Also, local girls soccer teams and Sobrato boys basketball win
league openers
MORGAN HILL — Winless through two Santa Teresa Division duals, the Sobrato wrestling team is all but out of contention for its first conference championship.
But the Bulldogs have much to look forward to this season and beyond. Wednesday, they caught a glimpse of their potentially bright future in freshman Zack Zhang, whose second-round pin against Kevin Howard at 145 pounds helped take the sting out of a 45-34 loss to Leigh in Sobrato Main Gym.
Zhang, a former county champion in middle school, exploded off the whistle for a reversal to start the second period. After Howard slipped away for an escape, Zhang took him down with a double underhook then spun around to sink in a half Nelson with one minute, 15 seconds left.
“He’s a beast,” Bulldogs coach Moses Guillardo said of Zhang. “He’s always consistent at practice. He works his hardest but stays loose in matches. He’s still getting used to the high school level.”
His teammates agree that he is off to a good start.
“I’ve been watching him since he was in eighth grade. He’s an animal; he never gives up,” senior Brandon Maack said. “He’s going to do good things for this team in the next couple years.”
Sobrato, which forfeited 24 points to the Longhorns (2-0 league), also received pins from sophomore Brian Gomes (112 pounds) and seniors Ryan Brewer (160) and Maack (171). Drew Johnson beat Leigh’s Jacob Sandoval by major decision, 18-6, at 140.
Brewer and Maack two took care of their opponents with big throws in the opening round. Brewer put Jordan Boone to the mat with 1:15 on the clock, and Maack slipped under Cole Bengston to set up a head-and-arm takedown with 29 seconds remaining.
“The older guys; we’re just trying to perfect their moves and add some new ones, and the new guys; we’re just trying to get them some experience,” said Guillardo, now in his first year at the helm. “We just need to work hard and try to get better each match.”
BOYS BASKETBALL
Bulldogs win big to start league
Ryan Williams scored 13 points, and Bryan Bradley and Charley Bynum added 11 apiece as Sobrato began its Santa Teresa campaign Wednesday with a 67-45 rout over Silver Creek.
The visiting Bulldogs (6-5 overall, 1-0 league) led 31-21 at the break and did not lose any steam in the second half.
Fourth-quarter rally not enough for LO
Live Oak netted 23 points in the final period Wednesday but left Lincoln High with a 69-61 loss on the opening night of West Valley Division play.
Dominic Leach scored 19 points to lead the Acorns (3-8, 0-1) and was joined in double figures scoring by teammates Cody Gallizioli and Nathan Seifert, who amassed 16 and 11 points, respectively.
GIRLS SOCCER
Acorns breeze by Branham
Fabi Diaz, Megan Rauschnot and Sabrina Rice found the net Wednesday in Live Oak’s Mount Hamilton Division-opening 3-1 win over visiting Branham.
Tiffany Greer, Amanda Morgan and Rauschnot were credited with assists for the Acorns (3-1-3, 1-0), who never trailed.
Cambra scores twice in SHS victory
Jennae Cambra tallied her eighth and ninth goals of the season in the second half Wednesday, pushing Sobrato past Lincoln, 2-1, in their Santa Teresa debut.
Goalkeeper Maggie Cropp had an assist to go with a dozen saves for the host Lady Bulldogs (3-1-2, 1-0).
