Submitted photos – Del Norte’s Colton Schaad, left and Curtis Bartley each placed first I their weight divisions at the Lou Bronzan Tournament over the weekend.

Big things are expected out of Del Norte seniors Colton Schaad and Curtis Bartley on the wrestling mats this winter and the outstanding duo have not disappointed so far.

The two defending North Coast Section champions both traveled to compete at the Lou Bronzan Tournament at Liberty High School over the weekend and both closed out 2024 in much the same fashion as they began it.

Bartley took home the championship in the 144-pound division, while Schaad placed first at 175 pounds.

The seniors were the top performers for a short-handed and banged-up Del Norte team, which continued to impress despite traveling without some of its top wrestlers.

The Warriors, who are expected to challenge for the H-DNL championship in the new year, placed seventh overall out of approximately 60 schools in action at the tournament.

“Really happy with how such a small squad performed,” Del Norte head coach Clinton Schaad said. 

The good news for the Warriors is that none of the early-season injuries are long-term and they should be back to full strength for league competition.

Many of the Del Norte wrestlers who did make the trip impressed, including Chulhs Bates, who placed second at 120 pounds.

At 150 pounds, Del Norte’s Remington Escobedo placed eighth, as did outstanding freshman Chey Gensaw at 157 pounds.

The young Gensaw has been one of his team’s most impressive performers early in the new season as he quickly adjusts to the high school level.

The Del Norte girls were also in action over the weekend at the Brittany David Tournament, which was held at the same location.

The Del Norte girls, who are also short-handed because of some early-seasons injuries, were led by Allie Bartley and Elizabeth Hernandez.

Allie Bartley placed seventh in the 100-pound division, while Hernandez finished eighth at 235.