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Hawks take second at CCC tourney
• CV girls team wins 11 medals
CCC girls wrestling
Central Valley’s varsity girls wrestling team claimed 11 individual medals on its way to finishing in second place at the Central California Conference Championships on Friday in Patterson.

Central Valley’s varsity girls wrestling team had a 100 percent success rate while competing at the Central California Conference Championships on Friday in Patterson.

All 11 of the Hawks’ grapplers brought home individual medals.

“I’m proud of how we did,” Central Valley 116-pound wrestler Aryanna Jimenez said.

The Hawks racked up 126 points on their way to a second-place finish in the team standings.

Atwater (230) took first.

El Capitan (103), Golden Valley (101), Merced (72), Buhach Colony (61) and Patterson (23) took third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

Atwater prevented Central Valley from winning its third straight conference title.

“The girls did an excellent job. They all wrestled hard and gave 110 percent.”
Coach Brandy Cordova

“The girls did an excellent job,” Hawks’ first-year coach Brandy Cordova said. “They all wrestled hard and gave 110 percent.”

Jimenez claimed her third consecutive league title, including second straight in the CCC.

She placed first with a 2-0 record.

She was seeded second.

Jimenez led by just one point, 4-3, prior to pinning El Capitan’s Jackie Hernandez with 43 seconds left in the third round of the finals.

She bested Atwater’s Natalia Helms in the semifinals (decision, 9-2).

Jimenez compiled a perfect 8-0 record versus CCC competition this season.

“It’s mind-blowing,” she said. “I never wrestled before high school. Swimming has been my main sport my whole life. I didn’t think I’d accomplish this much. It definitely wasn’t easy. I’ve worked really hard.”

Isabella Pelayo (128s, 1-1), Abigail Garcia (133s, 1-1), Nia Caraway (139s, 1-1), Carla Martinez (152s) and Samantha Espinoza (237s, 0-1) all placed second.

Pelayo bested Golden Valley’s Natalie Flores in the semifinals (pin).

She lost to Atwater’s Ulyette Curiel in the finals (decision, 5-2).

Garcia bested Buhach Colony’s Chelsea Torres (pin).

She lost to Atwater’s Natalie Vazquez (pin).

Caraway bested Patterson’s Miranda Cantu (decision, 5-3).

She lost to Buhach Colony’s Daniela Gonzalez (pin).

Martinez lost to Atwater’s Brianna Juarez (pin).

Espinoza lost to Atwater’s Yisela Viera (pin).

Crystal Melgoza (162s, 1-1) and Kim Hernandez (145s, 0-1) both placed third.

Melgoza bested Central Valley teammate Savannah Gomez (pin).

Mia Mendoza (123s, 0-2), Savannah Gomez (162s, 0-2) and Isabella Juarez (172s, 0-2) placed fourth.

The Hawks will host the South Regionals this Friday and Saturday.