Kimball High hosted the first dual matches of the Valley Oak League season, logging wins against both East Union and Sonora.

Kimball beat East Union 42-21, with the Jaguars having to win three matches in a row at the end to confirm the team win.

Kimball clinched the team match when senior Vinay Rao beat the Lancers’ Gerardo Cuevas in the 120-pound class on a 19-11 major decision. It was Rao’s second win of the night, and he hopes to keep winning in the rest of the league duals.

“I’ve won most of my matches, so hopefully I’ll be seeded highly in league, and hopefully win the league championship this year,” he said.

Kimball coach Pete Mullen said that the toughest competition is yet to come when Kimball goes to Sierra High on Wednesday, Jan. 16, to face Sierra and Oakdale.

The Jaguars won eight of the 14 matches against East Union on Wednesday. Junior Trent Nicholson (138) won with a first-round pin, senior Austin Griffith (152) won by pin in 3:27, senior David Gamez (160) won by pin in 1:40, junior Matthew Cooper (195) won by pin in 1:24, senior Nathan Pearlman (285) won a 7-0 decision, junior Robert Delgado (113) won a 15-0 technical fall and sophomore Reese Chew (126) won by pin in 3:37.

The Jaguars started their evening with a 54-23 win over Sonora, taking nine of the 14 matches. Chew (126) won by pin in 3:58, Nicholson (138) won by pin in 39 seconds, Gamez (160) won by pin in 4:40, Cooper (195) won with a first-round pin, Pearlman (285) won by pin in 26 seconds, and Rao (120) won with a first-round pin. Kimball also won three matches by forfeit.

• Contact Bob Brownne at 830-4227 or brownne@tracypress.com.