Another busy week for Cougar teams in Season 1 saw boys and girls hitting the cross country course, as well as boys playing tennis and girls playing golf. Following are brief recaps of the contests.
GIRLS GOLF
Wednesday, March 3 at Escalon, the girls were 195-202 winners in a tight match against East Union, with five scores counted.
Pacing the Lady Cougars was Lucy Allbaugh at 35 and Ella Adams with a 36, followed by Ella MacKinnon with a 39. Also, Sarah Bava 42; Bella Ambro, Emma Guevara and Nathalia Guevara all coming in at 43; Gracie Bracco 51.
“This match was closer than it should have been,” said coach Kristie Cathcart. “The girls were not happy with their scores, since most had higher scores than their previous match. East Union had three really good scores 34, 35, 37. East Union is usually one of the top teams in the VOL, so it was a great feeling for the girls that with our five scores we were able to be them.”
Thursday, March 4 the team hosted Manteca and the Lady Cougars shot 177 as a team, with Manteca not fielding a full squad.
“Manteca only had three girls, so we started the match knowing we had the win,” Cathcart noted. “The goal I made for the girls was to do better than their Wednesday score. Seven of the eight girls shot lower than the day before which tells me they are trying to get better even without competition from the other team.”
Allbaugh shot a 32 on the day, with Adams, MacKinnon and Ambro all carding a 36. Emma Guevara shot a 37, Bava came in at 41, Nathalia Guevara 43, Bracco 47.
“We play Sierra on Wednesday (March 10) at home. Our goal is to continue to improve and spend this week working to get ready to take on Oakdale and Ripon at Oakdale Country Club on March 15,” Cathcart said.
CROSS COUNTRY
Escalon at Kimball
“The varsity girls won again and the varsity boys ran well but lost to Kimball,” Escalon head coach Rick Heflin said of the team’s competition this past week. “Everyone had a personal record day which was awesome.”
Leading the girls was Karla Cordova (third place overall) 24:47; fourth Lauren Thompson, 24:56; fifth Belen Lechuga, 25:57; sixth Samantha Torres, 25:59; seventh Ryan Walker, 27:03; eighth Gorette Coelho, 27:25; ninth Molly Terpstra, 27:48; 10th Jill Junquiero, 31:15; 11th Julie Avila, 32:35.
The boys were led by Dillan Booth (fourth overall) 20:38; eighth Josh Churchill, 22:39; ninth Jacen People, 22:40; 10th Brandon Granda, 23:05; 12th Grady Fugett, 23:14; 13th Jose Calderon, 23:29; 14th Jacob Beneux, 23:29.
“This week we are at home against Oakdale,” Heflin said. “Our athletes are improving every week.”
TENNIS
Escalon’s boys claimed a victory over Weston Ranch but fell in action against Sierra and Central Catholic.
Tuesday, March 9 vs. Weston Ranch – Winners in boys singles were Evan Shafter, 7-5, 6-1; Eli Lattig, 7-5, 6-4; Dylan Critser, 6-2, 6-0; Michael Megenney, 6-1, 6-0; Joshua Schut, 6-4, 6-1.
In doubles, Michael Baptista and Nikolai Lorenzo fell 0-6, 0-2 while Critser and Megenney were 8-4 winners.
Thursday, March 11 vs. Sierra – Tough going against the Timberwolves for the Cougars, with Shafter, Lattig, Critser, Megenney and Schut all taking losses in singles play. Shafter fell 1-6, 0-6; Lattig 2-6, 1-6; Critser 3-6, 6-4 tiebreak 2-10; Megenney 1-6, 1-6; Schut 4-6, 0-6.
Doubles play saw Baptista and Lorenzo fall 1-6, 1-4.
Friday, March 12 vs. Central Catholic
Five singles matches saw the Cougars fall in straight sets in each, with Lattig, Critser, Schut, Baptista and Lorenzo taking losses to the Raiders.
Doubles action saw Lattig and Critser team up for a 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 (tiebreaker) victory and also winning were Schut and Baptisa, 7-6, 6-4.
“We are blessed to be able to play this year,” said coach Jackey Blakeley. “The guys come out to practice to get better and play with heart at all matches. Five out of seven players are seniors and they are having fun; that’s what playing sports is all about.”
