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Timberwolves race past Manteca, Sonora in sweeps
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Udoka Uwake takes off as Sierra High 4x100 relay teammate Zeke Knapps closes in on the final leg for the handoff in Wednesday’s double dual meet against Manteca and Sonora. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO

Sierra’s defending Valley Oak League champion girls team was coming off a heartbreaking loss to Oakdale. The boys, meanwhile, simply couldn’t match the Mustangs’ depth and all-around talent.

And it didn’t take both teams long to bounce back.

In a three-team dual at Sierra’s Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium Wednesday, both Timberwolf contingents picked up two wins apiece against crosstown rival Manteca and Sonora.

Sierra’s boys edged Sonora 75-61 and blew out Manteca, 108-24. The ladies coasted past Manteca 99-17, and 100-35 against Sonora.

The Buffaloes split with Sonora, as they won 58-48 in the girls competition and fell 76-24 in boys.

“You always expect a little bit of a letdown after having a meet like we had last week in Oakdale, but today was good thing for us,” Sierra head coach Anthony Chapman said. “We were able to maintain our focus and get last week out of our system.”

Chapman rested a few of his varsity boys athletes to gear up for Saturday’s Amador Relays, and a few others were bumped down to the frosh-soph level. That led to a close call against Sonora.

“I didn’t think Sonora would be that close, but I found out today that they have a good, young team,” he said.

Sprinting specialist Zeke Knapps led the way, as he won the 100- and 200-meter dash and ran the third leg on the victorious 4x100 relay team against both Manteca and Sonora. Michael Garcia picked up wins in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Ryan Erion (400), Bryan Smith (high jump) and Jonathan Scherry (800) also won events. Richie Lopez won the shot put for Manteca.
Sierra swept four events against Sonora’s girls.

Courtney Whitlock, Shanedra Pitts and Taylor-Renee Wilson were the big point-getters for the Timberwolves, as they both contributed to the 400 and mile relay wins.

Whitlock claimed both hurdle events, Pitts took first in both sprints and Wilson won the 400 and long jump. Jena Anderson (triple jump), Nandia Attiya (pole vault) and standout thrower Cristina Westover (shot put, discus) contributed first-place points.

Manteca’s Briana Lucas finished first in the 400 against Sierra, while Brianna Navarro won the 800.

Oakdale 121, Weston Ranch 14 (B)
In Oakdale, what was expected to be a battle between two of the VOL’s top boys teams ended up being a thrashing for the host Mustangs.

Weston Ranch didn’t have a winner in any event, as Roberto Alvarez (1,600), Eddie Reed (discus) and Brandyn Griffin (200) accounted for most of the Cougars’ scoring with second-place finishes.

“It seemed like my team didn’t show up,” Weston Ranch coach Rick Cuevas said. “It was like the bus never left Weston Ranch High. I don’t know what happened.”
— Jonamar Jacinto