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Hawks finish third place South Regionals
• CV girls wrestling qualifies six individuals for Masters
Central Valley’s Alicia Espinoza, Jayden Corona, Giana Breshears, Brianna Espinoza, Gabriella Ramirez and Taylor McGuire claimed medals at South Regionals
Central Valley’s Alicia Espinoza, Jayden Corona, Giana Breshears, Brianna Espinoza, Gabriella Ramirez and Taylor McGuire claimed medals at South Regionals.

Central Valley High School’s girls wrestling program hosted the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regional Tournament this past week.

The Hawks didn’t disappoint as they continued their run of success by taking third with a team score of 140 at the Feb. 10-11 event.

Tokay (164) and Gregori (152) placed first and second, respectively.

Central Valley climbed to as high as second place during the first day.

The tournament featured grapplers from 46 different schools.

“This is the best placement we’ve had (at South Regionals) since I started coaching here,” Hawks’ leader Brandy Cordova said. “We’re super excited for the girls.”

Brianna Espinoza, Giana Breshears, Alicia Espinoza, Jayden Corona, Taylor McGuire and Gabriella Ramirez secured individual berths to Masters.

They finished in the top eight in their respective weight divisions at South Regionals.

The Hawks had three individuals advance to Masters last season.

“Our goal this year was to double that amount and we did that,” Cordova said. “We couldn’t be happier. The future of Central Valley girls wrestling is very bright.” 

Brianna Espinoza, a sophomore, claimed the 237-pound championship.

She compiled a 3-0 record.

Brianna Espinoza topped Franklin’s Vanessa Cabrera (pin, 1:13), Beyer’s Emily Garcia (pin, 4:40) and Pacheco’s Coreylei Vaifale (pin, 1:46).

“She’s been very consistent this whole year,” Cordova said. “She’s become more aggressive and put the technique she’s learned to use on the mat. You see her doing sitouts and switches, and taking shots. You don’t see girls in her weight class typically do that. They bear hug, pummel and throw.”

Gianna Breshears, a freshman, finished first with a 3-0 record at 145 pounds.

She topped Atwater’s Andrea Hernandez (pin, 3:00), Escalon’s Jessica Freitas (pin, 1:51) and Tokay’s Cynthia Isordia (pin, 5:07).

“For a freshman to take first at Regionals, that is amazing,” Cordova said. “She has progressively gotten better every match. She’s a hard worker.”

Alicia Espinoza, a freshman, finished fourth with a 2-2 record at 172 pounds.

She topped Tokay’s Irma Gonzalez (pin, 3:22) and Chavez’s Emily Gomez-Valle (pin, 0:20).

Alicia Espinoza lost to Los Banos’ Kiara Daniels (pin, 1:50) and West’s Perla Camacho Meza (pin, 2:57).

Corona, a sophomore, finished seventh with a 4-2 record at 113 pounds.

She topped Los Banos’ Maya Zamora (pin, 0:30), Gregori’s Fernanda Resendiz (pin, 1:36), Waterford’s Dalilah Adams (pin, 1:36) and Modesto High’s Shawnee Silva (pin, 2:36).

Corona lost to Edison’s Alondra Ocampo (pin, 3:51) and Atwater’s Zoey Brown (pin, 2:07).

McGuire, a freshman, finished eighth with a 2-3 record at 139 pounds.

She topped Los Banos’ Angeline Tovar (injury default) and Ripon’s Layla Giuntoli (pin, 1:29).

McGuire lost to Pitman’s Alana Ontiveros (pin, 0:39), Bret Harte’s Peyton Lawrence (pin, 2:15) and Pacheco’s Yasmin Jimenez (decision, 5-0).

Ramirez, a senior, finished eighth with a 2-3 record at 162 pounds.

She topped Los Banos’ Isabella Aguirre (pin, 2:56) and Ceres High’s Makynzie Hale (pin, 3:56).

Ramirez lost to Buhach Colony’s Najeh Russo (pin, 4:19), Downey’s Zoey Ridenour (pin, 3:39) and Atwater’s Diana Alvarez (pin, 3:27).

Hawk senior Soriah Corona finished 10th with a 3-2 record at 103 pounds.

She topped East Union’s Miranda Renter (pin, 0:28), Edison’s Jerelyn Aguilar (pin, 0:22) and Escalon’s Angelene Mills (pin, 1:36).

Corona lost to Modesto High’s Mackenzie Gilbert (pin, 1:51) and Golden Valley’s Neveah Rodriguez (pin, 4:16).

Sophomore Tarnjot Kaur finished 10th with a 2-2 record at 118 pounds.

She topped Tokay’s Goldie Smith (pin, 1:31) and Atwater’s Yulissa Vargas (decision, 5-3).

Kaur lost to Lincoln’s Briseis Serrano (pin, 0:56) and Livingston’s Esmeralda Nicolas (decision, 3-2).

Vanessa Mendoza-Balbuena, a freshman, finished 10th with a 2-2 record at 191 pounds.

She topped East Union’s Helen Guardado (pin, 2:29) and Livingston’s Jaritzin Torivio (pin, 1:52).

Mendoza-Balbuena lost to Franklin’s Alejandra Ochoa (pin, 0:39) and Sierra’s Valeria Galvan (pin, 3:50).

Keilany Torres, a sophomore, posted a 1-2 record at 108 pounds.

She topped Modesto High’s Austyn Lugo (pin, 1:01).

Torres lost to Central Catholic’s Aleena Ngyuen (pin, 0:21) and Ripon’s Trinity Diaz (pin, 2:19).

Micaela Martinez, a senior, posted a 1-3 record at 133 pounds.

She topped Gregori’s Aubriana McDonnell (pin, 1:44).

Martinez lost to Enochs’ Sophia Hejnal (pin, 3:02), Kimball’s Honour Durkee (pin, 2:30) and Merced’s Calista Ramos (injury default).

Yahaira Torres, a sophomore, posted an 0-2 record at 123 pounds.

She lost to Atwater’s Brooklyn Canela (pin, 1:20) and Mariposa’s Andrayanh Collins (pin, 0:56).

Lexie Rendon, a junior, posted an 0-2 record at 128 pounds.

She lost to Ceres High’s Eva Onsurez-Lopez (pin, 3:28) and Sonora’s Amanda Corcoran (pin 3:00).

Evalyn Zambrano, a freshman, posted an 0-2 record at 152 pounds.

She lost to Livingston’s Faith Vasquez (pin, 0:57) and Grace Davis’ Selena Serna (technical fall, 15-0).

Breshears, McGuire, Ramirez, Jayden Corona, Brianna Espinoza and Alicia Espinoza will compete at Masters later this week.

The state-qualifying tournament will be staged on Friday and Saturday at Stockton Arena.

Jayden Corona
Hawk Jayden Corona placed seventh with a 4-2 record in the 113-pound weight class at the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regional Tournament this past week in Ceres. - photo by Dale Butler