Six Herd Grapplers Place At Zinkin Classic

In their second tournament of the season, Elk Grove’s wrestling squad found the competition stiff at the Zinkin Tournament at Buchanan High School in Clovis Saturday.

No team scores were kept in this tournament, but six Herd grapplers placed in the 40-team event. ^rd at 132 pounds), Zach Krock (5^th at 170 pounds), Jacob Seto (6^th at 113 pounds), Terrell Turner (7^th at 138 pounds), Jesse Arroyo (7^th at 120 pounds) and Nahele Tonge (7^th at 126 pounds).

Elk Grove's Jacob Seto

They were Kelani Tonge (3

Latest Section Rankings

The California Grappler’s updated rankings of wrestlers in the Sac-Joaquin Section show several locals in the top eight of their respective weight group.

Valley’s Bilah Baloch is ranked number one at 106 pounds, as is Elk Grove’s Sai Ta’amu at 220 pounds and teammate Jacob Seto at 113 pounds.

Ta’amu has recently begun working out with the wrestling team because of a hand injury suffered in the Herd’s playoff loss to St. Mary’s. He’s expected to begin competition in January.

Jesse Arroyo of Elk Grove is ranked eighth at 126 pounds, while teammate Kalani Tonge is fifth at 132 pounds and heavyweight Tyler Yates is ranked seventh.

There are three Franklin grapplers ranked, as well. Josh Villaflor is ranked third-best at 132 pounds, Antonio Jimenez is seventh at 138 pounds and Robbie Nickerson is considered fourth-best at 182 pounds.

Hikutini Signs With Louisville

Cole Hikutini, a former wide receiver at Pleasant Grove High School who has played football the past two years at City College of San Francisco, recently signed a National Letter-of-Intent to continue his collegiate career at Louisville.

Playing at tight end for the Rams, the 6-5, 245-pound Hikutini led the team with 40 receptions for 658 yards and four TD’s in 2014. CCSF made it all the way to the State Community College championship game before losing to Mt. San Antonio College, 27-17.

Allen Seeing Regular Playing Time With Aztecs

The San Diego State Aztecs are ranked in the top-20 in most college men’s basketball polls with an 8-3 record. Former Sheldon standout Dakarai Allen has played in all eleven games for the Aztecs, averaging three points and making 47 percent of all shots. He’s averaging about eleven minutes of playing time each game for head coach Steven Fisher.

Allen’s Sheldon teammate D’Erryl Williams has played in six games thus far. Both are sophomores at SDSU.

Aztec freshman center Malik Pope, who played his high school ball at Burbank and Laguna Creek, has seen action in six games thus far.