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Wrestling Squad Sending 14 Mustangs On To Divisionals
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One of a dozen VOL champions for Oakdale, Cody Golding won by pin in the first round of this match on Saturday, Feb. 2, taking the mats in the 195-pound division. Marg Jackson/The Leader
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Battling against his Sierra opponent, 152-pounder Jordan Van Rys takes control in an early round match at Saturday’s VOL championships. He won this match by technical fall and went on to claim the league title at 152 pounds. Marg Jackson/The Leader

Over a dozen wrestlers will be making the trip to Vista Del Lago High School this week to compete in the Divisionals. The Mustangs, who hosted the 2018-2019 Valley Oak League Championships this past weekend, crowned 12 league champions and saw two of their grapplers nail down second place finishes.

Brayden Abell (108), Michael Torres (113), Clayton Bashor (120), Ceasar Garza (126), Henry Porter (132), Ricky Torres (138), Seth Borba (145), Jordan Van Rys (152), Gabe Martinez (170), Beau Osmundson (182) Cody Golding (195), and Ben Molina (220) were all crowned champions at Oakdale High School on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 2. These grapplers wrestled in multiple matches to achieve their championship status and continue their impressive postseason run.

The wrestlers did battle against league opponents from Sierra, East Union, Central Catholic, Kimball, Manteca and Weston Ranch. Oakdale’s dominance over these schools has extended for well over a decade as they clinched their 12th straight Valley Oak League championship.

Making a trip to the final round on Saturday were Francisco Perez (160) and heavyweight Eric DeGraff, each earning second place honors at the VOL event. Both have advanced to the Divisionals this weekend along with the league champions.

Oakdale has continued to dominate the competition and this weekend will be the final stop before wrestlers compete at CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Masters inside Stockton Arena. The Masters is last local event before the CIF State Championship in Bakersfield scheduled for Feb. 21-Feb. 23. Last season the Mustangs sent eight wrestlers to the big dance. Abell, Bashor, Porter, Martinez, Ricky Torres, Cody Golding and Borba all qualified last year and are hoping to return this year.