Submitted photos – Arcata’s Piper Bjorkstedt was named one of the most outstanding wrestlers at the Eureka tournament over the weekend after placing first in her bracket.
It was a busy weekend on the wrestling mats for the Arcata Tigers, who competed in a couple of different tournaments.
Standouts Rory Bickmore and Lillian Afridi both traveled for the Napa all-girls tournament on Friday, a tourney that featured close to 900 wrestlers, according to Arcata head coach Cass Bell.
“The competition was awesome,” Bell said.
The experience should stand to both Arcata girls, as they look to challenge for league and section titles later in the season.
Bickmore, who is a defending league champ and placed fifth in the 2024 North Coast Section championships, finished 2-2 at the weekend tournament, which featured a pair of section champs in a very competitive bracket.
Bickmore’s two wins came by pin, including one within 10 seconds.
Afridi, who placed third in her bracket at last year’s league championships, finished 0-2 at the Napa tournament, but Bell expects the experience to benefit her down the road.
“She battled some tough girls,” the Arcata coach said. “She could have won some matches. She just made some mistakes and she’ll learn from it. That’s why we go to these tournaments. That’s why we do it.”
Six of the Arcata boys finished in the top four in their brackets at the Eureka tournament on Saturday, including three who placed first.
Talon Villaruel won at 126, defeating Fortuna’s Elias Golder in the final with a pin and going a perfect 4-0 on the day.
Isaiah Bell also won at 144, defeating Fortuna’s Landon Leon with a pin in his final, while teammate Chase Bickmore took top spot at 150 with a 2-1 decision over Rickey Ramirez of Willits in his final.
Chase Bickmore, who got a late start to the season after a deep playoff run with the Arcata High football team, had a big win in his semifinal over Anderson’s Sam Torres, who had defeated him at the Anderson tournament the previous weekend.
One of the most impressive performances of the day came from Arcata’s Silven Yoder, who placed second at 132.
Yoder, who is only in his second year wrestling, lost his final to McKinleyville’s Damarius Thompson, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Lower Weight Wrestler after his victory.
The Arcata girls team at the Eureka tournament.
“He’s only in his second year wrestling and he’s coming through,” Cass Bell said of the impressive Yoder. “He battled Damarius, who is a very good wrestler. It’s incredible how far Silven has come in two years. He’s put in a lot of hard work.”
Arcata’s Jackson Hicks also impressed in tournament action and placed second at 138, as did teammate Gavin Smith, who placed fourth at 175.
As a team, the Arcata boys placed third, behind tournament champs McKinleyville and Eureka, which was an impressive showing for a short-handed Tigers team that traveled with just six wrestlers.
Multiple Arcata girls also impressed at the Eureka tournament, including Piper Bjorkstedt, who placed first in her bracket.
Bjorkstedt was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Upper Weight Wrestler after ending most of her matches in the opening two minutes.
“She dominated in her matches,” Arcata assistant coach Maeve Moore said. “She is an incredible athlete, and her sportsmanship is to be admired.”
Zoe Cappuccio also impressed for the Tigers and has quickly adapted to the mats in her first year competing in the sport.
According to Moore, the hard-working Cappuccio has shown a lot of resiliency this winter and is one of her team’s most improved wrestlers.
“Zoe is a first-year wrestler and has been working so hard at practice,” the Arcata coach said. “She shows up every day, and even comes to optional holiday practices.
“She has a level of determination and dedication that is special in an athlete, and her improvement since the start of the season has been incredible to watch.”
Next up, the Arcata boys will travel this weekend for the Windsor tournament, with the JVs in action on Friday and the varsity team on Saturday.
Next Wednesday, the Tigers will travel to Eureka for a league dual meet as they look to secure a second straight H-DNL championship.
A scheduled dual meet for Arcata against Hoopa was postponed this week because several of the Warriors are battling sickness and it will now take place on Jan. 29 instead.
