Injuries can’t shake Oakdale dominance in wrestling

Oakdale and Elk Grove high schools were listed as co-leaders in the Sac-Joaquin Section’s best teams list this week. Mustangs coach Steve Strange reacted with apprehension.

“If only rankings counted,” he said.

Strange isn’t complaining about Oakdale’s overall wrestling street cred. The Mustangs have won a record-tying eight consecutive section team dual titles, all built on a foundation of 10 consecutive Valley Oak League championships. They swept to seven weight-class titles and six second-place finishes at the VOL meet last weekend.

Bakersfield and Clovis West, two state powers, traveled to Oakdale two weeks ago and were more than extended by the home team.

Problem is – for all its success this season – Oakdale also has absorbed a few blows.

Sophomore Colby Harlan underwent surgery last week for his season-ending knee injury incurred at the Tim Brown Memorial in Sacramento. Fellow sophomore Jake Ryan, whose knee injury stopped his freshman season at the Doc Buchanan in Clovis, suffered an injury to the other knee last week at the VOLs. Ryan’s season lasted only four matches. Harlan and Ryan were ranked among the state’s best in their weight classes.

“I’m not sure if the people who do the rankings realize that we’ve lost two of our best guys,” Strange said.

Strange also was confused by this week’s section rankings at 126 pounds, which listed Oakdale freshman Ricky Torres fifth and Central Catholic junior Steven Abbate third. Torres is 2-0 vs. Abbate this season.

One of the beauties of wrestling, however, is its ultimate clarity. All questions eventually will be answered on the mat. The process accelerates with the section divisional meets Friday and Saturday at six sites. The meets where Stanislaus District qualifiers compete:

▪ The D-I A at Elk Grove (Modesto Metro Conference and three other leagues): Finals on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Top eight advance to Section Masters.

▪ The D-I AA at Lincoln High in Stockton (Central California Conference and two other leagues): Finals on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.. Top eight advance to Masters.

▪ The D-III at Oakdale (Valley Oak League and two other leagues): Finals on Saturday at 3 p.m. Top four advance to Masters.

▪ The D-IV at Central Valley (Western Athletic Conference and two other leagues): Finals on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Top four advance to Masters.

▪ The D-V at Escalon (Trans Valley, Mother Lode, Southern and two other leagues): Finals on Saturday at 4 p.m. Top four advance to Masters.

Wrestler of the Week – Central Catholic junior Cristian Dominguez (35-5) defeated Ryan – ranked 11th in California – 4-3 after an injury default in the 145-pound VOL final. Dominguez competed despite a large cut above his left eye, the result of an accidental head-butt in practice.

Notes – The Girls Wrestling Regional will be held Friday and Saturday at McNair High. The medal round is scheduled for Saturday at 1:45 p.m. Watch the fifth-place matches. The winner qualifies for state, and the loser’s season is over. The top five will continue at the State Championship on Feb. 26-27 in Visalia.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 9:07 PM with the headline "Injuries can’t shake Oakdale dominance in wrestling."