Submitted photo – The 14 H-DN wrestlers who placed at this week’s North Coast Section championships at James Logan High School.

The H-DN had its best showing at the North Coast Section Wrestling Championships in more than two decades at James Logan High School on Saturday, with 14 boys placing.

Leading the local charge, Arcata’s Joshua Hannan and Hoopa’s Gerard Marshall each successfully defended their section title and will advance to next week’s state championships in Bakersfield.

Hannan placed first at 132 pounds, defeating Benicia’s Vincent Rodarte in the final with a 9-3 decision.

Marshall also won the heavyweight division for the second straight year, winning all five of matches over the two days, including a 5-2 decision over Concord’s Jose Ortiz in the final.

Two other H-DN wrestlers, Fortuna’s Mason Evanow and Arcata’s Dakota Sanders, will join them at Bakersfield.

Evanow placed second at 120 pounds, losing the final to Stuart Hall’s Joe Hubbard by a pin, while Sanders lost his final at 113 by a pin to Novato’s Kekoa Madayag.

Del Norte’s Chulhs Bates also placed second at 106 pounds, which was a fantastic achievement for a freshman, but lost in his wrestle back match against the third-place finisher, Tanner Bartonico of Liberty High, who will advance to state.

Nine other local wrestlers also placed in their brackets, giving the league the most placers at the section tournament in 25 years, according to Fortuna head coach Steven Stockdale.

And those 14 wrestlers come from five different high schools, showcasing the depth of talent in the league right now, with Del Norte leading the way with seven placers.

The H-DN had two grapplers finish in the top four at 132, with Del Norte’s Curtis Bartley placing fourth and joining Hannan on the podium.

Two locals also placed in the top five at 120, with Del Norte’s Eric Stansbury finishing fifth.

McKinleyville senior William Baumgarten also had a big tournament as he closed out his high school career with an impressive fourth place finish at 138.

Hoopa’s Jason Marshall also placed fourth at 195, two spots ahead of Del Norte’s Jase Mintonye in sixth.

The H-DN also had two wrestlers place at 170, with Hoopa’s Kaewett Nelson finishing fifth, three places ahead of Del Norte’s RJ Loftin in eighth.

Del Norte’s Reynaldo Martinez (182) and Colton Schaad (160) each also placed eighth in their brackets.

The four boys who qualified for the state tournament will join three H-DN girls who advanced, Fortuna’s Chloe Cox and Lindsay Bibby, as well as St. Bernard’s Rory Bickmore.

For more on his the local girls fared at their section tournaments, see Seven H-DN girls place at NCS wrestling championships …