With 2018 officially in the books, The Oakdale Leader takes time this week to look back at the final six months of the year that was. From July to December, the local sports community celebrated champions, individual achievements and also suffered through defeats. From new hires to retirement, 2018 served up a little bit of everything.
JULY
Rodeo standouts Philip Knierieme and Madison Deardorf each competed in the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming. The event took place from July 15 to July 21. Kelsey Cadwell, another rodeo standout, competed in the 26th annual International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Oklahoma that same week.
In late July, The National Day of the Cowboy was celebrated with the 2018 Western States Ranch Rodeo at the Oakdale Rodeo Grounds. The event was put on by the Oakdale Saddle Club.
AUGUST
August saw the arrival of the Oakdale Fillies, a youth travel softball team. The team is coached by David Jablonski, longtime Oakdale Baseball Softball Association President, and Ben Waltman. The Fillies went on to compete in many tournaments during the summer. The team consisted of all Oakdale girls and are a U-12 team.
Oakdale’s American Fastpitch Club (AFC) reached number two in the state of California and were ranked in the top 125 on the national list for U-18 softball. The team is coached by Don Gonzalez.
The 2018-2019 Oakdale High School year started in August and that meant fall sports began to practice and scrimmage. In late August, Oakdale’s girls golf team won the first Valley Oak League tournament of the season.
SEPTEMBER
The Mustangs football team welcomed Chaparral High School of Parker, Colorado. The preseason football game saw Oakdale come out on top 28-20.
Sept. 12 the Oakdale varsity girls cross country team took first place at the VOL meet. Haleigh Humble took first place in the five-kilometer run. A week later, Humble set a school record at Elkhorn Golf Course. The freshman completed the five-kilometer run in 18:27.
The girls golf team earned their third VOL tournament victory.
OCTOBER
It was on Oct. 10 that the annual OHS Powder Puff game took place and the game ended in a 6-6 tie.
The volleyball girls celebrated a three set victory over Weston Ranch on Senior Night 2018. A week later, the girls season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs.
The Mustangs football team defeated Kimball 69-28 in the Homecoming Game. Later in the month, Oakdale lost to Central Catholic 54-14. It was the team’s first regular season home loss since 2013.
Oakdale’s golf girls capped off a perfect regular season by winning the VOL Championship Tournament. October continued to be a big month for the golfers as they won the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championship.
In the pool both the boys and girls water polo teams advanced to the playoffs.
NOVEMBER
The girls water polo team’s season came to an end when they lost in the second round to Davis. For the boys, it was a trip to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championship game. It was the first in school history. Oakdale fell to Christian Brothers 10-7. Shortly after the season came to an end; head coach Diane Kline announced her retirement.
The girls golf team season came to an end when they placed ninth overall at the 2018 NorCals at Woodbridge Golf and Country Club.
Three student athletes signed their National Letter of Intent on Nov. 15. Alexis Webb, Ricky Torres and Gabriel Martinez all announced their post high school plans. Webb signed with Fresno State (softball), Torres signed with Cal Poly and Martinez with Campbellsville University; both for wrestling.
In cross country, Haleigh Humble and Kayden Legan each made it to the CIF State Cross Country Meet. Humble placed 30th overall and Legan placed 39th out of 214 runners.
Oakdale football came to an end in the SIF Sac-Joaquin Section Semifinals. Oakdale lost by a 31-28 final on the road at Rio Linda.
DECEMBER
Oakdale Stampede varsity squad earned their second straight CenCal Youth Football League Super Bowl title with a 58-20 victory over Modesto.
Winter sports began for the Mustangs. Poor air quality due to wildfires and then rain delayed the start of soccer. However, the wrestling team started off strong. They placed third overall at Bakersfield for the Rumble for the Rig and placed third at their annual James Riddle Classic.
The Oakdale boys basketball team started the season off on a 12-0 run and closed out the month by placing fourth with a 1-2 mark in the Oakdale Rotary Club Classic.
