By Ray Hamill — With just seven wrestlers on their roster, the Del Norte girls wrestling team may not have the depth to challenge defending league champs Eureka at next month’s H-DNL championships.

But with six of those grapplers just sophomores or freshmen, and all of them making big strides on the mats this winter, it should be only a matter of time before they do.

The squad certainly does’t lack talent.

“The girls are improving every single time they get on the mat,” head coach Clinton Schaad said. “It’s fun to watch. They work hard and they listen to the coaches, and it’s paying off.”

The team’s lone senior is Channey Schaad, who has been leading the way on a young roster and helping her teammates develop.

Channey Schaad is the team captain and should contend for an individual league title at next month’s H-DNL championships, which will be held at Eureka High on Feb. 10.

Several of the younger Del Norte grapplers have also made some noise this month, including freshman Natasha Denicholes, who didn’t take long to make her mark on the team.

Denicholes debuted at the Battle at the Border Tournament, which was hosted by Del Norte in early December, and placed first in her bracket.

Sophomore Karlye Dodson also has impressed and has fared well at a number of tournaments as she builds momentum ahead of the league meet.

Her younger sister, Aubrey Dodson, also has shown plenty of promise and is one of five hard-working newcomers on this year’s team.

Rylon Caron, Elizabeth Hernandez and Golden Rule round out a strong freshman class that appears ready to play a key role over the next few years.

“The boys and girls are working hard,” Clinton Schaad said. “And they make coaching easier when they show up with the right attitude day in and day out.”

The Del Norte girls won a first-ever league championship two years ago, before the Loggers re-took the title in 2023.