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Wrestlers compile 9-26 record at Western Invitational
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The Ceres High wrestling team didn't bring home any hardware from the 10th annual Western Invitational, a 43-team tournament, held at Modesto Junior College on Friday and Saturday.

The Bulldogs won just nine of 35 individual matches en route to a 37th-place finish. Buchanan, Golden Valley and Buhach Colony placed first, second and third, respectively.

"In the first round of the tournament, we win four matches with our freshmen and the upperclassmen lost," said Ceres coach Steve Vieira said. "I wasn't expecting that.

"I thought the older guys would do a little bit better."

Steven Chavez compiled a 2-2 record in the 152-pound weight class. The freshman defeated Livingston's Alonzo Enriquez 7-6 and lost by pin in 1:37 to Buhach's Robert Ayala in the championship bracket. In the consolation bracket, he pinned Coalinga's Daniel Todd in 2:11 and lost 8-2 to Johansen's Jonathan Haynes.

"He did fairly well," Vieira said. "He was one of the guys that stayed in it (the tournament) the longest."

Heavyweight Nate Niemeyer also compiled a 2-2 record. The sophomore lost by pin in 39 seconds to Ripon's Nate Aufdermaur. In the consolation bracket, Niemeyer pinned Hilmar's Robert Carter in 58 seconds, defeated Sheldon's Ricky Guzman 13-9 and lost 4-2 to Coalinga's Andrew Aguilar.

Ceres' Jason Hardenbergh, Mike Gonzales, Marc Dias, Anthony Martinez and Zach Van Wagoner all went 1-2.

Hardenbergh, a freshman, won his first match in the 103-pound class. He pinned Lincoln's Ryan Dawson in 1:58. Then he lost by pin to Dinuba's Rolando Martinez in 27 seconds and Buhach's Robert Lee in 57 seconds.

Gonzales, a freshman, posted a 7-2 victory over Bret Harte's Dan Kelly in the 125-pound class. He proceeded to lose 17-1 to East Union's Caleb Mack and by pin in 1:55 to Sheldon's Kyle Fujitsubo.

Dias, a sophomore, beat Coalinga's Justin Valenzuela 10-1 in the 135-pound class. He lost by pin in 1:59 to Buchanan's Jovanny Velarde and in 2:16 to Mariposa's Adam Scott.

Martinez, a freshman, pinned Ripon's David Goodwin in 5:44 in the 160-pound class. He lost by pin in 5:07 to Golden Valley's Paul Arias and in 1:58 to Sonoma Valley's Anthony Mulas.

Van Wagoner, a sophomore, lost by pin in 2:40 to Alisal's Willie Gonzales, won by pin in 1:53 over Linden's Michael Demartini and lost by pin in 35 seconds to Galt's Mario deLeon in the 145-pound class.

Ceres' Johnny Bridges, Mike Tubera, Tony Chavez, Jake Elwess, Guillermo Piceno and Russell Bridges all went 0-2.

Johnny Bridges, a senior, lost 10-0 to Calaveras' Will Fragoza and by pin in 4:04 to Johansen's C.J. Cota in the 112-pound class.

Tubera, a freshman, lost by pin in 3:15 to Bella Vista's Davis Rivas and 10-4 to Buchanan's Chris Done in the 119-pound class.

Chavez, a freshman, lost 15-6 to Modesto's Isaac Rosales and by pin in 2:50 to Golden Valley's San Saetern in the 130-pound class.

Elwess, a junior, lost by pin in 30 seconds to Jesse Bethel's Isaac Martinez and in 4:28 to Mariposa's Nick Eaton in the 171-pound class.

Piceno, a junior, lost by pin in 12 seconds to Davis' Joe Andrade and in 1:18 to Stagg's Quoc Troung in the 189-pound class.

Russell Bridges, a junior, lost by pin in 1:59 to Oakmont's Cameron Sylve and in 44 seconds to Coalinga's Orlando Lopez in the 215-pound class. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier