Sierra’s girls water polo team placed third in the gold division of the Western States Tournament.
The Timberwolves won three of their four matches held Friday and Saturday at Ripon and Oakdale high schools, respectively.
They opened Friday by pounding Pacheco 12-3, later dispatching Atwater, 15-5. On Saturday, Sierra took its lone defeat of the tourney against Valley Oak League rival Oakdale, 11-5. The T’wolves closed strong, holding off Beyer, 9-7.
“We grew and learned with every game,” Sierra coach Lauren Koury said. “Very proud of them all.”
Lauren Ellis led the assault for Sierra with 11 goals overall. Amy Fadeff added 10. Fadeff had a tone-setting four-goal explosion in the first quarter of the Timberwolves’ first game of the tournament. Ellis amassed six goals in the blowout of Atwater.
Giana Ramos chipped in with seven goals for the tournament, Kiera Brink fired four, and Taylor Miske and Zoe Sandoval each scored a pair. Stephanie Thomason, Stefany Perez, Maya Murillo and Marissa Rush added one tally apiece.
CROSS COUNTRY
Thunder XC Classic
Annie Wild dominated the 3-mile course at Lake Yosemite on Saturday, spearheading Ripon’s team championship in the varsity division. The Indians edged out Madera, 64-66.
Wild clocked the winning time of 18 minutes, 13.4 seconds. Jenna Skavdahl took 10th in 20:22.8, Mallory Govia was 13th in 20:39.9 and Alyson Harvey 20th in 21:25.9. Kiana Kutch of Sierra was 14th in 20:55.5.
Sierra’s boys also took home a title, outpointing second-place Dixon, 55-74. Tristan Crowe paced the Timberwolves in 16:50.8. Teammates Christian Gonzalez (ninth, 17:06.5), Brendan Alson (11th, 17:19.2), Ernesto Pacheco (15th, 17:24.6), Brady Alves (16th, 17:29.6) and Manuel Alvarez (18th, 17:42.6) also made the top 20.
Julio Perez (eighth, 17:01.7) and Valente Hernandez (14th, 17:23.5) were the top performers for Ripon’s boys.
In lower levels, Sierra’s Jacob Morrow won the 2-mile frosh-soph boys race in 11:29.5. Ivan Serrano won the JV 2-mile with 11:50.5, leading Ripon to the title.
Hughson Supercross Invitational
Sienna Jones of Manteca was the top performer from the area Saturday in Hughson, placing 13th out 109 in 17:24. Teammate Jordyn Hegarty was 26th in 17:53.75. Stephanie Andrade Salcedo led Lathrop with a 51st-place time 19:26.23.
Manteca took fifth (125 points) in the 4,000-meter varsity black race. Lathrop finished in sixth (142), and Ripon Christian 11th (247).
Oscar Angel took 16th in 15:11.67 for Manteca. He was followed by fellow Buffalo Dario Rodriguez, who finished 21st in 15:27.81. Aron Camacho took 24th in 15:29.85, Luis Matute 29th in 15:46.68 and Miguel Gonzales 30th in 15:54.41.
Makenzie Forsberg finished in seventh place (18:57.54) om the 4,000-meter frosh-soph race.
GIRLS GOLF
VFL North Tournament
Ripon senior Gabbi Ilardi secured her third MVP award in the Valley Foothill League after finishing 2-over 74 Monday at Swenson Park Golf Course in Stockton.
The Indians qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V Tournament, which takes place next Monday, Oct. 24 at Swenson. They made it as the second-place team in the VFL North. Ripon tied with Argonaut with a 373 score in the league finale, but losses to the Mustangs in two dual matches and the mid-year tourney. Bret Harte is the third team qualifier out of the VFL North.
Ripon’s Katie Martin finished as co-runner-up individually, tying Escalon’s Lucy Allbaugh with 86s. Aaliyah Martinez (106) and Vivian Parsons (107) rounded out team scoring for Ripon. Anna Fisher carded a 109, and Gaby Calderara scored a 117.
