The Godinez girls wrestling team placed fourth at the Queen of the Hill tournament Saturday at Corona High.
The Grizzlies had three individual champions: Diana Castaneda (126 pounds), Brenda Hernandez (137) and Alejandra Colin (235).
This weekend, Western will host the third annual Lady Pioneer Showdown. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m.
In the latest state rankings, Valencia’s Gabby Garcia (121) and Santa Ana’s Brenda Perez (150) are ranked atop their respective weight classes.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
BOYS WRESTLING
Irvine won the 26-team Rim of the World tournament Saturday. The Vaqueros scored 186.5 points and had three individual champions: Armon Fayyazi (160), David Brito (220) and Chris Yoon (285). …
Mater Dei finished third in a two-day tournament hosted by John Glenn of Norwalk. Johnny McLaughlin (113), Luke Walsh (145) and Trevor Perez (152) won titles. McLaughlin was the Lower Weight MVP. …
Sonora’s Josh Kawaguchi (113) and Russell Rohlifing (120) helped lead the Raiders to a 10th-place finish at the Tournament of Champions at Cerritos College. Two-time state qualifier Gino Roman (El Dorado) won the 160-pound title. …
Laguna Hills finished second at the Nogales Super Champs. Jon Salazar won the title at 152 points. The Hawks finished with 10 individual medalists.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
BOYS SOCCER
Century junior Amirgy Pineda traveled to London last week to begin a three-month stint in the Nike Academy.
More than 150,000 players from around the world entered tryouts for The Chance – Nike Academy, but only six players were selected.
Pineda was one of the players selected, earning an opportunity to play against development teams for some of the top European pro clubs such as Manchester United and FC Barcelona.
“Every time I stepped out on the field, I had to give my all,” Pineda said of the tryouts. “I had to sacrifice a lot, but at the end of the day, it all paid off.”
Pineda is the only player from the United States to make it this far. He is hoping to turn the opportunity into a contract with a professional team.
“For me it doesn’t matter who I play for, as long as I make it,” Pineda said. “This is the career that I want to have.”
Pineda, 16, is the youngest player on the Nike Academy team and the only one still in high school.
He worked out a plan with his teachers at Century that will allow him to complete his studies via email.
“It feels a little weird (to be the youngest),” Pineda said. “I know they are going to treat me like a little kid.”
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
GIRLS SOCCER
County teams enjoyed a successful run at the Arizona Soccer Showcase last week in Phoenix.
Villa Park won the Black Division championship and Troy advanced to the semifinals of its bracket before being knocked out.
The Warriors’ run to the semifinals included a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Rosary. …
– JASON EICHELBERGER
GIRLS WATER POLO
Newport Harbor’s girls water polo team didn’t miss the positives from its runner-up finish to top-ranked Laguna Beach at the Holiday Cup.
The Sailors (7-2) were within one goal of the Breakers (9-0) early in the fourth period Saturday after a penalty shot drawn by Kate Pipkin was converted for a goal by Heidi Fults.
And for most of the rest of the fourth period, Newport Harbor stayed within two goals of Laguna Beach before falling, 11-8.
The Sailors were the only team at the Holiday Cup to stick with the Breakers for four periods.
“I think we’re all really happy with what we did in the tournament,” said Newport Harbor center Christina O’Beck, whose team reached the Holiday Cup final for the first time since 2009-10. “Just making it to the final game and giving Laguna a run for their money was an accomplishment.”
O’Beck said Newport Harbor will need to defend better against Laguna Beach’s Makenzie Fischer the next time the teams meet. The national team member scored five goals in the final, including two consecutive in the fourth after the Sailors trimmed their deficit to 9-8. …
Corona del Mar’s Grace Morgan delivered a breakout performance at the Holiday Cup on Saturday. The hard-shooting junior scored a combined five goals in the semifinals and third-place match. In the third-place game, Morgan helped close out a 6-3 victory against Foothill with two goals and a field-block against a power-play in the fourth period.
– DAN ALBANO
