Notebook: Local wrestlers do well at Doc B tourney; MJC sophomore named All-American
Oakdale sophomore Michael Torres finished second in the 106-pound division at the 2020 Doc Buchanan Invitational on Saturday at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
The tournament is “one of the toughest in the country” according to FloWrestling.
Torres fell to Buchanan junior Raymond Lopez in the finals. Buchanan finished first as a team.
Pitman’s Kendall La Rosa (fifth), Juan Mora (fifth), Izzy Tubera (sixth), and Oakdale sophomore Ceasar Garza (eighth) also placed.
All five local wrestlers are ranked in the top 10 in their divisions by CalWrestler. Pitman is No. 11 in team rankings.
MJC sophomore named All-American: Modesto Junior College sophomore offensive lineman Paul Sogialofa was named a First-Team All-American by the California Community College Athletic Association.
Sogialofa also was named to the Region I All-California Offensive First Team and Pirates sophomore linebacker Ferrin G. Manuleleua was named to the first team for defense.
MJC finished fourth in the state in the final rankings after falling to San Mateo in the NorCal Final on Nov. 30.
Turlock High alums sign: Turlock High alums Jake Dirkse and Patrick Green recently signed their National Letters of Intent with Army and Ottawa University (AZ), respectively.
Dirkse signed on Jan. 2 and Green on Jan. 5.
Dirkse will join the Army track and field team and compete in the discus, javelin, and shot put. He finished second in the discus at the USATF Region 16 Junior Olympic Championships on July 7 and eighth in the shot put.
He finished 11th in the discus at the National Junior Olympic Championships on July 28.
Dirkse is the son of Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse.
Green played tight end and defensive end for the Pirates and had four receptions for 51 yards and six tackles and three tackles for a loss.
RC boys hoops on a five-game winning streak: Ripon Christian (9-3) boys basketball has won its last five games including the Oakdale Rotary Classic tournament on Dec. 28 and a 55-47 victory over Turlock on Jan. 3.
Junior Braden Van Groningen leads the Knights with 16.1 points per game and senior Jacob Van Groningen is second with 12.1.
Ripon Christian opens Trans-Valley League play at Hughson on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Ripon’s Musseman named Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports: Ripon High football coach Chris Musseman was named the Small School Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.
Musseman led the Indians to a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship and a CIF State Division 4-AA title.
The Indians were also named the Small School Team of the Year.
Musseman was named the Modesto Bee’s Coach of the Year on Dec. 22.
