The top male and female grapplers from Lathrop fared well in the USA Wrestling State Folkstyle Championship in Fresno’s Selland Arena this past weekend.
Jasmine Ivey took first place in the 158-pound junior girls division, going 2-0. The Lathrop High senior recently made school history by placing third in the 3rd Annual California Interscholastic Federation Girls State Invitational at 146.
“Jasmine showed again why she is one of the best girls wrestlers in California,” said her coach Vince Garcia. “She went up in a weight class and took it to everyone she wrestled. She wrestled very hard and it showed today on the mat.”
Coach Garcia’s nephew, Alex Garcia, settled for fourth place in the 113 sophomore division but displayed a heavyweight heart. Like Ivey, he wrestled up a weight class and won three of four matches. He defaulted out of the third-place match with a back injury sustained in his second-round bout. In the consolation semifinals, Garcia battled back from a 9-4 deficit to outpoint his opponent, 12-10.
“He could have red carded and ended his tournament after his injury happened, but he wanted to finish with a win and at least a fourth-place finish — that’s heart,” Vince Garcia said. “Coach Benny Garcia and I were very happy with the way they both wrestled today. We are both very excited and looking forward to Reno Worlds in April.”
Manteca Little League
Brewers 22, Giants 3
The major-division Brewers prevailed in what started out as a back-and-forth affair on Opening Day Saturday at Lincoln Park. After seven lead changes, the Brewers exploded for 15 runs in the sixth inning and didn’t look back.
Roy Samaniego’s go-ahead, three-run triple sparked the Brewers in the fifth inning. In the sixth, Ryan Zimmermann smashed a bases-clearing triple of his own.
Ryan Ward had four hits and four RBIs. Ward was also the winning pitcher, striking out nine over 4 1/3 innings. Dylan Gross pitched 12/3 hitless innings. Iziah Prien-Laurent and Jacob Moon each contributed three knocks.
Basketball
Knights of Columbus
Seven area youths competed in the Knights of Columbus State Free Throw Championship in Vacaville after each claimed three local competitions in the region.
Participants were Savannah Alvarez, Nina Muprhy, Serena Pelicas, Hailey Jade Grunsy, Chase Costa, John Patrick Murphy and Scott Morenzone.
