The stage is set for the final wrestling dual of the Central California Athletic League regular season.
From Pitman High School on Wednesday, the two-time defending conference and Sac-Joaquin Section team champion Pride will host crosstown rival Turlock High in what has been tabbed in recent years as the PIT-BULL Dual. The action gets underway with JV competition at 5 p.m., followed immediately after by the varsity girl’s dual, senior night festivities, and concluding with the varsity boy’s clash.
The Pride are the favorites after sweeping through the rest of the CCAL slate with wins against Enochs, Gregori, Modesto and Downey. The Bulldogs beat all of those teams, as well, with the exception of Gregori. The 39-33 loss to the Jaguars came after the Bulldogs had to forfeit three matches as the team navigated injuries and lineup changes. Nevertheless, the ‘Dogs can still force a tie for the CCAL crown with a win on Wednesday.
Turlock has found consistent success in tournament competition following a victory at their home Bulldog Classic. Most recently, the Bulldogs placed 15th out of nearly 90 schools at the Mid-Cals Invitational, one of the toughest tournaments in California, third at the Pat Lovell Invitational behind national powerhouses Clovis and Buchanan, and captured the team championship at the Zavala Invitational. At the Lovell Invitational, Jack Locke introduced himself to the national stage only losing to a three-time Louisiana state champion in overtime. Cole Cronan captured a championship at the Pat Lovell Invitational. Levi Cook claimed a championship at the Zavala Invitational. On the girl’s side, Aliah Bertalotto won the Livingston Girls Invitational and the Supergirl Showdown.
With another blue banner on their minds, and the ultimate goal of qualifying a state finalist for the seventh straight season, the Pride have had their fair share of standout performances, highlighted by Mason Ontiveros’ national-headlining Doc B performance. As a team, the Pitman boys won the Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno, besting a field of 94 teams, while the girls left the tournament placing third of 86, with Ontiveros and Lily Dizon being named Most Outstanding Wrestlers. In December, the boys also won the Ceres Invitational. Earlier this month, Bella Serrano stood atop the 115-pound podium at the Whitney Tournament.
