Come-from-behind pin anchors Oakdale’s VOL-clinching win

For the latest example of the excitement and emotion of dual-meet wrestling, see Oakdale High senior Miguel Ibarra.

The Mustangs clinched their ninth straight Valley Oak League title Wednesday night while receiving an unexpected boost from Ibarra, their 195-pounder. Oakdale eventually overwhelmed Central Catholic 51-15 in a matchup of VOL unbeatens, but the bout between Ibarra and CC sophomore Montell Bland proved to be provocative.

It was Bland’s fourth match after a football season full of aching bones and joints. He was needed for the showdown, however, and coach Louis Bland – the former three-time state champion and Montell’s older brother – put him in the lineup.

Montell, quick and strong, dominated the opening round and built a 12-1 lead, nearly pinning Ibarra on at least two occasions. But he also required a timeout after he tweaked his ankle. The stoppage was a harbinger.

“His shoulder, ankle and knee are banged up,” Louis Bland said. “We’re hoping he’ll be 100 percent for the postseason.”

Ibarra, sensing an opening, didn’t give up. He scored points and, as Bland clearly slowed down, gained momentum.

Then, with 48 seconds to go, Ibarra pinned Bland, bringing a screaming Oakdale crowd on Senior Night to its feet.

“Miguel didn’t back down. He’s a big-time team player,” Oakdale coach Steve Strange said. “He’s wrestled since the seventh grade and paid his dues. It’s nice to see something like that pay off for him.”

The Mustangs dominated the night from that match. They already have set their target on the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Dual Championships a week from Saturday at Lincoln High, where they’ve claimed the last six Division IV titles and seven of the last eight.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Central Catholic again at the Team Duals,” Strange said.

Teams in all leagues are jockeying for berths in the Team Duals. Gregori (4-0) remains the only unbeaten team in the Modesto Metro Conference after the Jaguars’ 42-27 win over Beyer on Tuesday night, coupled with Modesto’s 34-31 win over Enochs on Thursday night. The Eagles and Gregori meet next Thursday night with the MMC’s only Team Duals berth possibly at stake.

Pitman, which outlasted Golden Valley 35-24 earlier this season, has the inside track in the Central California Conference. Escalon and Hilmar are unbeaten in the Trans Valley League, and they’ll collide on Wednesday night. Central Valley is closing in on its second consecutive Western Athletic Conference title.

Mariposa will claim the No. 1 seed, and Waterford will be No. 2 from the Southern League. Waterford defeated Mariposa last year for the Division VI title.

Calaveras, a 43-24 winner over Sonora, looks to be the pacesetter in the Mother Lode League. The Redskins defeated Escalon in the Division V final in 2013.

Wrestlers of the Week – Enochs senior McCoy Kent and Modesto junior Israel Saavedra, both ranked No. 1 in the state in their respective weight classes, could be chosen for this honor during most weeks. They get the nod after both won at the Tim Brown Memorial at Sacramento. The unbeaten Saavedra, the two-time state champion, dominated the 132s with two pins and three other victories by at least 15 points. Kent, whose only loss to date is against Saavedra, also went 5-0 with four pins at 138.

The Rumble – More than 500 wrestlers from 39 schools will journey to Pitman on Saturday for the annual Rumble in the Jungle. Fifty-three entries are listed in state rankings or honorable mention, including such stars as Kent and Oakdale senior Nico Colunga.

About 75 girls, one week before their Masters at McNair, also will meet.

Action begins on 11 mats at 9 a.m. with the finals scheduled for about 5 p.m.

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 9:58 PM with the headline "Come-from-behind pin anchors Oakdale’s VOL-clinching win."