Page 9 - Dinuba Sentinel 1-10-19 E-edition

Sports
“It’s crazy to wrestle in front of 5,000 people.”
Jacob Wright on wrestling at the Save Mart Center
The Dinuba Sentinel
B1
Thursday, January 10, 2019 DHS Wrestling
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
Daniel Long won three matches by pin on his way to the 170-pound title over the weekend.
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
Dinuba High wrestler Noah Cortez was primed for a championship run at the Dinuba Invitational.
The Cal Poly commit rolled through the competition earning Most Outstanding Wreslter in the upper weight class late Saturday afternoon at the DHS gymnasium.
Cortez cruised to a 12-4 win over Angel Perez of Firebaugh in the 152- pound title match.
The junior reeled off pins over Roy Valdez of Highland-Bakersfield, Xavier Enciso of Robert F. Kennedy-Delano,
Adrian Garcia is pictured in his match against David Vasquez of Independence High.
Noah Cortez, left, dominated Firebaugh’s Angel Perez in the 152-pound championship match at the Dinuba Invitational on Saturday. Cortez, a Cal Poly commit, was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the upper weight class after recording four pins in five matches.
Usual cast shines for Emps
Cortez, Long nish outon top of their weight classes at the Dinuba Invitational
Alex Yanez of Lemoore and Nicholas improvements,” he said.
By George M. Villagrana
Guynn of Yosemite.
Daniel Long also brought home a
title at 170 after beating Nicolas Zavala of Mission Oak, 7-3. Long opened the tournament with a pin against Timothy Pena of El Diamante, Oscar Diaz of Edison and Adrian Rivera of South- Bakersfield. Long then dominated Anthony Lucas of Liberty-Bakersfield, 13-1, before his match against Zavala.
Coach Michael Wright said he was happy for Cortez and Long, but the team could have done better.
“We did have some individuals do well, but as a team, it just was not good enough,” Wright said. “Not sure if it was just being off for the holidays, but we have to get better if we are going to compete in the post season.”
Wright went on to add that the team will have to get back to work and improve.
“I think we can get back on track these next few weeks and make some
As a team, the Emperors were eighth overall with 127 points.
Javier Martinez also finished fifth at 220. Martinez posted a 4-1 win over Hunter Weimer of Monache in his final match of the tournament. Martinez recorded consecutive pins against Anthony Porto of Murrieta Valley and Lorenzo Mendoza of South-Bakersfield before losing to eventual champion Bear Nunely of Tulare, 7-2. Martinez rebounded with a pin against Nathan Enriquez of Independence-Bakersfield and faced Porto a second time in a 19-7 win.
At 113, Javier Castro placed 7th at 113 after a 4-0 win over Damion Sheriff of Madera South. Castro started the tourney with a 6-0 win over Lee Kuntz of Highland before falling to runner-up Martin Chavez of Orange Cove, 2-0. Castro then pinned Rodrigo Lopez of
See Emps, Page B6
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
OHS Girls Soccer
Former Dinuba High wrestling standout Jacob Wright, left, takes on Cole Drescher of Cal Baptist on Thursday night at the Save Mart Center. Wright went on to record a pin as the Bulldogs rolled to a 43-0 victory.
On the Wright path Jacob Wright picking up momentum at the right time for the ‘Dogs
By George M. Villagrana
and thrilled to have him on the squad. “Work ethic, character, and he was a good student,” Steiner said. “A lot of the areas I look for and I didn’t have to worry about them. He had a good prep career and he wants to succeed and has
the drive to do it.”
Wright said it’s been quite an
adjustment at the Division 1 level, but
he’s settling in as the season continues. “I’ve had to wrestle up in weight and going back down,” Wright said. “I’m just
trying to make the most of it.”
The redshirt freshman is currently 15-7 overall. That does not include matches he captured at the Midlands
See Wright, Page B6
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Fresno State wrestling coach Troy Steiner wanted Jacob Wright wrestling as a Bulldog after a stellar career at Dinuba High.
Steiner had nothing but praise for Wright, who was his first commitment,
Sentinel file photo
Sentinel photo contributed by Fresno State
Cardinals remain undefeated
moments later, added another.
The Emperors came out strong in the second half as Orosi’s offense was kept
in check.
“We didn’t have as many chances on
offense as they came out strong,” Vega said.
On Jan. 2 at Lindsay, OHS settled for a scoreless tie.
Vega said the team was not fully loaded.
“It’s always hard over the break because we have some players missing,” Vega said.
The Cardinals will resume West Sequoia League play at Caruthers tomorrow before hosting Minarets on Monday.
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
The Orosi High girls soccer team continues to roll along as the Cardinals improved to 7-0-3 after a 2-0 shutout win over visiting Dinuba on late Saturday afternoon.
The rainy conditions could not stop the Cardinals early as junior forward Amber Apodaca accounted for both goals in the first half.
“It was the first time we played in the rain this season,” said Orosi coach Sarah Vega. “It took the girls a little time to get used to the wet grass.”
Apodaca’s first goal came on a deflection of a Dinuba player and
Amber Apodaca accounted for both goals as Orosi handed Dinuba a 2-0 loss on Saturday.