Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Addison Wingate, center, at her letter signing ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

By Ray Hamill — Addison Wingate believes she has found the perfect fit for the next step on her basketball journey and the next chapter in her life.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Arcata senior, who helped lead the Tigers to a Big 5 championship this year, committed her future to College of the Redwoods in front of friends, family and teammates at Arcata High. 

And CR head coach Bree Northern is excited to bring her on board.

“I think we’re getting a really good one,” Northern said at the letter signing ceremony. “She works hard on offense, on defense. She kind of does it all out there. I could not be more excited.”

Arcata High head coach Charlie Espinoza echoed the sentiment and believes Wingate has all the tools to succeed at the next level, including a team-first mentality.

“One of the most selfless competitors,” is how Espinoza described her. “She doesn’t need 10 shots a game. She doesn’t need plays drawn up for her. But she’s going to impact a game no matter what.

“She going to be about winning. And her approach to the game of basketball is what’s going to set her (apart).”

Wingate’s tenacity and hustle on the floor also helped set her apart from her peers and is another reason why Espinoza believes she will have a big impact at the next level.

“She’s the epitome of what it means to be a Tiger,” The Arcata coach added. “She hits the floor for loose balls, she plays through injuries, through personal issues and adversity.”

Wingate averaged 6.1 points and 5.4 rebounds this past season, but her presence was felt in more ways than that on a determined Tigers team that went a perfect 8-0 in conference play, winning the program’s first Big 5 title in seven years.

As much as anyone, she helped set the tone on this year’s team after establishing herself as a key team leader with her actions and attitude.

Addison Wingate with CR head coach Bree Northern

“As a team leader, Addy was invested in every single teammate. She’s uplifting, inspiring,” Espinoza said.

It was something the Arcata coach noticed from the first day of practice.

“From the first day (I took) over this program as head coach, Addy was committed to the program,” said Espinoza, who has been in charge of the Tigers for two seasons. “She bought into what we were doing, and because of that, mixed with her efforts, she became a super major cornerstone for what we were building here at Arcata High.

“She set the bar for what it meant to be a Tiger, wanting to grow, wanting to compete and wanting to be something bigger than herself. That’s exactly what she did.”

For Wingate, the decision to join the Corsairs came down to a couple of key factors, and she believes it will be a perfect fit for her development as a player and student.

“I choose CR because I feel it’s a place where I can continue to grow and develop new skills as an athlete and student, while also being supported,” she told the gathering. “The coaches have been very welcoming and I feel they will push me to be the best player I can be.

“I’m very grateful to have this opportunity and really excited to continue my basketball journey.”

She also sees it as an ideal stepping stone for her long-term ambitions.

Addison Wingate (23) and her teammates during a game this past season.

“I think (the CR coaches will) help me push to get to my main goal, which is a four-year,” she said.

Wingate thanked her teammates and coaches for the impact they have had on her career, on and off the court.

“The past four years I have learned and grown so much at Arcata High and I want to thank Charlie Espinoza and all my teammates for everything  they have done,” she said. 

As for her time at Arcata High, Wingate says what she’ll probably remember the most are all the people she met along the way, including her teammates and coaches.

“Honestly, just the bonds that I created with everyone and the coaches. They have helped me so much through everything to get me to this point, especially head coach Charlie,” she said. “And the tournaments too. All the memories.”

And naturally Wingate is excited about the next chapter in her life.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of a new team and creating new bonds,” she said.