Arcata High celebrated a talented and hard-working senior class of wrestlers this week, while the school’s new generation of standouts continues to make some noise on the mats.
The Tigers hosted the Fortuna Huskies in pair of dual meets on their senior night and won both matches.
The Arcata boys prevailed 45-30 and the girls team won 36-27.
Before the meet, a group of 12 seniors were introduced to the fans in attendance and it’s a class that has had a big impact during their time with the Tigers.
And it’s not just the success the seniors have enjoyed that has benefitted the program.
“They’re setting the tone for the team,” Arcata coach PJ Lynch said. “They’ve been helping the team together and placing at a lot of tournaments, and just teaching the younger generation what it means to be an Arcata High wrestler.”
Seniors like Chase Bickmore, Silven Yoder, Coyle Walkner and Talon Villarruel have been particularly influential this year, on and off the mats.
And they’ve enjoyed plenty of recent success together as they continue to build momentum ahead of next month’s H-DNL Championships and North Coast Section postseason.
This past weekend, the Tigers traveled to compete at the Windsor King of the Mat tournament, one week after a strong showing at Eureka High’s North Coast Classic.
Yoder continued his impressive winter with a first place at 132 pounds at Eureka and followed that with a third-place finish at Windsor, while Bickmore placed second at both tournaments at 150.
Villarruel also has been impressing this month, taking first at Eureka at 126 and finishing sixth at Windsor after forfeiting his semifinal because of injury.
Junior Kaiden Bell is another Arcata wrestler who has impressed this winter, placing first at 138 at Eureka and at Windsor.
The Tigers also got some good news recently with the return of head coach Cass Bell, who had missed the first half of the season.
“We’re super proud of how everybody has wrestled with everything that has been going on this year,” Lynch said. “There’s been a lot of challenges and they’ve been able to work through it.”
While the school’s boys team has been impressive, the Arcata girls have been even more so.
The defending league champs could be even stronger this year with the addition of outstanding freshman Taylor Bell, who has begun her high school career in dominating fashion.
The newcomer is the top-ranked girl in the NCS at 110 and also among the top-ranked grapplers in the state, coming in just outside the top 10.
“Taylor has been leading the way,” Lynch said. “She’s definitely making a mark for herself.”
The four senior girls were also honored before facing Fortuna this week, a group that includes Jada Lusk, Aleta Stubblefield, Allison Mitchell and Reyna May.
“They’re our team captains,” Lynch said. “They’re showing up for every practice and making sure everybody’s together as a team.
“They’re really leading by example.”
The Arcata girls feature plenty of depth. They are favorites to win the league title again this year and make some noise in the NCS postseason, and perhaps beyond.
“It’ll be close,” Lynch said. “We have the numbers, but there’s going to be some matches that are going to be close. It gets a lot tougher when you get to (Sections).”
The Arcata boys and girls will close out the league regular season with dual meets against Eureka and South Fork on Tuesday, both at Eureka High.
The Cubs are competing on the mats this winter for the first time in several years.
“It’s great to have them back in the fold in the HDN,” Lynch said.
