Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Fortuna girls are H-DNL champions.

By Ray Hamill — It was an historic week for Fortuna soccer in more ways than one, and a memorable weekend for Del Norte football, with two players in particular continuing to lead the way.

The Huskies clinched a pair of league titles in soccer, including a first-ever league championship for the Fortuna girls.

Del Norte football also clinched a league title, guaranteeing at least a share of the Big 4 with a comfortable win at Fortuna.

Defense continues to set the tone for the Warriors, and linebackers Tanner Forkner and Anthony Slayton continue to lead the way on that defense.

In volleyball, meanwhile, the McKinleyville Panthers barely lost out to Arcata in the race for the Big 5 title, with Hailee Henry capping a huge senior campaign with a couple of big performances to help put her team in line to challenge for the title.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Hailee Henry

McKinleyville Volleyball, Senior

Henry has been one of the most consistent players all season here on the North Coast, playing a pivotal role in what has been a memorable season so far for the Mack girls.

The middle hitter has continually led the Panthers in stats, and has been one of their most reliable contributors.

Henry and her teammates are scheduled to open the North Coast Section playoffs on Wednesday night at St. Joseph-Notre Dame.

Forker (57) and Slayton

Anthony Slayton

Del Norte Football, Senior

Tanner Forker

Del Norte Football, Junior

The Del Norte middle linebackers have been unstoppable for much of the season, leading the way on a Warriors team that is 8-1 and clinched at least a share of the Big 4 title on Friday.

Bigger challenges await the Warriors in the North Coast Section playoffs, where they will go in as one of the top seeds in Division 5, and no doubt Slayton and Forkner will continue to play a major role.

For more on Slayton and Forkner’s big weekend, see Relentless Del Norte dominates Fortuna …

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Fortuna Soccer

No one has been enjoying their soccer on the North Coast this season more than Fortuna fans, with the Huskies claiming a pair of league titles over the weekend.

For the boys, who claimed the title outright with a 3-2 win over Eureka on Saturday, the championship is a remarkable seventh straight.

Congratulations to head coach Daniel Holmes, who has been in charge for that entire run and is clearly is doing something right.

And congratulations to his players, who continue to play as a unit better than any of their league opponents.

For the girls, who clinched at least a share of the title with a 0-0 tie at Eureka on Saturday, the championship is the first ever.

Congratulations to head coach Kathleen Lynch and her staff and players for a memorable achievement.

The Huskies will look to claim the title outright with at least a tie at home to McKinleyville on Wednesday.