Garcia gets redemption at nationals

After his bittersweet fifth-place showing at last month's CIF State Championships, it looked like Turlock High wrestler Fabian Garcia could no longer wrestle. His voice was low, his head was down. He couldn't hide his sadness and dissatisfaction in his post-match interviews.

Saavedra survives, becomes national champ

For his trip to Ohio, Pitman High freshman Emilio Saavedra carried with him more than just his clothes and wrestling gear. Metaphorically speaking, he had a giant monkey on his back.

TC student-athlete receives scholarship award

Cheyenne Perry, a four-year volleyball and softball player at Turlock Christian High, has been awarded scholarship money as one of 49 winners of the A. Dale Lacky/CSEA Scholarships for outstanding performances in athletics, community service and academics during high school.

Feeling the heat

ATWATER - Clay Cozzitorto just had one more inning left to pitch. He had shut out his opponents all afternoon, and he was mentally prepared to face them again. But there was something he wasn't ready for.

Surging Pitman softball tops Turlock for first win in 3 years

The goal is always to beat Turlock High. But for the Pitman High softball team, some years are just wishful thinking.

High school round up

With one of their best pitchers on the mound, the Turlock High baseball team exacted revenge over Merced High on Wednesday afternoon in Merced. Sophomore Nick Voumard pitched three scoreless innings and the Bulldogs won 6-0 to regain control of the Central California Conference.

THS’ Moreno captures national title

This is how much Turlock High junior Alexia Moreno and Santa Fe High's Tamara Tillman wanted a national wrestling title: In the second round of their 121-pound final match of the USAW Girls Folkstyle National Tournament in Oklahoma City, Okla., last weekend, the two bumped heads in an attempt to gain a shot at the same exact time.

After being stadium-less, Turlock athletes have a place to practice, excel

It was an oh-so ordinary day for the Turlock High track and field athletes on Monday afternoon at Joe Debely Stadium. Hurdlers and jumpers loosened their limbs on an artificial turf field. Runners warmed up on an all-weather track. Pole vaulters battled a slight wind down a marked runway before extending skyward.

Area swimmers hope to make a splash this season

Swimming might be one of the tougher spring sports. It's not just because of the amount of pain a swimmer puts himself or herself through by swimming lap after lap. In this sport, there aren't too many days off.

Bulldogs suffer first season loss

It wasn't like Turlock High baseball didn't have opportunities.

Pitman bests Turlock in soccer upset

Asked to recount her version of the goal that gave her Pitman High girls soccer team its first win over crosstown nemesis Turlock High in six years, senior forward Hannah Verschelden could not provide all the details. All she remembered was she wanted to lace the ball with some power and kick it away from the goalkeeper.

Track athletes hope to develop as season progresses

It's still early in the track and field season, but athletes from Pitman, Turlock, Turlock Christian, Denair and Hilmar high schools have already been challenged. It's not just all the time and effort they have to put in that will help them become faster or stronger. It's the weather.

Softball teams look to overcome challenges

Here's the scoop on this season's softball teams.

It’s a new season, but soccer teams have same goals of reaching playoffs

To say the least, there will be some shakeups in high school girls soccer this season.

Bulldogs dominate tournament

In the 27th Atch Pedretti Tournament last week, the Turlock High baseball team outscored opponents 34-3. That's just one example of how dominant the Bulldogs have been.

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 ...

Bret Harte breaks Hilmar volleyball

Hilmar High School's volleyball team suffered a close loss on Tuesday as they battled Bret Harte High in Angels Camp in the first round of playoffs. The game consisted of five sets, which were all won by close margins (22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-21, 15-9).

TC volleyball upsets higher-seed Forest Lake

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 ...

Hilmar soccer loses in first round

The Hilmar High boys soccer team fell to West Campus High in Sacramento on Tuesday with a final score of 4-1. Although the Yellowjackets didn't consider West Campus to be that good of a team, they were unable to find their footing until it was too late, scoring their lone goal towards the end of the game off David Alves' foot. Hilmar coach Louie Bettencourt attributes his team's loss to "lots of mistakes," a ...

Turlock soccer ends season in quarterfinals

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 ...

Turlock tennis stays alive in postseason

By ruling all three doubles competitions, the Turlock High girls tennis team advanced in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament after capturing five of the nine matches and topping Tracy High of the San Joaquin Athletic Association. The Bulldogs, the top seeds in the Central California Conference, will face Armijo High of the Monticello Empire League on Monday of next week in the second round of the tournament. Against Tracy, Turlock also ...

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 ...

Coyotes smash Eagles 48-6

In a battle for the coveted Monte Vista Wheel, the Denair High Coyotes grounded the Turlock Christian Eagles 48-6 Friday night at Denair. On senior night, the Coyotes' seniors stepped up their play execution and displayed remarkable athleticism and field intelligence with an emotional performance in their final home game. Coyotes head coach Therion Gregory challenged not only his seniors, but his whole team to play with heart and never give up, ...

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. ...