Turlock’s Garcia is on a mission

Every time he's inside his school's wrestling room, Turlock High senior Fabian Garcia will look at the blue banner placed high on one of the walls. All the names of the program's past state medalists share a spot on the sign in yellow letters, with the champions distinguished in white.

Denair wrestling finishes with 2 league champions

At the start of the wrestling season, Denair High coach Don Helnore hoped to have champions at the Southern League Tournament, especially because the Coyotes were scheduled to host the postseason event. He had a couple wrestlers in mind who could possibly achieve the honor.

Hilmar qualifies 11 to division tourney

Coach Dave Exline and his Hilmar High wrestling team had a simple plan: Get as many wrestlers qualified as possible.

Pitman, Turlock qualify wrestlers at CCC tourney

ATWATER - This year's Central California Conference wrestling championships had a festive vibe. Some wrestlers dyed their hair blonde to perhaps highlight team camaraderie, as well as the start of the postseason. Another wrestler was spotted wearing pink socks.

Barajas inks rare feat

In the conference room at Turlock High's main office, athletic director Anthony Belew had to speak his mind to Josue Barajas, who signed his national letter of intent to play for Cal State Stanislaus men's soccer on Friday morning.

Turlock learns from shocking loss

Before her team even began league play, Turlock High girls basketball coach Salinda Mabie said the Bulldogs' undefeated streak in the Central California Conference was in jeopardy. It was a bold statement, but also a logical one.

THS wrestler dominates at Masters

At last weekend's Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament for girls wrestling, several of the coaches and wrestlers at the event stopped and watched Turlock High junior Alexia Moreno in action. It's unusual for anyone to get this kind of superstar treatment, but people in the high school wrestling community seem to think she's different.

Rivalry clashing

Held at Fitzpatrick Arena on the Cal State Stanislaus campus, the annual Denair-Turlock Christian basketball rivalry and homecoming games attracted hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of fans on Friday night. Those in attendance got to see the Turlock Christian girls team, thanks to a game-high 18 points from Kaisa Spycher and 38-6 halftime lead, beat the Denair girls 57-15. On the boys side, Clayton McDonald posted a rare triple-double ...

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.

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."

Pitman's Sondeno qualifies for All-American at diving trials

Turlock and Pitman High's boys and girls competed in the section diving trials at Johansen on Thursday and Friday, with two moving on into today's finals. Pitman's Natasha Sondeno led all girls in first place and will be going into today's finals as she scored a 407.6, an All American qualifying time. Turlock girls' Alex Schoeffling placed sixth, and will move on to the finals. Jewel Gafca missed the cut as she placed ...

Pride soccer ends season with rivalry win

Turlock and Pitman High met at Joe Debely Stadium for the 15th and final Central California Conference match of the season on Wednesday. With a slight lead over second place Golden Valley High in the league standings, the Bulldogs were playing for their second consecutive outright CCC championship. The Pride (7-5-3 CCC) had other plans, though, as they looked to replace lost post-season hopes with a victory over their cross-town rivals. With the ...

Pitman soccer keeps playoff hopes alive

The Pitman High girls soccer team tied 2-2 against Golden Valley High after a shaky second half start in Monday's crucial Central California Conference matchup. "It was a lack of communication, we had 20 shots. It's not that we didn't have our opportunities, but unfortunately those lapses cause some misses, but I am proud of the way these girls played," Pitman's head coach Christina Garcia said. Pride freshman Rayana Plancarte headed the ...

Pride silence Thunder

It was an interesting day in Turlock on Tuesday as the wind reached nearly 30 miles per hour; however, nothing slowed down the Pitman Pride's potent offensive performance as they shutout Buhach Colony, 6-0. Alexis Mettler pitched a complete game shutout and allowed only four hits behind a solid defensive performance and offense that had over 11 hits for the game. "They did a wonderful job; the hitting was off the charts ...

Brown, Gilmore retiring after a combined 56 years of coaching

Tuesday marked the final Central California Conference center meet of the season, but it also marked the end of two long and dedicated coaching careers. As track athletes from Turlock and Pitman High limbered up and prepared to compete against each other and the rest of the league, Bulldogs head coach Mike Brown and assistant coach Dee Gilmore were helping run the show at Joe Debely Stadium for the last time. "Head coach ...

Pride, Bulldog girls place in swim finals

The girls swim team from Pitman (539) and Turlock High (311) finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, at the Central California Conference finals at Pitman High on Saturday. The boys from Turlock took third (342) and the Pride fifth (269). "I think we did very well, we were down a couple but we still placed where we should've," Turlock girls coach Sonja Raynes said. "We placed and we had some great times." The ...

Hawks shutout Redskins

Delhi High took another step towards a potential second place finish in the Southern Athletic League and an improved post-season placement with Friday's 10-0 defeat of Gustine High. The Hawks earned their second consecutive win with a combination of solid bats from the plate and a barrage of consistent pitches from sophomore Alyssa Stockton. "We're doing well, we just got to stay patient," Delhi's head coach Tami Tela said. "I look forward to ...

Turlock, Pitman looking to come out on top in swim finale

The Central California Conference swim trials got underway on Friday at Pitman High as both the Pride and Turlock High Bulldogs look to end the season on a high note. Pitman and Turlock boys had 15 top eight finishes and 10 individuals will be moving on to the finals. The girls finished with 29 top eight finishes and will have 19 representatives on day two. "You know, we went over some strategies of ...

Pitman topples Turlock in golf season finale

The members of the Pitman High golf teamed played their best game of the season on Thursday, defeating league leaders and cross-town rivals Turlock High. The Pride earned the 205-209 victory over the Bulldogs on their home course at Diablo Grande in the final regular matchup of the season. "I'm so proud of these guys, they started out the year playing well," said Pitman head coach Matt Jeans. "Then they had some struggles later ...

Turlock’s Jordan Bean, Aldair Lima claim CCC doubles title

It was a day of redemption on Thursday for Turlock High's Jordan Bean and Aldair Lima at the Central California Conference boys Doubles Tournament at Merced High. Just two days after early elimination in the CCC boys Singles Tournament-Bean in the first round and Lima in the second-the Bulldog pair teamed up and barreled through the competition, defeating all opponents in straight sets en route to a tournament championship. "From the beginning of ...

Trans Valley League shake up: Hilmar tops Escalon 4-0

Turlock soccer assumes first place in CCC

Turlock High is now in first place in the Central California Conference girls soccer standings with only two regular season games remaining. After a dominating 5-0 victory over then first place Golden Valley High on Monday -a win that pulled them within two points of the league lead- the Bulldogs took on and took down Merced High on Wednesday, 3-0, to usurp the Cougars as the top team in the CCC. It wasn't ...

Turlock takes Windemuth title

Three weeks ago Turlock High was on the brink of its second tournament championship of the season when fate and the weather intervened. The Bulldogs were slated to take on Trans Valley League stalwarts Escalon High in the Dick Windemuth championship game when heavy rains delayed the matchup. Turlock finally got its shot at the Cougars on Saturday at Downey High where the Bulldogs seized opportunities in the fourth and sixth innings for ...

Bulldogs dominate first place Cougars; pull within two points

Two points. That's all that now separates Turlock High's girls soccer team from first place Golden Valley High in the Central California Conference standings. The second place Bulldogs (7-4-1 CCC) shocked the Cougars (8-4 CCC) on Monday with a 5-0 victory on the road as Morgan DeLay recorded five assists. It was her best game of the season and the team's most dominant CCC performance. "We're focused on playing one game at ...

Denair boys take first in SAL meet, again

Denair High continued its successful Southern Athletic League campaign on the track Saturday morning in the third SAL meet of the season. The Coyotes earned another first place finish in the boys division and nabbed a third place finish in the girls division despite a couple of absent athletes. Delhi and Turlock Christian High also experienced varying degrees of success with the Hawk boys taking third. "Every meet we've won, so I think ...