Central California Conference wrestlers settle for backseat in Division I-AA

Sierra Foothill League teams dominated the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I-AA Championships on Saturday at Lincoln High School.

Eleven of the 14 division champions came from the SFL, including six from Del Oro.

“This is a really tough division,” Golden Valley coach Chopper Mello said. “You’re talking about some of the top teams in the section. That’s what you saw in the finals. They showed how good they are.”

Six area wrestlers reached the finals but all settled for second place.

“Second place wasn’t what I wanted,” said Atwater’s Johnny Juarez, who reached the 172-pound final. “But now I know what I have to do (this) week. It’s going to make me even more hungry.”

Juarez felt he was a step slow trying to mount an attack against Del Oro’s Justin Burrage in the final. Burrage opened a 4-0 lead in the first round with a takedown and two near-fall points after turning Juarez. Juarez trailed 8-2 in the second round before Burrage recorded a pin with 18 seconds left.

“I felt I could have scored more,” Juarez said. “He was really tough, and he moved quickly. I felt he outworked me in that first round.”

Buhach Colony sent three wrestlers to the finals, but the Thunder also struggled to score against the elite competition.

Del Oro’s Antonio Lorenzo pinned Buhach’s Leem Kue late in the first round of their 108-pound final. Buhach Colony senior Brandon Mendoza managed only escape points in his 8-3 loss to Greg Viloria at 115 pounds.

The Thunder’s Ben Moran (162) ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Folsom’s Jason Bergquist, who jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first round and pinned Moran midway through the second round.

“He was on top, and he was able to get me in the cradle,” Moran said. “I didn’t see it coming. He was really strong. He had great technique with his legs.”

Despite the lack of titles, the Thunder showed well, as it qualified 11 wrestlers for Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet on Friday and Saturday at Stockton Arena. The top eight in each division qualify.

Golden Valley pushed nine wrestlers through, including Jacob Pavey (222) and Cortland Morse (287), who both reached the finals. Pavey put up a fight in a 4-1 loss to Del Oro’s Hunter Halverson. Morse lost 10-2 to Del Oro’s Pablo Miller.

“Hunter Halverson is No. 1 in the section,” Mello said. “Miller is right up there, too. Del Oro has some tough guys. Sometimes, you wrestle tougher guys this week than you do next week.”

Pitman’s Adam Velasquez was the lone Central California Conference wrestler to win a title. Velasquez defeated Oak Ridge’s Michael Mello 5-3 at 122 pounds.

Division IV in Ceres – The Western Athletic Conference dominated the Division IV meet with four of the top five team finishers. Central Valley (220 1/2) held off Ceres (209) for the blue banner, and Los Banos (111) turned in the top local performance, finishing fourth.

Thirteen local wrestlers punched tickets Masters with the Tigers and Livingston each advancing four.

The Wolves had the only local champions with Rajanvir Chahal (108) and Jose Sanchez (122). Teammates John Maldonado (115, third) and Rene Garcia (197, fourth) will join them.

Los Banos will be represented by Christian McEntire (115, second), Isaiah Jimenez (134, third), Daniel Fernandez (197, third) and Evan Duran (287, third).

El Capitan advanced three (Devin Holman, 108, fourth; Alexander Caudillo, 128, third; and Evan Myrtue 134, fourth), and Pacheco will send Anthony Velazquez (122, third) and Erick Ramirez (154, third).

Division V in Escalon – Bob Robinson’s second-place finish at 126 paced a nice day for Mariposa, as the Grizzlies advanced four wrestlers to Masters.

Robinson will be joined by teammates Josh Land (120, third), Walt Palmer (138, fourth) and Keenan Seymour (152, fourth).

A young Hilmar team advanced three underclassmen in freshmen Justin Renfro (160, third) and Wyatt Carter (113, fourth) and sophomore Garen Azevedo (106, fourth).

Girls Masters in Stockton – Eight area girls punched tickets to the CIF State Championships by finishing in the top six at Saturday’s Sac-Joaquin and Northern Section Masters at McNair High.

Los Banos senior Jalynne Hooker led the way by winning the 235-pound division.

Atwater’s Courtney Juarez (170) and Pacheco’s Geralene Pomele (143) finished second.

Also qualifying were Los Banos’ Haley Ballez (106, fourth), Pacheco’s Ashlan Molina (189, fifth), El Capitan’s Adreyana Wickard (111, fifth), Buhach Colony’s Serena Rayon (160, third) and Livingston’s Cynthia Perez (160, fourth). Pacheco’s Miranda Lamela (121, sixth) will go as an alternate.

This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Central California Conference wrestlers settle for backseat in Division I-AA."