Soccer Games Return To Home Field For Riverbank Bruins
The boys and girls football teams at Riverbank High School were able to return to the field last week, with the girls playing a rare Saturday afternoon game over the weekend.
Lady Bruin Football
The RHS soccer players were able to play in the sun for what appears to be the first time in a few years since the California Interscholastic Federation moved all games in the state to the winter schedule. It was a Trans-Valley League catch-up game from earlier in the season, where the pitch was too wet to play.
On Saturday, Riverbank University hosted Livingston at Angelo Novi Stadium on campus, with a 5-0 victory as the result. The Lady Bruins fell 5-2 at Hughson on Jan. 26 and battled to a 0-0 draw against Escalon on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
They finished the week with a 1-2-3 TVL record, 6-6-6 overall. RHS girls soccer were due to travel to Livingston on January 31 and host Hilmar on February 2.
Soccer Bruins
On the boys’ side on Tuesday, they traveled to Escalon, tying the Cougars, 1-1, then shutting out the Hughson Huskies, 2-0, on Jan. 26, both in TVL games.
This week, the Bruins were scheduled to host the Livingston Wolves on Tuesday, January 31, then travel to face the Hilmar Yellowjackets on Thursday, February 2. At the end of last week, their TVL record was 4-0-2. , putting them first.
Lady Bruin Basketball
The Riverbank University Girls hosted the Escalon Lady Cougars on Tuesday, January 24, winning 53-37, then hosted the Ripon Lady Indians, winning 60-38. At the end of last week, their TVL record was 7-1, for second place in the standings. Coach Janelle Luu said the team has a chance of winning the league title this season, if things go well.
They were due to travel to Hughson on January 31 and then host Ripon Christian on Thursday. They have a senior recognition night scheduled for Tuesday, February 7, their final home game of the TVL season, hosting Livingston.
Bruin Basketball
On Wednesday, January 25, the Riverbank boys played at Escalon, losing to the Cougars, 58-34. Their win-loss record is 5-3, which puts them in third place in TVL at the end of last week.
They were scheduled to host the Hughson Huskies on Jan. 31 and then travel to Ripon Christian on Friday, Feb. 3. The Homecoming game is scheduled for Friday, February 10 against the Hilmar Yellowjackets.
Bruin Wrestling
Head coach Khrys Daniel said his team is working hard and continues to improve. They fell to Escalon in a Cougars-hosted doubleheader on Jan. 25, but saw plenty of grapplers struggle throughout the five games played. They had already won a few tournament medals and Daniel said the goal was to continue to grow the program.
“So my team this year had a total of six wrestlers,” Daniel said. “I’ve wrestled on and off since I was a kid and then all through high school. I love this sport because it really helps these kids, it gives them confidence and helps build character because that you really find out what your limits are and if you have the mental toughness to go beyond them, where that confidence will come from My assistant coach is my father, Robert Daniel.
The Bruin wrestlers are: Anthony Torres senior, 142 pounds; senior Richard Torrez, 160 pounds; senior Diego Hernandez, 160 pounds; junior team captain Kaydon Brawley, 182 pounds; senior Christopher Moreno, 182 pounds; and sophomore Randall Freitas, 220 pounds.
“Kaydon and Anthony are sophomore wrestlers, everyone is a freshman wrestler,” Daniel added. “Anthony went through most of his last season injured in a previous sporting event. The final duel against Escalon was his first match of the season; he started to be able to train three weeks before the duel and he had the courage and determination to get back on the mat before the end of the season because of his love for the sport.
Although they suffered the loss to Escalon, Daniel said there were a lot of positives.
“Kaydon is our team captain; he currently holds the most pins on the team and gives 100% in every game. His game against Escalon was definitely his toughest game of the season so far and he showed that he would keep pushing until the final whistle,” explained Daniel. “Christopher also showed a lot of heart, whatever outcome he was ready for, he definitely has promise in the sport if he continues to struggle beyond high school. Randall is showing a ton of potential, as a sophomore in wrestling at 220, he is fast, strong and dedicated, in his first year of wrestling he has definitely shown his love for the sport and he will come back next year even stronger.
Daniel said it was also a special season, working with his father, who coached and mentored him in the sport.
“It’s definitely been a great experience coaching these kids as well as the experience of bonding to be able to coach a team with your dad,” he said.
Editor-in-Chief Marg Jackson contributed to this report.