Sports briefs: Strong week for DHS wrestlers

The Davis High wrestling team not only finished 2012 in brilliant fashion, but followed it up by starting 2013 with a victory.

Competing in the Natomas Tournament on Dec. 28-29, three Blue Devils posted powerful performances as junior Adrian LoBuono-Gonzalez and senior Tim Richards each took third in their weight divisions and Elias LoBuono-Gonzalez was fourth.

At 126 pounds, Adrian LoBuono-Gonzalez rolled through several opponents before losing a close match to Inderkum’s Ruben Escalante, a 2012 CIF state tournament qualifier.

Richards, meanwhile, won an exciting triple-overtime bout on his way to the bronze medal at 132 pounds, while Elias LoBuono-Gonzalez made the medal match at 106 pounds before falling to a tough competitor from Monterey Trail.

DHS then opened its Delta Valley Conference schedule on Wednesday at Grant, getting an easy win as the Pacers had only four wrestlers.

The Devils will finally take their home mat for the first time when they host Elk Grove on Wednesday at 6 p.m. According to coach Ty Brown, this will be Davis’ first real test in league.

UCD gymnastics

Senior Michelle Ho posted scores of 9.800 on both uneven parallel bars and floor exercise on Friday night — tying for the meet win on bars — to lead the Aggies to the highest season-opening score in program history at the NorCal Quad meet at the SJSU Event Center.

With that score of 191.400, UCD finished third behind No. 6 Stanford (195.425) and host San Jose State (192.875). Sacramento State was fourth with 191.100.

Ho’s score on bars tied her previous career high and matched Stanford senior Ashley Morgan on that event, while her floor mark was good for second place.

Junior Anna Shumaker added a fourth-place finish for the Aggies on vault (9.825) as she made her first collegiate appearance as an all-arounder, scoring a 37.875 overall.

In addition, three UCD freshmen made their debuts on Friday. Dani Judal led the beam squad with a 9.700, then added a 9.650 on floor and 9.625 on bars. Jamie Yamashita also appeared on three events, scoring 9.675 on beam, hitting for 9.625 on vault and notching a 9.600 on bars. Stephanie Stamates competed on beam, floor and vault, posting her highest mark, 9.625, on the floor.

The Aggies will open their home schedule on Friday, hosting Cal at 7 p.m.

Youth track and field

The Davis Community Track and Field Club is launching a new program that targets junior high school students interested in the sport.

Beginning Tuesday, students in seventh and eighth grades are invited to participate in a six-week conditioning program that will prepare them for a healthy and successful spring season.

“We decided to offer this program because so many parents came to us and said they needed something to help prepare their kids for participating safely in spring sports,” said former Davis High and UC Davis runner Drew Petersen, who coaches the program. “Too many kids get injured or discouraged because they leap into a competitive season without conditioning.”

Athletes will do conditioning to develop strength and agility, learn to safely warm up and warm down and be supported to participate in two optional all-comer meets. For more information and to register, call coach Petersen at 530-210-7049.