Coyotes’ wrestlers open season with win
Madera Tribune File Photo
The Madera South Stallions boys cross country team stands to receive their third place team trophy at the 2014 CIF State Cross Country Championships.
2009
With any number of wrestling moves at their disposal —- the half-nelson, cradle, bar and tilt — Madera High seniors James Cook, at 189 pounds, and Luis Contreras, at 285, instead elected to improvise in the Coyotes’ opener against visiting Turlock.
Cook took Kevin Scroggins down just 15 seconds into the match, then wrapped his arms around his foe, who was laying flat on his stomach, picked him up and planted his shoulders on the mat with a punishing throw to end it in a mere 33 seconds.
After a 13-5 major decision by Francisco Garcia in the 215-pound match put the Coyotes ahead, 36-24, Contreras took center stage. The All-American, who placed sixth at the 2009 Junior Nationals, quickly stalked Turlock’s Jacob Stewart, wrapped his arms around him and planted him on his back to win by fall with one second remaining in the first period.
2011
Stallions take charity for first win
KERMAN — The McLane-Fresno Highlanders were whistled for 24 fouls and the Madera South Stallions took 39 free throws in a 69-56 victory at the Kerman Kiwanis Boys Basketball Tournament.
Unfortunately, the Stallions almost let the charity get away as they shot just 49 percent (19-of-39) from the line. If it wasn’t for Kenny Smith’s 8-of-10 from the free throw line, the Stallions would have shot 38 percent.
The Stallions had four players score in double-digits, led by Shaq Moore with 17. He also pulled down seven rebounds to tie for the team lead with Cooper Neal. Juwan Cummings added 12 points with three steals and Adriano Coronado scored 11 with three 3-pointers.
Smith scored 10 with a team-high five steals.
Coyotes post first win with rout
KERMAN — Behind a 24-2 second quarter, the Madera Coyotes opened the 2011-2012 season with a 71-44 victory over the Tranquillity Tigers in the first game of the Kerman Kiwanis Boys Basketball Tournament.
The Coyotes struggled early, letting Tranquility stay within two at 13-11. However, Armando Cantu and Chris Brown sparked a 29-4 run for a 42-15 Coyote lead at the half.
Cantu led the Coyotes with 21 points and also had six rebounds. Brown added 16 points with four 3-pointers as 13 players scored for the high-octane offense.
Javier Contreras scored eight points with eight rebounds and Mark Nevarez had four steals.
2014
Stallions take third in state meet
FRESNO — With one mile left to go in the CIF State Cross Country Champion boys Div. I race, the Madera South boys cross country team put itself in position to bring home the school and district’s first state title.
For senior No. 3 runner Juan Macias, the Stallions were right where they needed to be — ahead of favorites Great Oak-Temecula, Dana Hills, and Burroughs of Burbanks — approaching the final stretch on the 5,000-meter course at Fresno’s Woodward Park.
“Going into the second mile, I was in a great spot and I knew my two front runners (No. 1 Eduardo Herrera and No. 2 Miguel Villar) were in a great spot too,” Macias said. “My 4-5 (Michael Ochoa and Christian Nevarez) runners were trailing right behind me, so we were set up well in that second mile but the third mile came up and it was a little tough.”
While the Stallions had two runners finish in the top 10, it was Great Oak that pushed it’s first five runners across before the rest of the teams could to capture the State title with a combined score of 101.
Narrowly finishing behind the Wolfpack was runner-up Dana Hills (107) and the third-place Stallions (109), who earned their second straight trip to the podium.
Hawks punch title ticket
For the fifth time in the last six years and for the fourth straight season, the Liberty Hawks will play in the Valley Championship game.
After a resounding 30-14 victory over fourth-seeded Golden West-Visalia Trailblazers, the top-seeded Hawks are looking for their first Div. IV championship after winning the last two Div. V Valley titles.
The Hawks forced four turnovers and got 104 yards and a touchdown from Wade Wallace and two touchdowns from Richie Brandt for the victory over a school three times the size of Liberty.
C.J. Cambra was instrumental in the win on the defensive side of the football, recording seven tackles to go with a fumble recovery and an interception.
