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Local Sports Year In Review 2018: Part One
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The 2018 OHS baseball team celebrates winning the 2018 VOL championship in May.
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The OHS boys golf team went undefeated in 2018. Shown is David Myrtakis putting at the Oakdale course.
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Molalla, Oregon barrel racer Kristin Brashears makes the final turn of the race during the PRCA Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo.
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Jake Ryan placed first in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championship at Stockton Arena in February and also won a medal in March at Bakersfield at the CIF State Championships.

As we embark on a new calendar year, with hopes, goals and wishes, it is also a time to reflect on the year that was 2018. In this edition we focus on the first six months of Oakdale sports. From Oakdale Mustang squads, to rodeo, boxing and mixed martial arts, 2018 was filled with champions and achievements. Here is a glance at the first half of the year’s top sports stories. The second half of 2018 (July-December) will be featured in the Jan. 2 edition of The Leader.

 

JANUARY

Multi-sport athlete Matt Kjeldgaard signed with Fresno State to play football. Kjeldgaard had his choice of many schools but ultimately choose the Bulldogs. He not only played football for OHS but during his time as a Mustang he also wrestled, played tennis and competed in track and field.

OHS wrestlers pinned down their 10th straight CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championship at Lincoln High School in Stockton. They defeated Vallejo 79-12, Bear Creek 65-12 and Benicia 62-12.

 

FEBRUARY

The OHS Mustangs wrestling team followed up with their 12th consecutive Valley Oak League Championship in February as they won at Sierra High School on Feb. 10, 2018. With their win they advanced 12 grapplers to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championship at Stockton Arena. Eight of the 12 grapplers qualified for the CIF State Championship in Bakersfield.

On the hardwood, Oakdale boys basketball defeated Manteca 64-54 for their first win over Manteca since Jan. 23, 2014. The night was memorable not just for the big win but for the four seniors on the team as it was Senior Night.

Former OHS soccer player Jake Mendoza signed with California State University Stanislaus to play for the Warriors. Mendoza played in 23 games and scored a total of 20 points on six goals and eight assists as a Mustang.

 

MARCH

Four Mustangs earned medals at the CIF State Wrestling Championships. Henry Porter, Jake Ryan, Gabe Martinez and Colbey Harlan all brought home medals in March of 2018.

In Oakdale Junior High School basketball, the Lady Rams won their second straight championship. They were coached by Bobby Cole and won every game by an average of 20 points per game.

On the track, Oakdale hosted the County Clash IV at OHS on March 23. At the event, Oakdale had several top 10 finishes, including Kayden Legan setting a then-personal best 11:57.10 in the 3200 meter race.

 

APRIL

The PRCA Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo took place on the weekend of April 14 and 15. At the event thousands of fans from around the globe watched from the grandstands as a variety of events, including the most exciting eight seconds in sports, captivated the Cowboy Capital of the World.

In late April, USA Boxing Junior Olympics were held at OHS. Over 20 bouts were held inside the gym. The event was hosted and put together by The Boxing Development Center in Oakdale.

On April 20, OHS softball pitcher Lexi Webb pitched a perfect game against Central Catholic. Webb had a dozen strikeouts in the win.

April 26 the OHS boys golfers finished the regular season undefeated (14-0). They defeated Lathrop 202-312. The team consisted of many contributors including Ryan Meyer, Max Moore, Tristan Jaramillo, Kyle Seese, David Myrtakis, Calvin Reed, Jack Verdegaal, Brayden Gordon and Isaac Einhell.

 

MAY

On May 7, freshman golfer Ryan Meyer carded an 81 at the CIF Masters Golf Tournament.

May 8 the OHS varsity softball team claimed the VOL championship with a 7-1 road win over East Union.

The OHS varsity boys baseball team also won the VOL championship in early May with a 6-3 road win over Kimball. Both the softball and baseball teams later fell in the playoffs.

OHS track team competed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Masters and had several standouts.

 

JUNE

Former OHS softball standouts Kindra and Maddi Hackbarth helped power the Arizona State Sun Devils to the College World Series in Oklahoma City. ASU lost to the Oregon Ducks 11-6 and then fell to Oklahoma University 2-0.

On June 9, four OHS baseball players competed in the 29th Annual High School All-Star Baseball Classic at CSUS. Alex Daoud, Jacob Solorio, Dylan Wright and Max Moore all played in the game.

June 16 saw Thomas Wood compete in the 45th Annual Lions District 4A-1 All-Star Football game as an offensive lineman.

Grace Green and Adriana Aguilar played in the 28th Annual High School Softball Classic. Green hit a three-run home run and Aguilar had an RBI double in the team’s win.