A newcomer to the sport of girls wrestling, Ceres High senior Julia Pata extended her season with a top-eight showing at the Feb. 3-4 Sac-Joaquin Section South Regional Championships at Modesto's Enochs High School.

Seeded second in the 162-pound bracket, Pata received back-to-back byes prior to winning by second-round pin (3:04) over Buhach Colony's Laura Gonzalez in the quarterfinals.

Julia forfeited her next three matches due to a shoulder injury.

Pata finished in sixth place and qualified for the Masters meet.

"The competitor she is, she was real disappointed she didn't get to finish the tournament," coach Steve Festa said. "We weighed on the side of caution. We have to protect our athletes. That's what's most important."

Senior Talia Mauricio (172 pounds), senior Arieanna Cooper (118s), freshman Lauren Cooper (152s) and freshman Alyssa Clindaniel (191s) all compiled identical 0-2 records.

Talia lost by pin to Lincoln's Olivia Conner (2:48) and Stagg's Angel Vasquez (2:31).

Mauricio advanced to Masters her junior year.

She placed first at the Western Athletic Championships this season.

Mauricio was the team's stat keeper as a sophomore.

"She's had quite the journey," Festa said. "She put a lot of work in."

Arieanna lost by pin to Mariposa's Laura Reynoso (5:35) and technical fall to Chavez's Keren Reyes (17-0).

Lauren lost by pin to Gregori's Liliana Vergara (3:37) and decision to Central Valley's Anahi Arellano (3-2).

Alyssa lost by pin to McNair's Siabel Chirbel (1:28) and Mariposa's Brianna Heavner (4:46).

Central Valley's Nayeli Pelayo compiled a 4-1 record en route to a third-place finish in the 191-pound weight class.

Pelayo won twice by pin over Heavner (0:53, 1:17), and once by fall against Chavez's Alexis Hrenko (1:30) and Delta Charter's Vanessa Munoz (2:51).

She lost by pin (3:15) to eventual-champion Alexis Borruel of Tracy.

Hawk teammates Emily Mendoza (113s) and Brianna Quiroz (145s) posted identical records.

Mendoza won by pin over Buhach Colony's Dezere Guillor (2:42).

She lost by pin to El Capitan's Kaelynn Coronado (3:15) and Pacheco's Brianndi Snoe (5:01).

Quiroz won by forfeit.

She lost by pin to Chavez's Manishia Rasberry (3:48) and decision to Los Banos' Marcelia Valenzuela (3-2).

Central Valley's Anahi Arellano (152s) dropped two of three matches.

She won by decision over Ceres High's Lauren Cooper (3-2).

She lost by pin to Venture Academy's Breanna Allen (2:40) and Tracy's Maricela Feretiz (0:57).

Pata and Pelayo will both compete at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships, Feb. 17-18, at McNair High School.

"Julia's been cleared," Festa said. "She didn't break anything."