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Freshman Girls Steal The Show At Sierra Invitational
9-14 OAK WP-WRAP
Will Cavanaugh of Oakdale speeds toward the Ripon goal with ball in tow during their water polo contest. - photo by IKE DODSON/THE LEADER

Oakdale High’s freshman girls took first place among all competing teams in the small school division at the Sierra Invitational Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Legion Park in Modesto.
Meanwhile, Oakdale’s girls golf team and varsity boys water polo team got things going with conference wins.

Cross Country
Twelve athletes improved their times from last week but the freshman girls made the big noise. Alexis Halsey captured first place for the Mustangs followed by Denise Thompson (second), Anna Ogden (fourth) and Kimberly Kraus (16th).
“These four girls did a great job,” Oakdale coach Guy Fowler said. “It is nice to see them progress so fast.”
Erick Padilla was the top male place finisher in the varsity race with a 16th place finish. Liz Erwin ran the best time for the varsity girls.
Oakdale kicks off the Valley Oak League season with a conference cluster meet in Frogtown today, Sept. 14.

Golf
Oakdale’s girls golf team expanded upon their sterling record (5-0 overall, 4-0 VOL) with a 252-272 victory over a tough Sonora team on Thursday at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.
Freshman sensation Mabel Wong shot a 34 to lead the program after seven pars and birdies on holes No. 6 and 8. Michelle DesRochers and Nicole Stastny followed with a pair of 53-stroke performances while Rebecca Cone (54), Dylanie Donahue (58) and Kimberly Russell (58) followed with solid scores.

Water Polo
Oakdale’s varsity boys broke away from a tight match with 10 unanswered goals and a 24-7 blowout over Ripon on Sept. 7.
The win showcased some serious dominance from a power scoring Oakdale offense. Ripon trailed Oakdale just 4-3 after a quarter and only 11-6 at the half, but Oakdale exploded for a 13-1 rally to steadily creep out of reach.
Neal Cadra peppered the Ripon goal with big plays just in front of the net. He scored four of Oakdale’s first six goals and led both programs with eight total scores. Braden Lee added five goals while Jeremy Neathery and Brandon Terwilliger found the net four times each. Casey Whitley scored twice and Will Cavanaugh landed a goal as well.
Michael Tripp made 10 saves in the net for Oakdale.