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Turlock High wrestling eager to grab league title
Turlock High wrestling
After finishing second last year, Turlock High wrestling is eager to win a league championship this season (PAWAN NAIDU/The Journal).

High school wrestling is back in action after last year’s regular season was cancelled due to the pandemic. Turlock High finished second in the Central California Athletic League two years ago, and the Bulldogs are eager to get back on the mats and win a league championship.

This year’s Bulldogs are made up of a mix of younger and older athletes.

“A lot of the big guys are going to be graduating, but we have a lot of the sophomores, smaller guys coming back next year. We’re going to have a lot of good guys coming back next year but we’re losing some big dudes,” said head coach Mike Contreras.

Some wrestlers to watch out for are returning State qualifiers Ethan Ward, Jack Parrot and Ashton Patterson. Parrot and Patterson bring a lot of size to the squad and are looking to finish their high school careers on a high note.

With being able to get in a more normal season, the Bulldogs have a league championship in mind.

“Our goal every year is to win a league championship. We try to live by certain principles and I’m always telling them to go back to those principles,” said Contreras.

The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive showing at the Larry Nelson Duals Tournament where they went 5-2 and finished in third place. Parrot and Patterson received all-tournament honors as well.

The Bulldogs’ next meet is a road match against Merced High at 5 p.m. on Dec. 8. One matchup to keep an eye on is against crosstown rival Pitman High. The Pride won the league championship two years ago and the two schools are eager to restart their rivalry. That meet will take place Jan. 19 at 4 p.m.