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Hilmar wrestling on brink of school history
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It’s no secret that Hilmar High’s Dave Exline has had one of his tougher seasons as a high school wrestling coach.

And he’s been coaching for three decades.

He began this season with 28 wrestlers, with about 20 of them having never wrestled before. Months later, this same group is on the brink of making school history as the Yellowjackets enter today’s home dual match at 6:30 p.m. against Orestimba High at 4-1 in the Trans-Valley League.

The great thing about being a Yellowjacket on this day is that Hilmar doesn’t even have to win. All that needs to happen for Hilmar to earn the league’s second and final spot in Saturday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Team Duals Wrestling Tournament at Lincoln High in Stockton is to have undefeated Escalon High top Hughson High in today’s other TVL dual match.

Exline said the chances of that happening are great — meaning Hilmar would advance to its first Section duals tournament in 20 years. And all this after starting the season with a bunch of first-year wrestlers.

To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.