Central Valley’s boys wrestling team had five individuals claim medals at the California Bulldog Classic on Saturday at Turlock High School, including Joey Zuniga, Angel Melgoza, Salvador Almazan, Makhai Smith and Samuel DeLeon.

The top six placers in each weight class took home hardware.

“It was our first chance to see varsity competition this season,” head coach Rob Beckhart said. “Most of the kids did well. I’m pretty happy.”

Seeded fourth, Zuniga finished in second place with a 3-1 record in the 132 -pound weight bracket.

He bested Kimball’s Dominic Hernandez (major decision, 15-5), Grace Davis’ Zavier Sanchez (technical fall, 20-2) and Turlock’s Jack Locke (decision, 8-3).

Zuniga lost to Gregori’s Christian Santiago (pin, 2:40).

“He did what he does,” Beckhart said. “He was locked in. He was focused. I like the progress I’ve seen from him since last year.”

Melgoza finished fourth with a 3-2 record in the 175-pound weight bracket.

He bested Beyer’s Rowen Carmack (pin, 3:21), Patterson’s Daniel Estrada (technical fall, 16-0) and Turlock’s Jaxson Perry (pin, 2:28). 

Melgoza lost to Gregori’s Keenan Tumbarello (pin, 1:00) and Merced’s Angel Valenzuela (decision, 1-0).

“He lost the third-place match by one point,” Beckhart said. “It’s a match he could have won. It could have gone either way.”

Almazan and Smith finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 285-pound weight bracket.

They were both unseeded.

“I feel they should have been in the finals,” Beckhart said. “They were both winning their semifinals matches and got pinned. That’s the disappointing part.”

Almazan posted a 3-2 record.

He bested Modesto High’s Dinero Medina (pin, 1:39), Beyer’s Josiah Vargas (pin, 0:59) and Mahkai Smith (pin, 0:29).

Smith posted a 2-3 record.

He bested Turlock’s Marcos Pernillo (pin, 2:40) and Summerville’s Wyatt Castongia (pin, 3:59).

Smith lost to Johansen’s Richard Savali Nuku (pin, 3:03), Downey’s Joshua Cantrell (pin, 0:39) and Salvador Almazan (pin, 0:29).

Samuel DeLeon finished sixth at 190 pounds.

He posted a 1-3 record.

He bested Turlock’s Levi Cook (decision, 7-3).

DeLeon lost to Delhi’s Diego Cardenas (pin, 5:19), Gregori’s Omar Morales (decision, 5-0) and Turlock’s Levi Cook (pin, 2:25).

Central Valley’s Julian Gonzalez, Emilio Castillo, Caleb Beckhart, Anthony Diaz, Kenneth Orrin, Hector Valencia, Jayden Mattox, Manjot Gill, Julian Lugo and Damian Jackson also competed at the California Bulldog Classic.

Gonzalez posted a 2-2 record at 190 pounds.

He bested Denair’s Adrian Encisco (pin, 1:49) and Kimball’s Gabriel Hernandez (decision, 6-3).

Gonzalez lost to Golden Valley’s Abel Lopez (decision, 6-4) and Turlock’s Levi Cook (pin, 1:28).

Castillo posted a 1-2 record at 126 pounds.

He bested Grace Davis’ Aidan Keener (decision, 6-5).

Castillo lost to Merced’s Jeremy Barron (pin, 3:51) and Turlock High’s Eliseo Martinez (injury default).

Beckhart posted a 1-2 record at 132 pounds.

He bested Summerville’s Kelton Cowley (pin, 3:33).

Beckhart lost to Livingston’s Rolando Fernandez (decision, 6-0) and Johansen’s Sebastian Oceguera (pin, 2:43).

Diaz posted a 1-2 record at 165 pounds.

He bested Turlock’s Cesar Barajas (decision, 8-6).

Diaz lost to Golden Valley’s Austin Mello (decision, 5-3) and Escalon’s Adam Chaffey (decision, 3-1).

Orrin posted a 1-2 record at 190 pounds.

He bested Johansen’s Gabriel Urias (pin, 2:31).

Orrin lost to Gregori’s Roman Cerna (pin, 2:47) and Omar Morales (decision, 3-0).

Valencia posted an 0-2 record at 113 pounds.

He lost to Turlock’s Uriah Castillo (pin, 1:32) and Patterson’s Diego Ortiz (major decision, 9-0).

Mattox posted an 0-2 record at 120 pounds.

He lost to Buhach Colony’s Julius Zaragoza (pin, 2:43) and Modesto High’s Bomy Ke (pin, 3:47).

Gill posted an 0-2 record at 132 pounds.

He lost to Grace Davis’ Zavier Sanchez (technical fall, 19-2) and Kimball’s Dominic Hernandez (major decision, 10-2).

Lugo posted an 0-2 record at 144 pounds. He lost to Buhach Colony’s Daniel Garcia (pin, 1:43) and Grace Davis’ Jeremiah Sanchez (decision, 7-5).

Jackson posted an 0-2 record at 175 pounds. He lost to Gregori’s Keenan Tumbarello (technical fall, 16-1) and Beyer’s Rowen Carmack (pin, 1:48).

The Hawks totaled 53 points en route to placing 13th overall at the 21-team event.

Dawgs, Hawks shine

Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s wrestling programs experienced a great deal of success at the Bristow Brawl Junior-Varsity Tournament on Saturday at Atwater High School.

The Bulldogs and Hawks won a combined 14 individual medals.

The top three finishers in each weight class were honored.

“Overall, I think our kids did a great job,” Ceres High head coach Adam Borges said. “We dominated.”

Bulldog teammates McCoy Adams, Chase Borges, Aiden Cisneros, Parker Borges, Calen Adams, Jackson Kidd, Dakota Pickett and Hunter Hammons all medaled.

McCoy Adams took first with a 3-0 record in the 107-113 pound weight class.

Freshman Chase Borges took first with a 3-0 record in the 112-117 pound weight class.

Cisneros took first with a 3-0 record in the 120-124 pound weight class.

Parker Borges took first with a 3-0 record in the 135-136 pound weight class.

Calen Adams took second with a 2-1 record in the 109-119 pound weight class.

Kidd took second with a 2-1 record in the 124-18-pound weight class.

Pickett took second with a 2-1 record in the 141-142 pound weight class.

Hunter Hammons took second with a 2-1 record in the 231-236 pound weight class.

Central Valley’s Phillip Esparza, Carlos Zepeda, Davis Alvarado,Santino Breshears, DAngelo Solis, Arshveer Paninu, Sean Vernon and Sukhinder Sohal all claimed medals.

Esparza took first with a 3-0 record in the 160-165 pound weight class.

Zepeda took first with a 3-0 record in the 165-173 pound weight class.

Alvarado took first with a 3-0 record in the 206-211 pound weight class.

Breshears took second with a 2-1 record in the 139-143 pound weight class.

Solis took third with a 3-1 record in the 139-141 pound weight class.

Paninu took third with a 2-1 record in the 154-161 pound weight class.

Paninu lost to Serra’s Tristen Klemish (pin, 1:20).

Vernon took third with a 2-1 record in the 156-164 pound weight class.

Sohal took third with a 2-2 record in the 182-192 pound weight class.