Central Valley’s boys wrestling program turned in one of its best performances to date at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Championships.

The Hawks totaled 168 points on their way to a second-place finish at the 35-team event on Saturday at Pacheco High School.

The Ceres High Bulldogs (32 points) took 22nd.

The El Dorado Cougars (192) were first.

“I’m pretty excited for them,” Hawks’ head coach Rob Beckhart said. “It’s a pretty big accomplishment to pull that off.”

Central Valley’s Sal Almazan, Rotceh Mendez, Breighdon Swenson, Emilio Castillo, Alijah Jackson, Sunny Breshears and Urijah Krigbaum, and Ceres High’s Parker Borges secured individual berths to the Masters Tournament by finishing in the top five in their respective weight classes at Divisionals.

“The kids have been working hard all year,” Beckhart said. “I’m happy to see them have success. It’s not going to get easier. We need to keep working.”

Borges accomplished a first in his prep wrestling career by winning a Divisional title.

He compiled a 4-0 record in the 144-pound weight division.

“This is the first Divisional champ we’ve had since 2019,” Bulldogs’ head coach Adam Borges said. “It’s a huge accomplishment for him and the school. The higher you place at Divisionals, the better seed you get for Masters.”

Almazan claimed the 285-pound title.

He won all four of his matches while capturing his first Divisional championship.

“Central Valley has never had a wrestler place first in a 16-man, Division-IV bracket,” Beckhart said. “That was the expectation. Sal stayed focused and did what he needed to do. He had some tough matches. Nothing was easy.”

Mendez, Swenson and Castillo placed second at 132, 126 and 120 pounds, respectively.

Mendez compiled a 3-1 record.

Swenson compiled a 3-1 record.

Castillo compiled a 3-1 record.

Jackson placed fourth at 106 pounds.

He compiled a 3-2 record.

Breshears and Krigbaum placed fifth at 157 and 138 pounds, respectively.

Breshears compiled a 3-2 record.

Krigbaum compiled a 4-2 record.

Central Valley’s Caleb Beckhart, Sean Vernon, Isaac Davalos, Enrique Zavala and Sergio Sanchez, and Ceres High’s Josiah Martinez, Elijah Villamarin, Isai Medina and Lionel Villanueva had their seasons end at Divisionals.

Beckhart fell one spot shy of qualifying for Masters as he finished sixth in the 150-pound weight bracket.

He compiled a 2-3 record.

Beckhart suffered a clavicle injury while wrestling for fifth place. He had to medical default from the tournament.

Beckhart earned 108 wins during his four-year varsity career.

“Caleb has nothing to be ashamed of,” coach Beckhart said. “He showed a lot of grit.”

Vernon compiled a 2-2 record at 165 pounds.

Davalos compiled a 2-2 record at 113 pounds.

Zavala compiled a 1-2 record at 190 pounds.

Sanchez compiled a 1-2 record at 144 pounds.

Martinez compiled a 1-2 record at 150 pounds.

Villamarin compiled a 1-2 record at 120 pounds.

Medina compiled an 0-2 record at 175 pounds.

Villanueva compiled an 0-2 record at 106 pounds.

“I was hoping our younger wrestlers would get some wins,” coach Borges stated. “They battled. They went out there and gave in their all. I’m proud of the kids.”