Ceres High varsity girls senior grapplers Vanessa Sanchez and Kyara Rodriguez exceeded their coaches’ expectations this winter.

“Both of them did really well for being first-year wrestlers,” assistant John Alba said. “They were both invested in the sport. They tried to learn as much as they could in a short period of time.”

Sanchez and Rodriguez competed for the final time for the Bulldogs at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament last Friday at Lincoln High School in Stockton.

Sanchez and Rodriguez both compiled 0-2 records in their respective weight classes.

Sanchez dropped both of her matches at 235 pounds.

She lost to El Dorado’s Hallie Walker (pin), 0:34) and Armijo’s Madison Hodges (pin, 1:43).

Rodriguez (189s) lost to Durham’s Allyson Hyatt (pin, 2:20) and Natomas’ Stephanie Gandera (pin, 0:42).

“We’re not disappointed with the results,” Alba said. We’re super proud of them for getting to Masters. They both wrestled hard throughout the tournament. They just ran into girls that have been wrestling a lot longer than they have.”

Sanchez compiled a 16-15 overall record.

She took fifth at South Regionals.

Rodriguez went 8-8.

She placed first at the Western Athletic Conference Championships and seventh at South Regionals.

“They both worked very hard at practice,” Alba said. “They tried to wrestle their best every match. They earned their results. I wish they weren’t seniors so they could come back next year.”

Ceres High’s girls wrestling team was coached by Alba and fellow former Bulldog grappler Julia Pata this season.