Ceres High’s wrestling program split with Grace Davis during the opening week of the Western Athletic Conference season.
Ceres High’s girls team relied on its depth and talent en route to posting a 51-18 victory over the shorthanded Spartans on Jan. 4 in Modesto.
“It was exciting to get a win to start off the dual season,” head coach Curtis Hulstine said. “Davis is always tough. They’ve had great coaching for years.”
Ceres High and Grace Davis competed with roster sizes of 10 and six, respectively.
The Bulldogs won three of the dual’s four contested matches.
“I thought they had more girls,” Hulstine said. “They only had six. We brought 10. We only had to win one match to win the dual. We won three.”
Jaden Stahl pinned Kaliah Vonn in the second round during their 121-pound bout.
Makynzie Hale pinned Julia Castro in the second round at 170 pounds.
Jayda Bryant defeated Selena Serma by decision (5-0) at 160 pounds.
“They went above and beyond of what I was expecting,” Hulstine said while assessing the performances of Stahl, Hale and Bryant. “They wrestled really tough. They’re applying what we’ve been teaching in the wrestling room.”
“Jaden’s a first-year wrestler. She’s been working hard, which is really awesome. Makynzie did exactly what she was supposed to do. Jayda’s very athletic. She sticks to what she’s good at. She’s really tough on her feet. She’s very strong. She used her strengths to her advantage.”
Isabella Nunguray, Eva Onsurez, Dayanna Alvarez, Jazymyne Arendt, Elizabeth Boyd and Alanize Moreno also contributed to Ceres High’s team point total by prevailing by forfeit at 101, 126, 143, 150, 189 and 235 pounds, respectively.
Ceres High’s boys team dropped its WAC opener, 66-12, to Grace Davis.
The Spartans executed at a higher level on their way to topping the Bulldogs.
“It could have been a completely different match,” said Coach Casey Paulino. “We just put ourselves in bad positions due to inexperience.”
Freshman Jose Nunez, and sophomores Abraham Rodriguez and Calen Adams accounted for the Bulldogs’ three individual victories.
Nunez and Rodriguez both earned their first varsity wins.
Nunez pinned Martin Pimentel in the first round during their 220-pound match.
Rodriguez defeated John Castro by decision (14-8) at 160 pounds.
Adams defeated Aidyn Keener by decision (4-2) at 113 pounds.
Ceres High will compete against Johansen and host Beyer today in Modesto.
