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Roundup: Sanchez medals at Napa Valley Classic
• CV girls place 23rd at tourney
Juan Lezama
Juan Lezama accounted for one of the Central Valley varsity boys wrestling team’s three individual victories during its 59-15 loss to El Capitan on Jan. 14 in Ceres. - photo by Dale Butler

Central Valley’s varsity girls wrestling program had a success-filled outing while competing at the 22nd Annual Napa Valley Classic, Jan. 10-11, at Vintage High School.

Five of the Hawks’ 13 grapplers advanced to the second day of the tournament, including Angelina Sanchez, Sammy Espinoza, Aryanna Jimenez, Andrea Cortes and Julia Roton.

Central Valley totaled 59 points en route to finishing in 23rd place at the 136-team event.

Orlanda (129.5), James Logan (116) and Gilroy (109.5) took first, second and third, respectively.

“Our coaches work hard to get us to where we’re at,” Hawk 189-pound grappler Angelina Sanchez said. “They want us to be tough on the mat.”

A year removed from failing to win a match at the Napa Valley Classic, Sanchez placed seventh with a 6-2 record.

“Last year, I doubled out,” Sanchez said. “My goal was to make it to the second day. I definitely met my expectations.”

Sanchez collected wins against Del Oro’s Abby Veske (pin, 0:52), American Canyon’s Emma Lopez (pin, 2:19), Yuba City’s Frances Valadez (pin, 1:47), Reed’s Alexa Woyciehowshey (pin, 1:33), Ukiah’s Kaylee Seng (pin, 0:45) and Willits’ Taylor Pardue (pin, 2:58).

“I was more aggressive,” Sanchez said. “I listened to my coaches.”

Espinoza placed eighth at 235 pounds.

She compiled a 4-3 record.

Espinoza collected wins against Del Oro’s Maya Verdugo (pin, 2:17), El Camino’s Micaela Mullans (decision, 6-5), Whitney’s Emma McKnight (pin, 1:13) and Menlo Atherton’s Ashlye Gutierrez (pin, 1:40).

Jimenez posted a 4-2 record at 121 pounds.

She collected wins against Dougherty Valley’s Witney Lam (pin, 2:06), Angelo Rodriguez’s Eliza Goodwin (decision, 2-1), Eureka’s Dulce Pimentel-Hulburt (pin, 2:25) and Franklin of Elk Grove’s Madeline Giusti (pin, 3:53).

“It’s one of the hardest tournaments California,” Jimenez said. “I accomplished my goal by making it to the second day. Previous years, I doubled out.”

Cortes posted a 3-2 record at 189 pounds.

She collected wins against Durham’s Katelyn Button (pin, 0:22), Liberty’s Kylie Perry-Watts (pin, 4:00) and Porterville’s Chantal Williams (pin, 1:37).

Roton posted a 2-2 record at 170 pounds.

She collected wins against Antelope’s Elizabeth Weinhauer (pin, 0:50) and Reed’s Ashlynn Trimble (pin, 1:26).

Carla Martinez (150 pounds, 1-2 record), Isabella Pelayo (131s, 1-2), Nia Caraway (143s, 1-2), Crystal Melgoza (170s, 1-2), Mia Mendoza (126s, 1-2), Areyus Lundeen (116s, 0-2), Savannah Gomez (160s, 0-2) and Isabella Juarez (160s, 0-2) all represented the Hawks at the Napa Valley Classic.

Martinez bested College Park’s Brenna Kubiak (pin, 1:20).

Pelayo bested College Park’s Sachi Jauhari (pin, 1:44).

Caraway bested Menlo Atherton’s Lauren Wargo (pin, 4:31).

Melgoza bested Northgate’s Rachel Kassler (injury default).

Mendoza bested Hillcrest’s Annabelle Galvan (forfeit).

CV boys winless

Central Valley’s varsity boys wrestling team dropped to 0-3 in the Central California Conference dual-meet standings this past week after losing to Buhach Colony and El Capitan.

“We have to focus on improving ourselves,” Hawks’ grappler Juan Lezama said.

Central Valley suffered a narrow 37-36 loss while clashing with Buhach Colony on Jan. 16 in Atwater.

Natanael Lezama, Ruben Valenzuela, Nicholas Genasci, Kyle Hendrix, Thomas Carrillo and Juan Lezama notched individual victories versus the Thunder.

Natanael Lezama won by first-round pin against Joel Lara at 285 pounds.

Valenzuela won by first-round pin against Um-Allah Perry at 184 pounds.

Genasci won by first-round pin against Andrew Sequeira at 108 pounds.

Hendrix won by second-round pin against Devin Castaneda at 154 pounds.

Carrillo won by forfeit at 222 pounds.

Juan Lezama won by forfeit at 197 pounds.

Carillo, Juan Lezama and Julian Padilla accounted for Central Valley’s three individual victories during its 59-15 loss to El Capitan on Jan. 14 in Ceres.

“I thought we’d be more competitive,” said Juan Lezama, who was victorious at 184 pounds. 

Lezama won by second-round pin against Jose Martinez.

Padilla won by first-round pin against Rigoberto Sanchez at 285 pounds.

Carrillo bested Jose Bernabe by decision (2-1) at 197 pounds.

“A lot of us were losing,” Lezama said. “That gave me motivation to work harder to beat him.”

LB edges CHS

Ceres High’s varsity boys wrestling team suffered a three-point loss while competing against Los Banos on the road last week.

The Tigers racked up 24 points on four forfeits en route to posting a 42-39 victory over the visiting Bulldogs on Jan. 14.

“I’m proud of the way our team performed,” Ceres High heavyweight Elias Saldana said. “We won more matches but it came down to forfeits. We didn’t have a full lineup. There’s nothing you can do about that. It happens.”

The Bulldogs dropped to 2-3 in the Western Athletic Conference dual-meet standings.

Ceres High lost to Los Banos despite winning five of the dual’s eight contested individual matches.

Diego Armas prevailed by first-round pin against Ignacio Morales at 145 pounds.

Angel Figueroa prevailed by first-round pin against Ricardo Martinez at 182 pounds.

Edison Jimenez prevailed by second-round pin against Deven Silveira at 152 pounds.

Fernando Gonzalez prevailed by second-round pin against Alexis Rodriguez at 160 pounds.

Arturo Estrada prevailed by decision (8-5) against Anthony Trejo at 120 pounds.

The Bulldogs earned 12 points via two forfeits.

Saldana was awarded a forfeit victory at 285 pounds.

Josh Ofisa was awarded a forfeit victory at 220 pounds.

Ceres High lost by forfeit at 106, 113, 138 and 195 pounds.

Ceres High will compete against Mountain House today at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

Tigers top Bulldogs

Ceres High’s varsity girls wrestling team struggled mightily in losing 70-4 to host Los Banos on Jan. 14.

“It could have been closer,” Bulldogs’ first-year head coach Curtis Hulstine said. “We came out flat. We’ve been having that issue all year. We have to learn to be more consistent. That will come with more mat time.” 

Ceres High dropped to 2-3 in the Western Athletic Conference dual-meet standings.

“Hats off to Los Banos for building a solid program,” Hulstine said. “That’s what I’m trying to do here.”

The Bulldogs won just one of dual’s nine contested individual matches.

Mariana Ramirez accounted for Ceres High’s lone victory.

Ramirez bested Madison Arista by major decision (18-5) at 145 pounds.

Karen Vang lost by major decision (9-0) to Alana Watkin at 152 pounds.

Elizabeth Mercado lost by second-round pin to Crystal Hernandez at 101 pounds.

Andrea Contreras lost by second-round pin to Tresemay Briceno at 111 pounds.

Angelique Huerta lost by second-round pin to Sarah Fernandez at 116 pounds.

Jazzmin Suarez lost by second-round pin to Arodiht Fabian Nunez at 137 pounds.

Katie Garcia lost by first-round pin to Lillian Kanemoto at 126 pounds.

A.C. Lugo lost by first-round pin to Kiana Daniels at 132 pounds.

Rosely Ayala lost by first-round pin to Kiara Daniels at 170 pounds.

Ceres High also had to forfeit matches at 116, 160, 189 and 235 pounds.

Ceres High will host Mountain House today at 6 p.m.

“The girls have to step up and win their matches,” Hulstine said. “I have 100 percent faith in them.”