Turlock High wrestling has a documented history of success, winning nine league championships since 2000. The past two years haven’t gone so well for Turlock, however, as they watched Golden Valley High walk away with the league title. The Bulldogs enter this season determined to bring the title back to Turlock and restore its winning ways.

“Our goal usually doesn’t change much. Our goal is to always win the league championship,” head coach Mike Contreras said. “We don’t usually go three years in a row without winning it.”

Even though the Bulldogs are a young team they have plenty of experience. Turlock only graduated two wrestlers from last year’s team. Compare that turnover with Golden Valley’s, who graduated 11 of their 14 varsity wrestlers, and Turlock’s chances look bright.

“We’re young and we’re solid; we should be tough,” Contreras said. “These guys just need to learn to work hard in the room and hopefully it parlays into success on the mat.”

With about half of their team consisting of freshman and sophomores, Turlock is expecting the hard work and motivation associated with the wrestling program to help bring a higher level of maturity to its wrestlers and breed leadership.

 “It takes the guys working hard and buying in to what we want them to do. We haven’t got there yet because we’re only three weeks in,” Contreras said. “I’ll have a real good gauge after this weekend.”

Turlock takes their first step today when they dual Madera High in Madera, a tough opponent that Turlock has yet to defeat under Contreras. Contreras and his team will get another chance to gauge their progress this week as well as they will be part of the Vacaville duals at Vacaville High School.

“From top to bottom our team is more solid than it was last year,” Contreras said. “I feel confident saying we’re going to do very well this year.”

To contact Frankie Tovar, e-mail ftovar@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.