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Sierra slams Manteca, Sonora in double dual
TWolves go to 4-1 in the VOL, now in second place
WREST - MAN-SHS PIC 2 for 1-23
Sierras Julien Semenza gets a takedown on Mantecas Justin Berg in the 195-pound bout of Wednesdays VOL matchup at Winter Gym. - photo by JOHN-JOEL GRIFFITHS/ The Bulletin

Sierra was nothing short of impressive during a 59-15 Valley Oak League victory against cross-town rival Manteca High Wednesday night.

The Timberwolves (4-1 VOL) recorded eight pins, including one from Lucas Widmer that made it 47-0 before Manteca (1-4) picked up its first win of the night in the 182-pound bout.

Travis Burciaga picked up a 9-6 victory over Sierra’s Hunter Wheeler, who trailed by five before picking up two final escape points as the time expired.

After Sierra’s 195-pounder Julien Semenza pinned Justin Berg as the second period expired, the T’Wolves led by 47.

Manteca didn’t throw in the towel, though.

Matt Wilkerson and Steven Martinez both went hard and recorded back-to-back pins to make it 53-15. Wilkerson’s pin was in 24 seconds and Martinez’s was in 57.

“I’m real proud of our heavyweights for giving us some pride points, that was big,” Manteca head coach Mark Varnum said. “Wilkerson is wrestling great lately, and (Burciaga) got a tough win. Martinez – he’s full of surprises. We’re moving in the right direction.”

Sierra’s 106-pound freshman Brandon Rullan ended the match with a 2:48 pin over Ashur Kanja, who trailed 14-2 before Rullan ended it.

“The kid is just dominant right now,” Sierra head coach Alex Nuanez said of Rullan. “He’s on fire.”

Billy Fishburn had a strong night for Sierra as well.

Fishburn (138s) recorded a 90-second pin over Manteca’s Jake Orner. Along with Fishburn, Widmer (174s) and Anthony Saldegado (122s) both pinned over Manteca as well.

Widmer’s was in the first round over Joel Maniago and Saldegado’s was in 51 seconds over Eli Contreras.

Sierra’s Alex Loaiza pinned Robert Foo in 39 seconds and Jonah Treitas pinned Manteca’s Jesse Avila.

Anthony Ochoa was up 4-0 on Eli Willis of Manteca before pinning him in 3:18.

Sierra’s Vince Marquez (113s) won 14-2 and Russell Marquez won 11-4 to make it 19-0. Jacob Castro of the T’Wolves won 10-0 by weigh of major decision over Alfredo Farias.

“We knew we were going to dominate the lightweights,” Nuanez added. “(Manteca) has a lot more heart than they did last year. The kids fought and we knew they were going to be aggressive.”

Sierra also faced Sonora and defeated the Wildcats 55-22 in its first match of this double-dual meet. Sonora did go 1-1 on the day after knocking off the Buffaloes 42-24 in its earlier contest.

Wilkerson and Farias both had pins for Manteca, and so did Cameron Flores. Orner and Contreras both picked up wins by decision against Sonora as well.

Manteca will face East Union and Kimball next Wednesday for its final VOL double-dual meet. Sierra will close it out at home against Lathrop and Weston Ranch.



Weston Ranch

The Cougars suffered a pair of VOL losses against Oakdale (44-26) and Kimball (52-24). Harold Burks (152s) was the only Weston Ranch wrestler to win both of matches of the double-dual meet.



Junior Varsity

Sierra picked up a close victory over Sonora (35-34) and then beat the Buffaloes (47-30). Sierra’s Khashari Nguyen (140s), Jarrett Penner (154s) and Victoria Burke (128s) all picked up victories.