In a season that will go down as laying the foundation for Riverbank High's wrestling program, the Bruins continued to take their program to new heights with an impressive showing during the Mel Focha JV Wrestling Tournament, staged Saturday, Jan.19 at Escalon High.
The Bruins wrestled four wrestlers in the tournament and each of the grapplers returned home with a medal.
"I feel so happy for the guys," Riverbank head coach Ronnie Robbins said. "They all wrestled really well and seem to be getting better and better with each match."
Riverbank closed out the 28-team tournament with an impressive three first place finishes and a third place finish as well. Jesus Cerda at 171 and Zach Fisher at heavyweight continued their dominance, going a combined 7-1 in the JV tournament and both grabbing first place medals.
Bruin mat newcomer Ben Hodges impressed teammates and coaches alike with his first place finish in the tournament. Hodges closed out tournament play with a perfect 4-0 record, all wins coming by way of the pin in the 130-pound division.
"Little Ben is going to be a good wrestler," Robbins said. "He really brought it to everyone he faced. They were all surprised. He pinned everyone that he faced.
"That is pretty impressive."
Riverbank saw its young gun of the squad, Ryan Hutson, finish with third place honors, making the tournament a successful on all levels for the Bruins.
"All of them are really good kids who are picking things up pretty quick," Robbins said. "We're so young that this tournament was a good thing for us. To finish with three firsts and a third is quite a feat."
The Bruins will look to make their final push into the Trans-Valley League meet with a tune-up against a solid Pitman program. Riverbank won't be getting any easy wins against the Pride and will most definitely earn each point that they acquire.
"It's coming to the end of the season," Robbins said. "We're going to have to step up and truly test our skills."
The Bruins wrestled four wrestlers in the tournament and each of the grapplers returned home with a medal.
"I feel so happy for the guys," Riverbank head coach Ronnie Robbins said. "They all wrestled really well and seem to be getting better and better with each match."
Riverbank closed out the 28-team tournament with an impressive three first place finishes and a third place finish as well. Jesus Cerda at 171 and Zach Fisher at heavyweight continued their dominance, going a combined 7-1 in the JV tournament and both grabbing first place medals.
Bruin mat newcomer Ben Hodges impressed teammates and coaches alike with his first place finish in the tournament. Hodges closed out tournament play with a perfect 4-0 record, all wins coming by way of the pin in the 130-pound division.
"Little Ben is going to be a good wrestler," Robbins said. "He really brought it to everyone he faced. They were all surprised. He pinned everyone that he faced.
"That is pretty impressive."
Riverbank saw its young gun of the squad, Ryan Hutson, finish with third place honors, making the tournament a successful on all levels for the Bruins.
"All of them are really good kids who are picking things up pretty quick," Robbins said. "We're so young that this tournament was a good thing for us. To finish with three firsts and a third is quite a feat."
The Bruins will look to make their final push into the Trans-Valley League meet with a tune-up against a solid Pitman program. Riverbank won't be getting any easy wins against the Pride and will most definitely earn each point that they acquire.
"It's coming to the end of the season," Robbins said. "We're going to have to step up and truly test our skills."
