Ceres High’s girls wrestling program experienced success while competing at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday at Beyer.
The Bulldogs finished fourth overall in the team standings with a score of 93.
“We did what we were supposed to do,” Ceres High head coach Curtis Hulstine said. “We competed well. We did a fantastic job as a team. I couldn’t be more proud of the girls.”
The Bulldogs also claimed six individual medals.
“We had four girls in the finals,” Hulstine said. “That’s the most we’ve ever had.”
Makynzie Hale compiled a 2-0 record en route to a first-place finish in the 192-pound weight class. She was seeded second.
“I’m really proud of her,” Hulstine said. “She was very dominant.”
Hale collected wins against Los Banos’ Delaney Valdez (pin, 0:59) and Amira Davis (pin, 1:58).
Hale lost to Davis earlier this season.
“Confidence was everything for her,” Hulstine said.
Jaden Stahl placed second at 127 pounds.
She compiled a 1-1 record.
Stahl beat Los Banos’ Ashlynne Cancino (pin, 3:09).
“She wrestled fantastic,” commented Hulstine.
Elizabeth Boyd placed second at 157 pounds.
She compiled a 1-1 record.
Boyd beat Lathrop’s Jade Preciado (pin, 0:23).
“She was more calm and collected this weekend,” Hulstine said.
Jazlynn Marie Cadriel placed second at 172 pounds.
The Modesto High transfer compiled a 1-1 record.
She missed most of the season with a broken hand.
“She competed at 100 percent and showed what she’s capable of,” said Hulstine.
Marie Cadriel beat Lathrop’s Simerpreet Ghill (pin 5:36).
Jadasa Haro placed third at 107 pounds.
She compiled a 1-1 record.
Haro beat Los Banos’ Ariana Flores (pin, 2:34).
“It’s the best she’s ever wrestled,” Hulstine said.
Illiana Enriques placed third at 137 pounds.
She compiled an 0-1 record.
Carmen Arce-Hayes compiled a 1-2 record at 132 pounds. She beat Los Banos’ Avalina Arnold (pin, 2:35).
Hawks excel
Central Valley girls standout wrestler Brianna Espinoza won her third consecutive league title.
The 235-pound junior placed first at the Central California Conference Championships on Friday in Atwater.
“She doesn’t get complacent,” Cordova said. “She’s very humble about her skill. She’s proved she’s a good wrestler. Her place in CV history is going to be solidified regardless of what she does next year.”
Hawk teammates Giana Breshears, Alicia Espinoza, Jayden Corona, Arely Camarena, Adamariz Espinoza, Marianna Carranza, Kayla Fernandez, Angelina Hernandez, Itzel Romero, Jocelyn De La Torre and Evelyn Zambano also claimed individual medals from the CCC tournament.
The top four placers in each weight class were rewarded.
Brianna Espinoza compiled a 1-0 record.
She beat Buhach Colony’s Joana Lopez-Padilla in the finals (pin, 0:15).
“She’s worked hard to improve her skill,” noted Cordova. “She’s more aggressive.”
Alicia Espinoza finished first with a 3-0 record at 170 pounds.
She beat El Capitan’s Yajaira Higareda (pin, 0:44), El Capitan’s Anika Niles (pin, 1:29) and Golden Valley’s Leia Hernandez (pin, 3:52).
“We expected that from her based on her performance throughout the season."
Breshears finished first with a 2-0 record at 140 pounds.
She beat Golden Valley’s Paytin Gastelum (pin, 3:04) and El Capitan’s AnnMarie Wade (pin, 4:33).
Breshears had to settle for runner-up honors as a freshman. “I’m happy for her,” Cordova said. “She wanted to take first. That was her goal.”
Corona finished first with a 3-0 record at 110 pounds.
She beat El Capitan’s Dahlia Alvarez (pin, 0:19), Golden Valley’s Jesmeralda Lara (pin, 3:26) and Golden Valley’s Adrianna Rivera (major decision, 9-0).
“That was a surprise,” Cordova said. “It’s the best wrestling I’ve seen from her. She didn’t give up.”
Camarena placed second with an 0-1 record at 155 pounds.
Adamariz Espinoza placed third with a 2-1 record at 190 pounds.
She won by pin twice (3:03, 1:32) against Central Valley teammate Angelica Hernandez.
Carranza placed third with a 1-1 record at 135 pounds.
She beat Central Valley’s Jocelyn De La Torre (pin, 1:39).
Fernandez placed fourth with a 2-2 record at 100 pounds.
She beat El Capitan’s Ximena Araujo (pin, 4:02) and Golden Valley’s Rain Medina (pin, 2:19).
Hernandez placed fourth with a 1-2 record at 190 pounds.
She beat Buhach Colony’s Daret Flores (forfeit).
Romero placed fourth with an 0-2 record at 120 pounds.
De La Torre placed fourth with an 0-2 record at 135 pounds.
Zambrano placed fourth with an 0-2 record at 145 pounds.
Lexi Alberto, Lucero Maciel, Mariana Nayares, Lily Schmidt, Joslyn Vega and Divina Velasquez also represented Central Valley at the league finals.
Alberto placed fifth with a 1-2 record at 130 pounds.
She beat Nayares (pin, 1:00).
Maciel placed sixth with an 0-3 record at 125 pounds.
Nayares placed sixth with an 0-3 record at 130 pounds.
Schmidt placed sixth with an 0-3 record at 110 pounds.
Vega placed sixth with an 0-3 record at 115 pounds.
Velasquez compiled an 0-2 record at 105 pounds.
Central Valley placed second in the team standings at the CCC Championships. The Hawks totaled 180 points.
Central Valley and Ceres High will compete at the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regionals this Friday and Saturday in Ceres.
