Hunting for a title

Championships are set for today down in Fortuna

Sophomore Jackson Evans holds down an opponent down during a home match against Arcata in January. Evans is one of several Del Norte wrestlers undefeated in Humboldt-Del Norte Conference dual match play. Today the Warriors compete in the HDN Championships down in Fortuna. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

A major obstacle in its way will be defending champion Hoopa. Last year, Del Norte finished second after going undefeated in the HDN regular season, Wrestling will get under way around 11 a.m. with title matches likely starting from 3 to 4 p.m. at Fortuna High School.

Head coach Aaron Schaad said there’s a lot of excitement and confidence  among his wrestlers this week. A fourth place finish at the Northcoast Section Dual Championships last week certainly helped by showing them they could perform well against elite competition, Schaad said

“I’m excited to see how the kids do,” he said. “The kids have been wrestling well throughout the season and have grown a lot.”

For the six Warrior seniors, performing well at the HDN Championships is of the upmost importance.

“It mean’s everything to us,” senior Morgen Fischer said. He’d like to end his Warrior wrestling experience by having the team win a title while he takes first place in his 132-pound weight class.

Schaad believes his squad has a good chance to win five to seven individual titles, and could win as many as 10.

While Hoopa and Del Norte are considered the favorites this year, Schaad said his wrestlers must continue to focus.

The seniors from the Del Norte High wrestling team pose for a photo. They are, from left to right, Andrew Naiper, Austin Moore, Lakey Coney, Isaac Terry, Morgen Fischer and Noah Timoshenko. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

It helps that injuries, which struck Del Norte a few weeks back, seem to be healed and the squad is healthy again, Schaad said.

He believes if the Warriors win about six White Star league titles they will have a good chance to earn the HDN crown.

Several Warrior grapplers are undefeated in HDN matches this year, including sophomores Jackson Evans, Hawk Mattz and Robert Boubly, and seniors Andrew Napier and Austin Moore.

With the squad featuring several prominent underclassman, Schaad has been impressed with the skills these younger wrestlers have shown to blend well with the upperclassman.

The top three placers in each weight division will earn a berth in the Northcoast Section Wrestling championships. Last season, eight Warrior grapplers qualified for NCS.

Schaad encouraged local fans to show up and support the Warriors in Fortuna and to wear the school colors to make the wrestlers feel a bit more at home.

Senior heavyweight Isaac Terry won a White Star last year and would love to add another one today.

“That’s been my goal all year,” Terry said.

This is the first year 220-pound senior grappler Austin Moore has wrestled, but he has dominated opponents.

Moore said he was excited about today and wants to do his part to give his fellow seniors, some who have wrestled since they were freshman, an HDN title.

“I just want to help the team.” he said. “Hopefully I can continue to do what I’ve been doing and hopefully pin my opponents as fast as I can.”

Reach Bill Choy at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it