HUGHSON, Calif – Three Orestimba High wrestlers are entering into the postseason.

Those three Warriors, out of four, placed high at the Trans-Valley League tournament held at Hughson High on Saturday. Those matmen are Seth Blair (122-pounds), Mikey Santos (140) and Richie Ebert (192). Ebert pinned down third place in his weight class, while teammates Blair and Santos took fourth place in their respective weight classes.

Ebert wrote a wonderful chapter in his high school wrestling career at the league tournament.

“Everyone wrestled well but Richie Ebert showed us he didn’t want the season to end,” said Orestimba head coach Sergio Mar. “After a first round loss to a kid from Sonora, he (Ebert) had to wrestle a kid from Ripon, who he had lost to earlier in the season. He was able to avenge that loss with a third round pin and move to the match for third (place). That match would be against his first round loss and this time he was able to prevail, with a dominant win, which ended with a pin.”

A fourth Warrior, Ernie Arteaga at 134, took a fifth-place finish. But only the top four advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V Boys Wrestling Tournament, which will take place at Calaveras High in San Andreas this Friday and Saturday.

Mar pointed out that there were a few Warrior wrestlers who missed competing at the league tournament due to injuries. They were Landen De La Cruz (115) and Daniel Herrera (152).

Orestimba’s lone girl in Cynthia Hernandez (147) was also out due to injury.

“A true warrior,” said Mar of Hernandez.

The D-V tournament will start at 9 a.m. on both days.

Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushphotography.