Few drop, some stay in latest power rankings

Despite going on respective winning streaks, a number of high school basketball teams in the Turlock area slipped down a spot or two in this week's Sac-Joaquin Section power ratings that determine playoff positions for the top 16 teams in each division, with the top eight to host the first round.

Denair’s Oei becomes a Warrior

While the nation's best high school football players made a spectacle of their signings with their respective colleges in front of TV cameras, news reporters and an ESPN audience, one Denair High athlete did it quietly.

Bulldogs reign supreme

In front of thousands of fans in one of the city's most anticipated boys basketball games, Anthony Hubbard became a legend, as well as a baseball prospect. In a can't-believe-he-did-that moment, the Turlock High senior guard nailed a full-court shot to end the third quarter.

Turlock wrestling escapes with win

When the Turlock High girls gym is packed with screaming fans, the place can feel like a coliseum with the bleachers rising well above the floor. So just imagine being one of the wrestlers in Wednesday night's crosstown rivalry dual matchup between Pitman High and Turlock High, with both teams fighting for a share of the Central California Conference title.

Warriors softball forgetting last season

Cal State Stanislaus softball coach Jan Schefkowitz contorted her face into a smirk after being asked about last season's letdown.

Bulldogs extend league winning streak vs. Pitman

Simply, the shots weren't falling. Some of them were high-percentage shots, the kind that the Turlock High girls basketball players see during warm-up drills. So coach Salinda Mabie supplied a simple message for her Bulldogs.

Saavedra’s showing helps Pride to Rumble title

It wasn't pretty, Pitman High wrestler Emilio Saavedra would later say about his path to another tournament title.

Several teams in good playoff positions

At best, Turlock High coach Doug Cornfoot thought his boys basketball team could be a No. 12 or 13 seed in the playoffs. That's because, he said, "there are so many good teams in Division I this year."

Hilmar wrestling on brink of school history

It's no secret that Hilmar High's Dave Exline has had one of his tougher seasons as a high school wrestling coach.

Even with bad shoulders, Serpa one of Turlock’s best

If Nicole Serpa decides to become a coach, she'll likely have these pieces of advice for her players about rebounding:

Turlock’s Gong takes first

Hannah Gong of Turlock High girls golf placed first at the 17th River Oaks Junior Match Play Championships at the River Oaks Golf Course in Ceres after outlasting Julian Salazar of Johansen High 6-4 in the finals.

Turlock’s dual loss means crucial showdown with Pitman

The Turlock High wrestlers didn't get the win that they needed against Golden Valley High on Wednesday night, but the Bulldogs were still pleased with the results.

Off the bench, Ruesga scores 17 in first of 3 games this week

In almost every game, Turlock High's Matt Ruesga provides a unique stat. It's the kind that a high school boys basketball supporter doesn't see too often, perhaps because the amount of sacrifice it requires.

Bulldogs ready for dual meet showdown

For coach Mike Contreras, it was difficult to predict the future.

Pitman finishes with 6 placers at tourney

This time, it wasn't the Emilio Saavedra show. That's because Pitman High wrestling coach Adam Vasconcellos decided to give the freshman sensation - already considered a favorite to win the state's 103-pound title in March and the winner of numerous tournaments this season - the weekend off.

Before he became QB of the 49ers, Kaepernick was a Pitman standout looking for a chance to play coll

The piece of binder paper is slightly wrinkled. Surprisingly, it's still rather white after being stored in a manila envelope for about seven years. On the sheet are words written by an 11-year-old boy. This boy made a collection of bold predictions in Bret Sutterley's fourth-grade class at Turlock's Dutcher Elementary School. In 1998, the teacher instructed his students to write a letter to their future selves with thoughts on what they'll be ...

Goodbye, Turlock

Though I grew up in the Central Valley, I knew very little about Turlock. I knew it had a college, a couple high schools, good places to eat and shop … and that was about it. Call me naïve back then. After three years at the Journal, I will never look at Turlock the same again. I started as an education reporter in September 2008, but a few months later I segued ...

Pitman breezes through first round

The first two sets were a breeze. As for the third set? The Pitman High volleyball players knew they had to stay cool against a Kennedy High team that wanted to capture just one set before a long drive back to Sacramento. The setback, however, was no big deal for the No. 6 Pride, who overcame two late deficits for the 25-8, 25-8, 25-23 win at the Pitman High gym on Tuesday ...

Pride water polo’s fast start results in postseason win

MODESTO - It wasn't much of a challenge, not because Pitman High boys water polo faced a much lesser opponent. It was just that the Pride made it look that way. "Our guys just came out real hot," coach Drew Clute said. That statement perfectly summed up Pitman's performance against Johansen High, the top seed from the Modesto Metro Conference, in the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament ...

Bulldogs water polo stomp over Modesto, enter today’s quarterfinals

MODESTO - In Saturday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opening round match against Modesto High, there was a sequence that made veteran Turlock High boys water polo coach Steve Feaver think, "Oh, wow." It happened near the end of the second period, when the Bulldogs were down two defenders. Usually, when a team is on the defensive, the players give up an easy goal. Not this time. Senior goalkeeper Neil Wraske knocked down ...

Pitman, Turlock, Hilmar football set for playoffs

Last week, the Pitman High and Turlock High football teams produced a Harvest Bowl classic. The game ended in the final seconds in the regular season finale. Pitman celebrated joyously after winning 16-13, while Turlock came together for a somber post-game meeting. But now, it's time to move on. The No. 7 Pride (9-1 overall) will host No. 10 West High of Tracy (6-4 overall) at Debely Stadium on Thursday at ...

Another close one

Pitman, Turlock football trade jabs in recent Harvest Bowls

For the first few years, the main location of the Harvest Bowl trophy was on the Pitman High campus. But for the last four years, it's been moving from place to place like an unstable sports franchise. Truthfully, the owners of the Harvest Bowl trophy don't do too much to the shiny object. Maybe they'll take a picture with it or show it off from time to time. Other than that, it ...

THS, TC golfers end season at Masters

STOCKTON - For golfers from Turlock High and Turlock Christian High, their season ended among the best golfers in the Sac-Joaquin Section. At Monday's Masters Tournament, which was set in nice, non-windy weather, Hannah Gong shot an impressive 13-over par 85 to finish as the top Turlock scorer at The Reserve at Spanos Park as her Bulldogs finished with a 466 - not enough to move on - and beating last year's team ...

Not enough for Hilmar

HILMAR - In perhaps the biggest game since winning the 2008 Sac-Joaquin Section title, the Hilmar High football team knew what was at stake Friday night in the mega-showdown against Escalon High, which is best known as the defending state champ in Division III. But a poor first half was too much for the Yellowjackets to overcome. Despite holding the Cougars scoreless in the final two quarters, as well as rendering standout ...

Bulldogs soccer wins first league title in 15 years

After Tuesday's loss to Golden Valley High, the Turlock High boys soccer team thought its hopes of a Central California Conference title were gone. "We basically thought we lost it already when we lost to Golden Valley," Turlock junior forward Ty Hyer said. But they didn't. They needed to beat crosstown rival Pitman High for a third time on Thursday afternoon, and that's what the Bulldogs did - though just barely. ...

In Feaver’s home farewell, Bulldogs finish with undefeated season

In front of hundreds of cheering fans, and as the night fell cold underneath the lit up Turlock sky, Steve Feaver took a dip into the swimming pool. With his clothes on. Well, it was more like a forced dip, a sort of water polo's take on the Gatorade bath popular in other sports. His Turlock High players wanted to congratulate him in what likely was his final home match at the facility ...

Turlock water polo handles Pitman in season finale

When the season started, Turlock High girls water polo coach Sonja Raynes wasn't sure about her team. The Bulldogs were young. But after Thursday night's 9-1 win over crosstown rival Pitman High in the regular season final, Raynes knew what she had. The Bulldogs controlled the match from the very beginning and never let up, thanks to standout performances by Kristine Groteguth (two goals, one assist, six steals), Haley Raynes (two goals, ...

THS’ Barton top runner in final league meet

Though seemingly out of breath, Ron Barton walked past race officials and other runners around the finish line area and found a tree to lean on - well beyond his team's designated park tables, while other finishers slapped hands and talked about their performance. No one was around him. He wanted to be alone. In terms of time, he had completed his best race of the cross country season at the ...

Bulldogs lose starting QB to injury

Sean Downs, the tough and relentless Turlock High sophomore who quarterbacked the Bulldogs to a playoff berth, is out for the season. He fractured his collarbone during last week's 27-24 win over Golden Valley High at Veterans Stadium in Merced. He is unable to play for four weeks. The injury happened in the final 2 minutes of the Central California Conference game, when he sprinted toward the sideline and tried to get ...