No shortage of local wrestlers ranked among the section leaders

By barstoolfanatics on January 28, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Arcata’s Joshua Hannan (top) is one of two local wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their weight divisions in the NCS.

By Ray Hamill — Several H-DN wrestlers are highly ranked in the North Coast Section as we head towards the postseason tournaments, including six grapplers from four different local high schools ranked in the top three within their weight divisions.

No surprise that the two local defending section champions lead the way in their brackets, with Arcata’s Joshua Hannan No. 1 at 138 pounds and Hoopa’s Garard Marshall No. 1 in the heavyweight division.

Both of those seniors are also the highest ranked local wrestlers in the state, with each a very impressive No. 8 in their weight class.

And both of them will be looking to close out their high school careers by making some noise at the state championships this year.

But they’re not the only local wresters with a shot at a section title and state qualification.

Del Norte’s outstanding freshman Chulhs Bates is No. 2 in the section at 106 as he continues to impress in his first winter on the high school mats.

His sophomore teammate Curtis Bartley is also ranked No. 2 at 132 and also has been getting some state recognition, rising to No. 37 in California.

Marshall’s Hoopa teammate Kaewett Nelson is No. 2 in the section at 170, while also riding high in the state rankings at No. 29 among all California wrestlers in his weight class.

The Fortuna Huskies are also represented among the NCS and state leaders.

Junior Mason Evanow, who is enjoying an outstanding season on a quickly improving young Fortuna team, is ranked No. 3 in the section at 120 and is listed as No. 43 in California.

Another Del Norte wrestler also features among the leaders at 126, with Eric Stansbury ranked No. 6 in his division, while his teammate Colton Schaad is listed among the honorable mentions in the state at 160.

Most of the H-DN schools are competing at the Ukiah tournament this weekend as they continue to build momentum for the upcoming league, section and state championships.