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.
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.
Coach Dave Exline and his Hilmar High wrestling team had a simple plan: Get as many wrestlers qualified as possible.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It wasn't pretty, Pitman High wrestler Emilio Saavedra would later say about his path to another tournament title.
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."
The girls basketball team at Turlock High hosted its first home game of the season against a red hot Beyer High team Friday night. The Bulldogs (2-6) and Patriots (9-1) played a close first half but as the game progressed, Beyer gradually pulled away, handing Turlock its sixth loss by a score of 51-35. "Beyer is on a roll right now. They are a very well coached team," Turlock head coach Salinda Mabie ...
Turlock Christian High (1-7) entered the first round of the Denair basketball tournament on Thursday pitted against an eager Hughson High (2-5). Both teams were looking for their second win of the season and a spot in the second round winner's bracket. The Huskies claimed their second win and the right to face Denair High in the second round with a 63-47 rout of the Eagles. "We're getting there but we have ...
It wasn't looking good for Denair's boys basketball team (2-6) Thursday night when they faced Cristo Rey High (1-7) in the first round of their own tournament. The Trojans looked to be on their way to the second round after a dominate first half, but a Coyote comeback dashed their plans. Denair snatched the win from Cristo Rey by a score of 76-68 and advanced to the second round where they played Hughson High. ...
Hilmar High's wrestling team had to overcome two obstacles Wednesday night in their first dual of the season, a tough Hughson High team and a lack of preparation. With only a week of practice and conditioning Hilmar came up short, losing 33-39. "Conditioning, we just don't have it yet," head coach Howard Tremble said of his team's performance. "But if we're losing by six points and I've only had my kids for seven ...
It was a dominate performance by the Yellowjackets Tuesday night when Hilmar High (4-3) traveled to Denair High (1-6) to face the Coyotes. Hilmar, led by Jesse Burke, outscored Denair 74-53. It was Hilmar's most productive night of the season. Hilmar's quick defense and outstanding shooting performance was too much for the Coyotes to handle. "That's one of the best shooting performances I've seen in a long time," Denair's head coach Daniel ...
It was as close as it could get Monday night when Pitman High's girls basketball team hosted Turlock Christian High. The Pride controlled most of the game but with 1:00 left in regulation the score was tied, 40-40, as the two teams engaged in a back and forth battle for the win. The deciding blows were dealt by TC's Halie Bergman who nailed a three point shot and pair of free throws in ...
The 35th annual Frank Godinez basketball tournament almost ended with a showdown of local rivals, Turlock and Pitman High. Although both teams played well in the tournament they both lost in the second round, setting up a championship game between Davis High (6-4) and Valley High (6-1) on Saturday. When it was all said and done, Valley emerged from the tournament as champions, defeating Davis 71-62. Even though the Bulldogs (3-2) and Pride ...
Confidence is contagious. It motivates and inspires athletes to perform to their expectations, and sometimes beyond. Such was the case Wednesday night when Turlock High's wrestling team hosted the Los Banos Tigers in its first home dual of the season. The Bulldogs (10-1), fresh off an impressive showing at the Larry Nelson dual tournament in Vacaville, continued their winning ways with a dominate performance, beating the Tigers (1-1) 49-18. "After the performance ...
The boys from Pitman High's basketball team handed Ceres High a first round loss at the Godinez tournament on Thursday, 55-39. The Pride, led by a solid defensive effort, proved to be too much for the Bulldogs as Pitman led the entire game. "I think were solid on defense," assistant coach Undrea Walker said. "We held an opponent under 45(points) for the last three or four games." Pitman's defense was complimented ...
Turlock High's boys basketball team entered the first round of the Frank Godinez tournament on Thursday facing a Beyer High team that had only won two games in the past two seasons. Most expected the Bulldogs to pull off an easy victory and cruise into the second round. Although Turlock defeated the Patriots by a score of 55-43, the win was anything but easy. "They gave Pitman fits so I knew they ...
With only one practice that included all of its players, Hilmar High's boys basketball team entered Tuesday's game against Atwater High under-prepared, yet enthusiastic. Their enthusiasm wasn't enough to finish the Falcons, however, as they lost 58-42. "I think if we had the three weeks with everybody prepared we'd be in a better situation," head coach Danny Freitas said. "The players aren't in basketball mode; they're still in football mode." Many of ...
It's a new season for Hilmar and Denair high's wrestling teams. Time to lace up their shoes, snap on their head gears and get ready to grapple with anyone who steps on the mat. The Coyotes had a chance to test their mettle on Monday when they faced Hughson High. Although they lost, they still had a chance to earn some much needed experience. "We're a real young team, mostly freshman this ...
Hilmar High's girls basketball team entered Monday's home game against Central Catholic with high energy and expectations to win. Unfortunately, the Raiders were able to keep the Yellowjackets at bay, claiming victory 51-38. The matchup was everything one would expect from an early season game. Players from both teams made simple mistakes, fouls were common and, at moments, the offensive timing seemed out of synch. "We need to work on our fundamentals ...
Fans of high school girl's basketball should be ready for an exciting season this year. Denair, Hilmar and Turlock Christian High, in particular, have put together quality teams as they begin their chase for the playoffs. Of the three teams, TC boasts the most height on their roster. Marley Burton, 6 feet, 2 inches, serves as the Eagles' centerpiece on offense, using her size and skill to disrupt opposing players and open up ...
The 2011-12 high school basketball season is in full swing. Players are putting in time and effort in school gyms across the Valley, practicing and preparing for successful seasons. Denair, Hilmar and Turlock Christian High's players are no different. All three teams have already played in at least one game in the past week, testing the state of their teams and gauging what areas still need to be perfected. Although there are plenty ...