D’backs lose tough one at team championships

Undermanned Golden Sierra happy with showing

STOCKTON — The Union Mine High wrestling team fell one win short of advancing from its first-round match with Ceres at Saturday's CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Team Dual Championships at Lincoln of Stockton High School.

The Diamondbacks, entered as the Sierra Valley Conference's No. 2 seed, fell by a pin — literally — to the Bulldogs, who pulled out the tight 40-39 victory.

"They wrestled well," Union Mine coach Tim Brown said of his team.

In the 108-pound class to close the dual, Ceres' Joey Bettencourt  pinned D'back Kevin Casio in the first period to decide the match. Bettencourt led 4-1 before he put Casio on his back for the three-second count.

After the referee slammed his hand on the mat for Bettencourt's victory, Ceres head coach Jon Nowicki, his assistants and grapplers screamed in joy like fans watching the Super Bowl a day early.

Brown pointed out his team gave up points to the Bulldogs by forfeits at 120s and 195s.

"We gave up 12 points at the start of the duals," Brown said. "Everyone had to wrestle that much better. I felt that we won the matches that we should have but the close ones got away from us."

Union Mine led 33-22 after Mitchell Woods won his 182-pound match by pin in the first period after 30 seconds. Ceres won 197s by forfeit to cut the D'backs' lead to 33-28. The last lead for Union Mine came in the 222s when Chris Vasquez won by pin in 41 seconds for a 39-28 lead. Ceres won its final two matches in the heavyweight and 108s.

Other D'backs who won their matches Saturday were Chris Lee at 113s by pin, Colin Hustrulid at 126s by pin, Matt Cathey at 138s by pin, Sean Tow at 152s by forfeit,  Mikey Fowler at 160s by a 7-4 decision and James Warden at 170s by pin at 1:35.

Next for the D'back grapplers is the Sierra Valley Conference tournament next Saturday at Cosumnes Oaks in Elk Grove.

"Work hard (this) week and try to get as many kids to first place in league so we can get them into position to move on the next level, and it's week by week," Brown said.

Mariposa 48, Golden Sierra 24

In the battle of Grizzlies, four Golden Sierra grapplers won their matches but Golden Sierra, the Sierra Delta League champions, sent only five wreslers to the D-VI team dual championships — forfeiting nine weight classes in the quick, first round loss.

"A lot of injuries," Golden Sierra assistant coach Josh Clough said.

The four Grizzlies who won their matches were Zander Mishler at 160s by pin, Jim Hansen at 197s by pin, Kyle Hensnen at 222s by pin and Tommy Carey at heavyweights by pin.

"A great showing," Clough said on the Golden Sierra wrestlers who competed. "It just shows that practice can really show in the match."

Next for Golden Sierra is the Sierra Delta League championships this Saturday at Mesa Verde in Sacramento.

"We should do real well," Clough said.