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By Ray Hamill — It’s been a great season for College of the Redwoods standout Dakota Sanders and he’s not done yet.

This past weekend, the former Arcata Tiger placed third at the NorCal Regional tournament at Santa Rosa JC, which qualified him for the 2024 state championships.

Sanders, who competes at 125 pounds, will head to Lemoore College in Coalinga for the state tournament, which gets under way on Friday.

His teammate and another former Arcata Tiger, Omar Green, will also make the trip to Coalinga as an alternate at 133 after placing ninth at the regional tournament.

The top eight in each weight class from NorCal and SoCal qualify for the state tournament.

And CR head coach Brandon Benvenuti believes Sanders has a chance to make a deep run at the season-ending championships.

“I think Dakota could beat anybody. I think he can,” Benvenuti said. “I think he’s got the full set and the desire to beat anybody.”

His form this year would back that belief.

The standout sophomore is 26-4 on the season and he is 2-1 against two of the wrestlers he lost to this fall.

And with a record like that, Sanders obviously presents a challenge to anyone he wrestles against.

“I think Dakota has found a way in all of his matches this year,” Benvenuti said. “No matter the scenario and adversity thrown his way, he finds a way to come out on top.”

Eight CR wrestlers traveled to Santa Rosa to compete in the NorCal Regionals, with three placing in the top 10.

In addition to Sanders and Green, CR’s Frank Valente from Bakersfield also impressed and finished 10th in his bracket.

Overall, it was another good season for the Corsairs, in just their second year competing again after the program was reinstated for the 2023 season.

“I think it was a great year and a learning year,” Benvenuti said. “I’m very pleased that we got eight student athletes to the conference tournament, and we’ve got to continue to build.

“We’ve already started (to recruit for next year). I’ve been on the phone and we’re starting with some visits and hoping to lock some people down shortly.”

The state championships will take place over two days.

Green will also travel south with Sanders and if anyone in his bracket should miss weight or be forced to pull out because of injury he will get the opportunity to compete.