Warriors seek 3rd straight HDNC crown

Members of the Del Norte High wrestling team pose for a photo at the high school on Wednesday. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Unlike other sports, wrestlers can challenge each other to determine who will wrestle in the next match in each weight class.

In one match at practice on Wednesday, Ivan Puente gave Barrick Sala, who won the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference title at 189 pounds last year as a freshman, all that he could handle. As the entire team looked on  Puente took a 6-2 lead before Sala had a late flourish to pin Puente for the win.

“That was a good effort,” head coach Aaron Schaad told both his grapplers, commending Puente for  his excellent effort in nearly unseating Sala.

With even practices pushing each wrestler to the max, the team is quite prepared for another successful year on the mat.

Junior Jordan Lacy said everyone pushes each other at every practice and said that bodes well when they face other schools.

“We train hard,” he said. “I’ve got good workout partners here.”

The Battle of the Border Tournament will feature hundreds of wrestlers from Oregon and Northern California.

It begins at 9 a.m. at the high school, with title matches expected to begin around 6 p.m.

Schaad said the season opening event will give his grapplers great competition to begin the year in front of the home fans. He said it’s a perfect  way “to see where we are at ... We’re looking forward to going out and finally competing.”

Seniors Warren Bailey and Kai Lemrise face off during practice on Wednesday at Del Norte High School. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

If they succeed it will be the first time they have earned three straight conference crowns, Schaad said.

“Every year, winning league is a major goal for us,” Schaad said.  “We just want to continue putting together a good team.”

The squad is quite deep this year, returning 12 members from last season, including seven starters.

This includes six wrestlers, Sala, Warren Bailey, Shane Endamano,  Lacy, Greg Kirby and Kai Lemrise, who qualified for Northcoast  Sections last year.

“It’s nice to have this veteran  leadership back,” Schaad said.

This group of returners has strived to get better than they were last year. They are pushing each other and the newcomers to the team to be at their best by the time the season begins.

They have all worked hard to get themselves and their teammates in shape,” he said. “They work to make the other guys better.”

Endamano said that he is happy to help his younger teammates the way he was helped when he first began.

“That's how I learned,” the senior said. “Now I’m one of the more experienced guys and I’m helping the younger guys.”

A key loss for this year’s wrestling squad is obviously  heavyweight Roger “Bronc” McCovey, who finished his Warrior career with two straight state titles. The squad also lost Joey Kravitz, who went to state at 145, to graduation.

While these are significant losses, Schaad said the depth of the team has helped tremendously.

Schaad said his quad is quite deep in the lower  weight divisions  and said there are a number of newcomers who could help this year.

This includes freshman Tanner Walker, who could be a factor at 103. He also mentioned newcomer senior Tucker Schultz, who could be a factor in the upper weight divisions. While raw, Schaad said Schultz has good potential.

The competition is quite  tough in the higher weight with five good grapplers going up for three spots.

Schaad, who is in his third year as head coach, will again be assisted by his brother Clinton Schaad. Also helping out will be their father Chuck, who has helped with youth and high school wrestling for a number of years. Jeremy Lacy will also be assisting the squad as a coach this year as well.