

Espinoza compiled a 1-3 record.

She beat Shafter’s Ashley Osorio Anguio (pin).

Hawk teammates Soriah Corona (104s, 2-2), Cintia Martin (114s, 1-2), Kylie Maines (114s, 1-2), Maya Singh (114s, 0-2) and Keilany Torres (104s, 0-2) did not place.