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Five Bulldogs place at Sac-Joaquin Section D-IV meet
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Ceres High varsity boys wrestlers Joshua Dominguez, Argel Arroyo and Elias Saldana brought home medals from the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Tournament.

Ceres High’s varsity boys wrestling program racked up 119 points while finishing sixth overall at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Tournament this past weekend at Casa Roble High School.

The Bulldogs had five grapplers place in the top eight in their respective weight classes.

Seniors Argel Arroyo and Elias Saldana, and sophomore Joshua Dominguez took home individual medals.

Arroyo and Saldana both secured berths to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament.

Argel and Elias are training partners.

“We’re making better decisions that have helped us with wrestling. We do extra work no one else wants to do."
Argel Arroyo

“We’re making better decisions that have helped us with wrestling,” Arroyo said. “We do extra work no one else wants to do. Most of the time, we’re on point with our nutrition. We both gave up soda. I’ve probably drank one can since last year.”

Arroyo captured the 220-pound title.

He posted a perfect 4-0 record.

“Last year, I was a JV wrestler,” Arroyo said. “I didn’t go to league or Divisionals. This year, I knew what my goals were and what I had to do to achieve them. I had to put in more work than required. My goal is to qualify for state. You’re not going to get there practicing just two hours a day.”

Arroyo edged Casa Roble’s Brad Rankin 14-10 in the finals.

He avenged a 5-0 loss suffered at the Tim Brown Memorial Invitational.

Arroyo trailed by one point with 20 seconds remaining during the rematch.

“I shot four times,” he said. “On the fifth time, I was able to throw him for a five-point play. That’s my bread and butter.”

Arroyo beat Beyer’s Adrian Schippers (pin) in the semifinals and Dixon’s Max Herrera (pin) in the finals.

His first victory came via forfeit.

Arroyo improved his overall record to 24-5.

He’s won titles at four different tournaments this season.

“My coaches had high expectations for me,” Arroyo said. “I wanted to prove them right and the people that didn’t believe in me wrong.”

Saldana placed third at 285 pounds.

He compiled a 4-1 record.

Saldana beat Casa Roble’s Simon Villalovos (decision, fall) twice, and Lathrop’s Justin Munoz (pin) and Laguna Creek’s Suirong Cao (pin) once.

He lost to eventual runner-up Jason Gallegos of WC (pin) in the semifinals.

Joshua Dominguez placed fifth at 152 pounds.

He compiled a 5-2 record.

Dominguez beat Los Banos’ Juan Rodriguez (pin), Mountain House’s Goutam Rattu (pin), Casa Roble’s Cele Haban (pin) and Bear Creek’s Robert Queirolo (forfeit).

He lost to Woodland’s Zachary Robles (pin) and McNair’s Adam Kennedy.

Joshua Ofisa (195s, 4-2) and Diego Armas (138s, 4-2) both placed seventh.

Ceres High’s Marcus Martinez (126s, -2), Allen Thy (170s, 2-2), Angel Figueora (160s, 1-2), Fernando Gonzalez (145s, 1-2), Edison Jimenez (132s, 1-2) and Sonald Lal (106s, 0-2) did not place.

The Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet will be staged Feb. 15-16 at Delta College in Stockton.

The top six placers in each weight class advance to the CIF State Championships.