CERES — As a result of their quarterfinal victories Friday, Sierra is sending Prabhnoor Dhillon, Stefany Perez, and Alyanna Loaiza to today’s semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Girls Southern Regionals at Central Valley High School. Being guaranteed a top-eight finish they have earned a trip to the two-day SJS Masters Championships next Friday at The Stockton Arena.
Dhillon (103 pounds) battled Golden Valley’s Neveah Rodriguez through nearly three full periods in the quarterfinals before pinning Rodriguez with 11 seconds left in the match.
“This feels really good,” Dhillon said “I have been working really hard and have been dedicating myself, making sacrifices and cutting weight.
“I weigh 103 pounds but I feel as strong as I ever have.”
Perez (108) got rid of Crystal Hernandez of Los Banos in short order in the quarterfinals with a 54-second pin. Perez started the day with a 30-second pin of Golden Valley’s Ana Perez-Herman
“It’s not the pre-season anymore,” Perez said. “So my coaches gave me the go to get the pin quickly.
“I have been working to get mat time, but today I look to place good so I just wanted to get it over with.”
Loaiza (123) was trailing Gregori’s Isabella Salgado 2-1 in second period quarterfinals before turning things around for a pin midway through the second round. Loaiza’s first match was a 42-second pin over Gabriela Stallings of Lincoln of Stockton.
“It was good,” Loaiza said. “She was pretty strong but I had to kind of work through it.
“I just listened to my coaches and it worked.”
All other wrestlers still in competition this morning must win their first match to continue wrestling and gain a top-eight finish. Trying to join the Timberwolves trio are teammates
Alina Dizon (113), Ashley De Belen (118), Ma Rodrigues (133), Alexia Garcia (152), Kemelly Mejia (162) and Valeria Galvan (191).
Ripon’s Trinity Diaz (108), Layla Guintoli (139), Potter Shaylin (145) and Jeevika Chaudhary (152) advanced to today as did Manteca’s Eva Pasion (126) and Mackenzie Sandoval (235). East Union’s Helen Guardado (189) and Lathrop’s Kiana Quintero (126) round out the local second-day qualifiers.
Competition begins this morning at 11 with the consolation quarterfinals with the winners moving on to Masters.
Division V boys
Ripon’s Landon Rhodd (145), Joaquin Rodriguez (220) and Liam Ferris (285) advanced to the semifinals on the first day of competition Friday at Hughson High School and need one more win to advance to the two-day Masters tournament next Friday at the Stockton Arena.
Ferris dominated in his two matches, ending both with first-round pins. Rodriguez had to wrestle three times and posted a pair of first-round pins and a second-round pin while Rhodd tallied two pins and a decision.
David Banales (113) and Bradley Eskridge (132) remain alive for the Indians in the consolation bracket and must win two matches this morning to finish in the top four and advance to Masters.
