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Rancho Cotate senior Leilani Kuka. (Photo by Christopher Chung, The Press Democrat)

2013 All-Empire Girls Wrestling: Rancho Cotate’s Kuka short on experience, long on mettle

The second-year wrestler won the North Coast Section championship at 154 pounds and earned a trip to the California Interscholastic Federation state meet. Read Article →
P.J. Klee works out with Josh Berkovic of San Francisco at El
Nino Gym in San Francisco on May 9.  Klee will wrestle for Cardinal Newman next year. 
Photo credit: Crista
Jeremiason / The Press Democrat

PADECKY: Klee won’t be a secret for long

Curious, that would be the word, the buzz right now on Cardinal Newman’s campus. Let’s see P.J. Klee. Let’s see him wrestle. Let’s see what a three-time high school All-American looks like. Read Article →
Bill Carle, president of the Santa Rosa Schools board of education, fielded questions about spring sports during a town hall meeting put on by Schools Plus at Santa Rosa High on April 13, 2010.  
Credit: Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat

PADECKY: School board forks out for safety

A week ago Wednesday, the idle conversation and the wringing of hands stopped. The Santa Rosa City Schools board approved the hiring of athletic trainers and neurocognitive testing for every student-athlete who will play a collision sport. Read Article →
Santa Rosa's Devin Murray, wearing a concussion band, chases a loose rebound between Maria Carrillo's Aaliyah Sowards (No. 31) and Claire Wheeler during a game on Jan. 28.  Credit: Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat

Battle plan for concussions

Starting this autumn, student-athletes at all five Santa Rosa public high schools will be supervised by certified athletic trainers and given baseline cognitive tests to help evaluate head injuries. Read Article →
Photos by JOHN SACHS / Tech-Fall.com, for The Press Democrat
Windsor junior Perez Perez, top, lost three matches Saturday but still finished sixth at 106 pounds, the highest state placing in school history.

State wrestling: Perez places 6th, Rios and Christiansen 8th

The three remaining Empire wrestlers — Windsor’s Perez Perez and Oscar Rios, and El Molino’s Taryn Christiansen — all placed in the top eight of their respective weight classes to bring home state medals. Read Article →
JOHN SACHS / For The Press Democrat
Windsor’s Perez Perez controls Oakdale’s Nico Colunga in the Jaguar star’s quarterfinal win Friday to advance to today’s semifinals.

State wrestling: Windsor’s Perez reaches semifinals

Perez Perez , in the hunt for a state title, is guaranteed at least a sixth-place finish, which makes him the top performer in Windsor school history, surpassing Cody Howe’s seventh-place finish in 2009. Read Article →
SCOTT MANCHESTER / The Press Democrat
Rancho Cotate wrestlers Joey Clay, in white, and Brian Guerrero practice for the state wrestling tournament to be held in Bakersfield.

State wrestling: Cougars got up off the mat

Rancho Cotate's Joey Clay and Brian Guerrero weathered midseason coaching change to reach state tournament. Read Article →

Wrestling: Empire athletes fare well at NCS championships

Seven Empire wrestlers managed to make it into the final round of their respective weight classes at Newark High School, only to be defeated. Read Article →
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NCS wrestling: Upper Lake aims to compete with section’s best

The Redwood Empire is expected to send 141 boys to Newark High this weekend for the section meet, starting Friday, and some of the best are from Upper Lake. Read Article →

Wrestling: Windsor’s Perez, El Molino’s Christiansen earn top seeds for NCS

Twenty-nine wrestlers in the North Bay League, Sonoma County League and Coastal Mountain Conference are seeded in the NCS meet, which is being held Friday and Saturday at Newark Memorial High School. Read Article →

Wrestling: Windsor dominates NBL championships

The Jaguars qualified wrestlers for the section championships in all 14 weight classes in the North Bay League championships at Ukiah. Read Article →
Perez Perez, left, wrestles with Noah Au-Yeung during practice at Windsor High School on Wednesday. (Photo by CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / The Press Democrat)

Empire wrestlers’ Olympic dreams in peril

The International Olympic Committee's decision to remove their sport from the Olympics threatens the dreams of top prep wrestlers. Read Article →
Windsor's Noah Ah-Yeung takes down Ukiah's David Watson in the 122 weight class during the NCS Dual Team Championships on Saturday at El Molino High School. (Crista Jeremiason / The Press Democrat)

Wrestling: Windsor dominates NCS Dual Team Championships

The heavily favored Jaguars run away with the Division 2 title. Upper Lake beats McKinleyville to win its fifth straight NCS dual competition title. Read Article →
Healdsburg's Ricky Grainger faced Sonoma Valley's Jake Randuch in the 126 lbs. weight class during a varsity wrestling meet between Sonoma Valley and Healdsburg High schools in Healdsburg on Feb. 6, 2013.  (Photo by ALVIN JORNADA / The Press Democrat)

Sonoma Valley wins SCL dual title

Aidan Lacy and Sam Denning registered impressive victories on Wednesday to lead Sonoma Valley High’s wrestlers past host Healdsburg and to the Sonoma County League dual meet championship. Read Article →

Ukiah beats Casa to finish second in dual standings

The visiting Ukiah wrestling team finished its North Bay League dual-meet season with a strong showing against Casa Grande at the Petaluma National Guard Armory. Read Article →

Wrestling: Roberts, Kuka lead field of eight girls to state championships

Ukiah’s Harmonie Roberts and Rancho Cotate’s Leilani Kuka won weight division titles Saturday at the North Coast Section girls wrestling tournament to lead seven empire stars into the state championships. Read Article →
AlbumDate: 01/31/2013

Wrestling: Maria Carrillo rallies past Rancho Cotate

Evan Bluestone wins in the final matchup to give the visiting Pumas the come-from-behind win over the Cougars. Read Article →
Healdsburg's Andrew Esquivel defeated Analy's Christian Bazzano in the 120 weight class during the match Wednesday at Healdsburg High School.

Wrestling: Healdsburg extends unbeaten run with win over Analy

Bryant Herrguth and Jeff Grainger pulled out victories in the final two matches to give the Greyhounds the win over the visiting Tigers. Read Article →
BETH SCHNANKER / The Press Democrat
Former Rancho Cotate wrestling standout Kayla Aggio recently finished her freshman season at Oklahoma City University.

Aggio feels blessed by collegiate success

Former Rancho standout caps first year in Oklahoma with strong tournament finish Read Article →
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Wrestling: Vacaville dominates, Windsor finishes fourth in Puma Classic

Visiting Vacaville takes first place, but Windsor has a good showing with two individual first-place finishers and one in second and fourth place. Read Article →