Local sports briefs: Ex-area prep wrestlers to chase NCAA titles

A trio of former area high school wrestling stars — American University’s Ryan Flores (Buchanan), Oregon State’s Scott Sakaguchi (Clovis) and George Mason’s Vince Rodriguez (Clovis North) — are among 330 qualifiers for the NCAA Division I Championships on March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo.

Flores (a senior and 17-0) is the top seed in the 285-pound division after winning the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association title. Sakaguchi (sophomore, 33-5) won at 149 pounds at the Pac-12 tournament, and Rodriguez (freshman, 18-9) was an at-large selection after placing second in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Fresno Pacific women suffer rare tennis loss

Barry University won a clash of women’s college tennis powers, as the NCAA Division II No. 2- ranked Buccaneers beat NAIA No. 2 Fresno Pacific 6-3 in San Diego.

The Sunbirds fell to 10-1, while defending D-II champ Barry is now 8-0.

Fresno Pacific — playing of late without normal top singles player Marie Boura, who’s hurt — got wins from Erika Januskova and Katarena Paliivets in No. 1 doubles, Paliivets in No. 1 singles and Yumiko Justin at No. 3.

Paliivets beat former Sunbird Cristina Valladares 6-2, 6-1.

Reedley JC golfers capture mini-tourney

Reedley College’s Matt Swindle led the way with a 1-under 71 at Lemoore Golf Course as the Tigers won the latest Central Valley Conference men’s golf mini-tournament.

Reedley totaled 381 strokes, with West Hills-Lemoore next at 390 and Fresno City at 403. Anthony Ferreira shot a 72 to lead the Eagles and Robert Greene and Jimmy Barboza had 78s for the Rams.