Sports Briefs: Downey creating all-girls wrestling team

DOWNEY – Downey High School wrestling coach Miguel Soto is creating an all-girls wrestling program. 

In the past, there have been 3-4 girls wrestling at Downey each year on the boy’s team. With the growing interest of wrestling, however, it is time to move forward and grow this sport. 

According to Coach Soto, “many schools now have large numbers of girls participating on wrestling teams and have started to separate the girls from the boys.” Girl’s wrestling now has a C.I.F. sanctioned season embedded in the boy’s wrestling season.

Wrestling competes via weight classes. Wrestling is the perfect equalizer sport because an athlete may not be quick enough to play soccer or may not be tall enough to play basketball. Wrestling is the perfect sport because it gives student-athletes of all sizes and athletic abilities an opportunity to participate. In order for this program to grow, more potential girl wrestlers are needed.

There will be an information meeting at Downey High School on April 6 in the theatre after school when students come back from spring break. Coach Soto and his staff are looking forward to a big turnout and hope to see those interested in attendance. Coach Soto can be contacted with further questions at msoto@dusd.net.  

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The Warren High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 6-3 and will begin S.G.V.L. play when they host Paramount on 4/12. 

Paramount has a preseason record of 5-3. Warren will travel to Paramount on 4/15, will travel to Gahr on 4/19 and will host Gahr on 4/22. Gahr has a preseason record of 6-1. The Bears will host cross-town rival Downey on 4/26 and will travel to Downey on 4/29. Downey has a preseason record of 2-6.

Warren competed in the Southern California Baseball Tournament from 3/2-3/10. The Bears were defeated by Northview 2-1 on 3/2, defeated West Valley 5-1 on 3/4, were defeated by South Hills 6-0 on 3/9 and were defeated by Carter 7-1 on 3/10. Warren finished the SCB tournament with a record of 1-3.

Warren defeated Norwalk at Warren 10-0 on 3/15, defeated Bell at Warren 10-0 on 3/21 and played Cantwell-Sacred Heart on Wednesday (score unavailable at press time). The Bears will play two more preseason games before the start of league play. Warren will travel to Santa Ana on 4/2 and will play West Ranch on 4/5.

Coach Pearson, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of S.G.V.L. play. The Bears finished last season with an overall record of 22-9 and were 6-2 in S.G.V.L. play. The Bears lost to Etiwanda 2-1 in the second round of the C.I.F. Division 2 playoffs.

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The Downey High School boys’ volleyball team currently has an overall record of 3-6 and will begin S.G.V.L. play when they host Lynwood on April 4. 

Downey was defeated by Cerritos at Cerritos 3-1 on 3/1, defeated Norwalk at Norwalk 3-2 on 3/3 and was defeated by Valley Christian at Downey 3-0 on 3/8. Downey started their season 1-2.

The Vikings were defeated by El Rancho at El Rancho 3-0 on 3/10 and defeated Whittier Christian at Downey 3-1 on 3/15. The Vikings were 2-3 after their first five games.

Downey defeated St. Anthony 2-0, was defeated by Thousand Oaks 2-0 and was defeated by Bell Gardens 2-1 on 3/18 in the Valley Christian Tournament on 3/18. Downey was defeated by Paloma Valley 2-0 on 3/19 in the same VC tournament. Downey finished the Valley Christian Tournament with a record of 1-3. Downey finished their preseason schedule with a record of 3-6.

Downey will open league play against Lynwood (6-1) at home on 4/5, will travel to cross-town rival Warren (14-3) on 4/7 and will host Paramount (4-4) on 4/14.

The Vikings finished last season with an overall record of 5-17 and were 2-6 in league play. Coach McCarthy, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of S.G.V.L. play. 

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The Downey High School girls’ lacrosse team currently has an overall record of 5-2 and are 2-0 in Ocean League play. 

Downey plays in the Ocean League because there are no other teams in the San Gabriel Valley League that field a team. The Ocean League consists of Downey, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Marlborough.

Downey defeated Newbury Park at Newbury Park 9-8 on 3/2, defeated Crescenta Valley at Downey 7-4 on 3/8 and were defeated by Peninsula at Downey 11-10 on 3/10. The Lady Vikings were defeated by Tesoro at the LA/OC Shootout Tournament 11-5 on 3/12 and defeated El Toro at Laguna Hills 18-9 on 3/12.

In Ocean League play, Downey defeated Beverly Hills at Beverly Hills 16-6 on 3/18 and defeated Culver City at Downey 14-3 on 3/18. The Lady Vikings hosted Marlborough on Wednesday (score unavailable at press time). 

Downey has been led this season by senior standout Ashley Guerrero. As a team, the Lady Vikings have scored 79 goals, given up 52 goals and are currently on a three game win streak. When Downey returns from spring break, they will host El Segundo on 4/5 and will travel to Santa Monica on 4/8.

Coach Mires, his staff and players are looking forward to competing in Ocean League play and getting ready for a postseason run.

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The Downey Calvary Chapel softball team currently has an overall record of 10-1 and will begin Academy League play when they travel to Oxford Academy (9-0) on 4/12. 

Crean Lutheran, Brethren Christian and Whitney High Schools also compete in Academy League play for softball.

DCC defeated the Archer School for Girls at the Archer School for Girls 5-0 on 3/15. The Lady Grizzlies competed in the Ontario Christian Tournament from 3/17-3/19 where they finished the tournament with a record of 3-1. DCC was defeated by Glendora 10-4 on 3/17, defeated Mary Star of the Sea 10-6 on 3/18, defeated Walnut 7-6 on 3/19 and defeated Mendez 20-10 on 3/22.

DCC  hosted Valley Christian yesterday (score unavailable at press time). The Lady Grizzlies have games scheduled against La Salle at Independence Park on 4/5, against St. Anthony at Pan American Park on 4/7 and will begin league play against Oxford Academy at Oxford Academy on 4/12.

The Lady Grizzlies have been led this season by senior standout catcher Tiana Rodriguez, junior third baseman Bella Veloz and freshman pitcher Raylene Roybal.

Coach Rodriguez, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of Academy League play. DCC has qualified for postseason play in nine straight seasons and look to continue that streak this season. The Lady Grizzlies compete in C.I.F. Division 6.