With assistance from Pitman's athletic director, Central Valley High School will be hosting the Valley Oak League Championships for the first-time ever this Saturday.
"It's a big deal for us being such a young school," head coach Bobby Posadas said. "We have a nice facility. Hopefully, everything runs smooth."
The event will feature grapplers from eight different schools, including Central Valley, Ceres High, Oakdale, Sonora, Weston Ranch, East Union and Manteca.
The top four individuals in each weight class move on to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV tournament.
The host Hawks will be led by Victor Tubera, Jaime Lomeli and Vince Lopez.
Tubera advanced to the finals as a junior.
"I definitely think he should contend for the league championship again," Posadas said.
Victor's toughest opponent in the 145-pound weight bracket will be Oakdale's Trent Noon. Noon edged out Tubera at the James Riddle Classic and Hawk-Mustang dual meet.
"They had really close matches," Posadas said. "They're both long and have the same body type. They have similar styles. They're not going to outmuscle you. They're more technical."
Lomeli is a second-year varsity wrestler. The sophomore competes at 130 pounds.
Lopez (140) just took up the sport this year. The junior starred at running back on Central Valley's football team last fall.
"They (Jaime and Vince) should do well too," Posadas said.
The crosstown rival Bulldogs will be led by co-captains Curtis Hulstine and Keegan Overbey.
"I believe in them so much," assistant coach Steve Festa said. "They'll be prepared."
Hulstine, the section's No. 8 112-pound grappler, enters the VOL tournament with an impressive 34-6 record. The junior won all seven of his conference dual meet matches and placed first at four tournaments in just his second year of wrestling.
"He's dominated 98 percent of the wrestlers out there," Festa said. "He's a fast learner. He has a great attitude. If he wrestles to his strengths, everything else will fall into place."
Overbey, a third-year member, has a 26-10 record. The 130-pound junior finished first at Bear Creek and Lincoln, second at Stagg and Sheldon, and fourth at Ceres High. He went 6-1 during VOL dual meet competition.
"I see him competing in the finals as well," Festa said.
Other Bulldog wrestlers looking to extend their seasons include Wesley Schwieger (103), Brian Naylor (119), Shawn Amirfar (135) and Christian Rodriguez (140).
"We have high expectations for the whole team," Festa said.
"It's a big deal for us being such a young school," head coach Bobby Posadas said. "We have a nice facility. Hopefully, everything runs smooth."
The event will feature grapplers from eight different schools, including Central Valley, Ceres High, Oakdale, Sonora, Weston Ranch, East Union and Manteca.
The top four individuals in each weight class move on to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV tournament.
The host Hawks will be led by Victor Tubera, Jaime Lomeli and Vince Lopez.
Tubera advanced to the finals as a junior.
"I definitely think he should contend for the league championship again," Posadas said.
Victor's toughest opponent in the 145-pound weight bracket will be Oakdale's Trent Noon. Noon edged out Tubera at the James Riddle Classic and Hawk-Mustang dual meet.
"They had really close matches," Posadas said. "They're both long and have the same body type. They have similar styles. They're not going to outmuscle you. They're more technical."
Lomeli is a second-year varsity wrestler. The sophomore competes at 130 pounds.
Lopez (140) just took up the sport this year. The junior starred at running back on Central Valley's football team last fall.
"They (Jaime and Vince) should do well too," Posadas said.
The crosstown rival Bulldogs will be led by co-captains Curtis Hulstine and Keegan Overbey.
"I believe in them so much," assistant coach Steve Festa said. "They'll be prepared."
Hulstine, the section's No. 8 112-pound grappler, enters the VOL tournament with an impressive 34-6 record. The junior won all seven of his conference dual meet matches and placed first at four tournaments in just his second year of wrestling.
"He's dominated 98 percent of the wrestlers out there," Festa said. "He's a fast learner. He has a great attitude. If he wrestles to his strengths, everything else will fall into place."
Overbey, a third-year member, has a 26-10 record. The 130-pound junior finished first at Bear Creek and Lincoln, second at Stagg and Sheldon, and fourth at Ceres High. He went 6-1 during VOL dual meet competition.
"I see him competing in the finals as well," Festa said.
Other Bulldog wrestlers looking to extend their seasons include Wesley Schwieger (103), Brian Naylor (119), Shawn Amirfar (135) and Christian Rodriguez (140).
"We have high expectations for the whole team," Festa said.
