By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Bulldog boys swim tops Pride in final league dual meet
Boys Swim 1
Matt Hesse of Turlock High finished Thursdays league dual meet with four first-place finishes. - photo by CANDY PADILLA/The Journal

Pitman and Turlock High’s varsity boys swim teams squared off in the final league dual meet of the regular season on Thursday afternoon from the Pride’s pool.

The depth of Turlock surpassed the numbers of Pitman and in the end, the bragging rights went to the Bulldogs of Turlock, who came out on top in a lopsided score of 114-67 in the last Central California Conference meet.

“We were right on our times and we either won or lost. Turlock took a lot in the middle,” said Pitman head coach Erica Crain. “The CCC was a great conference but as we move forward we have a different competition pool which is always exciting.”

“I knew that we have some talent, after we got past Merced with that close meet, I thought there was a possibility to finish higher,” said Turlock head coach Sonja Raynes. “Pretty excited about that but unfortunately couldn’t get past Buhach but they are talented, they have some good kids, and a lot of them, that helped them.”

With two league dual meets remaining, the Turlock boys were looking steady at 4-0 while Pitman was 1-3.

From there, they went opposite ways.

Turlock concluded their year with a 5-1 CCC record, just behind Buhach Colony.

The Pride boys finished off their season with a record of 1-5 in the CCC, but the Pride team returns essentially their entire current roster for next year in Nolan Lok, Brady Gutierrez, Sean Bernard, Joe Carlsen, Andree Shields, Ethan Woodroof, Matt Silva and Frank Aliaga.

On the boys side, Pitman’s Nolan Lok clocked in at 56.5 in the 100 fly to place first. He took second in the 100 back at 59.6.

The Pride’s Carlsen also took first in the 50 free with a time of 24.1.

Bernard clocked in at 1:58 in the 200 free and also placed first in the 500 free (5:24).

For the Bulldogs of Turlock, Michael Tobin and Matt Hesse stole the show.

Combined, Tobin and Hesse each had four first-place finishes.

“All throughout the year, the kids bettered their time, and they are better each meet. That shows they are working harder,” said Raynes.

Hesse and Tobin had two individual first places and were also part of the medley relay and 400 free relay team.

Hesse took first in the 200 IM and the 100 free and Tobin took first in the 100 back and 100 breast.

“I am happy with the results, obviously, but happier with the way the kids came together, started working together and got on this new program,” said Raynes. “They got on board. In other words, the accepted the new style and leadership and it’s awesome, they are reaping the results.”

Next for both is the CCC diving event which is at 9 a.m. Thursday in Merced and the CCC trials will take place at 1 p.m. Friday from Golden Valley. The top 16 qualifiers swim again on Saturday.

“If we place higher than Buhach at the CCC meet we should probably tie,” Raynes added.