A short-handed Del Norte wrestling team continues to build momentum ahead of league competition with a strong performance at the Grants Pass Winter Kickoff tournament over the weekend.

With a few of their wrestlers banged up and battling minor injuries, the Warriors battled hard with just eight varsity boys competing.

But the low numbers didn’t slow them too much on the way to a fifth-place finish out of 35 teams at the tournament.

The Warriors finished just on- and-a-half points out of fourth.

Chulhs Bates impressed on the way to a first-place finish in the 120-pound weight class, as did standout senior Curtis Bartley, who won his bracket at 150 pounds as he continues his strong start to his final high school season.

Colton Schaad, who like Bartley is a defending North Coast Section champion, placed second at 175 pounds.

Three other Del Norte boys placed in their weight divisions.

James Gensaw Jr., finished fourth at 132; Chey Gensaw placed fifth at 144; and Wyatt Sharp finished sixth at 126.

The Del Norte JV boys also enjoyed a strong tournament, led by CJ Norris (126) and Gustavo Ochoa (138), who each placed third in their brackets.

Del Norte’s Ben Weiland also finished fourth at 144 for the DN JVs.

The Del Norte varsity girls entered six wrestlers in the tournament and placed 12th as a team out of 31 schools.

Allie Bartley led the Warriors with a third-place finish at 105, while Karlye Dodson (155) and Bailey Fox (170) each finished fourth in their brackets.

And rounding out an impressive showing for the Del Norte girls team, Golden Rule (110) and Aubry Dodson (170) both finished sixth in their brackets.