File photo – Joshua Hannan celebrate this NCS wi last year.
Joshua Hannan is building momentum on the wrestling mats, and so too are the Arcata Tigers.
The Arcata senior, who is a defending North Coast Section champ, has his eyes set on a big run at this year’s state championships, and with that in mind he has been traveling out of the area to compete at some of the toughest tournaments in the state this winter.
This past weekend, Hannan competed at the prestigious Doc Buchanan tournament in Clovis and finished one spot out of placing.
In order to be eligible to compete at the tournament, a wrestler had to be either in the top 40 in California or a state placer from elsewhere, and that’s exactly the level of competition Hannan has been seeking out through the first half of the season, in order to better prepare him for the section and state tournaments.
“I’m trying to keep him going to these big tournaments, so it keeps him on track,” Arcata head coach Cass Bell said. “It’s his senior year and I want him to do the best he can.”
The strategy involves a lot of travel, but it’s one that appears to be paying dividends, with Hannah ranked No. 5 in the state at 132 pounds.
But he’s not the only Arcata wrestler enjoying a big season.
A young Tigers team knocked off the Eureka Loggers in a dual meet for the first time in a long time, according to Bell, on Tuesday night.
And they did it without Hannah competing.
Talon Villarruel (120), Dakota Sanders (126), Paolo Bosques-Paulet (140), Tanner Via-Root (152), Gavin Smith (160) and Matt Anderson (220), all won their matches by pin, with Sanders and Anderson both ending their matches early.
Jackson Strand also has impressed for the Tigers this winter in his first season wrestling.
The sophomore, who enjoyed a big fall on the football field, has certainly impressed his new coach.
“Besides Josh, he’s one of the hardest working kids I know,” Bell said.
Strand lost his dual meet match against experienced Eureka Senior Iain Clark.
The three Arcata girls to compete won their matches, including Tessa Smith, who is brand new to the sport this winter and pinned her opponent.
Arcata soccer standout Kyla Berman also has adapted to the wrestling mats this winter and won both of her matches at the dual meet, while teammate Alison Oscbola went 1-1.
Next up, on Saturday, the Tigers will make the short trip down the 101 to compete at the Eureka tournament.
“The Eureka tournament’s going to be great,” Bell said. “I’m looking forward to it because it will have JVs, girls and varsity boys and all my kids get to compete.
“I think we’ll do well.”
