The North Coast Section (NCS) launched its new wrestling divisional tournaments on March 1, 2024, marking a significant shift in the path to the state championships. Previously, wrestlers advanced directly from their league tournaments to the section tournament. Now, they must qualify through divisional meets, adding an extra layer of competition.
The divisional structure mirrors the NCS dual championships, with participants categorized into four divisions: Division 3, Redwood Empire Division 2, Division 2 East Bay, and Division 1 East Bay. The Division 3 tournament concluded on Friday, while competitions in the other divisions continued through Saturday.
Division 3 Highlights
Despite only five North Bay teams participating, the Division 3 competition showcased impressive talent. The top four boys and girls from each weight class secured spots at next weekend’s section tournament to be held at James Logan High School in Union City.
Cardinal Newman’s Jonah Bertoli dominated the 175-pound bracket, achieving victory with two pins and a technical fall. Additionally, Justin-Siena’s Jayden Wanalista showcased his strength at 157 pounds, winning his bracket with a pin, a technical fall, and another pin in the final match. His teammate, Rian Anonuevo (106 pounds), also advanced by finishing third in his weight class.
Healdsburg had a successful outing, finishing third overall as a team and qualifying several wrestlers for the sectionals. Notable performers included Milo Timmsen (215 pounds), who took second, alongside Antonio Givens (285) and Dakota Vatalaro (126), who both earned third-place finishes. Fabian Ortiz (175) secured fourth place.
St. Helena’s team also had a solid performance, with three wrestlers—Wallace Hardin (138), Nicholas Woods (144), and Adamson Herdell (165)—qualifying for the NCS tournament. Cloverdale’s Michael Peterson (120) and Evan Hieserich (157) also advanced.
On the girls’ side, St. Helena triumphed with three wrestlers finishing first and another taking fourth. State qualifiers from last year, Anais and Anakarla Hernandez, excelled in their respective brackets at 135 and 145 pounds. Jimena Reynaga-Castro also claimed victory at 125 pounds.
Healdsburg added to its success with four wrestlers advancing, including Jocelyn Ramirez (105 pounds) and Cecile Michener (115) who both took first place. Adriana Ramos (155) and Neva Ramos (235) also qualified. Justin-Siena and Cloverdale each had two girls qualify for the NCS tournament.
Redwood Empire Division 2 Update
The Redwood Empire Division 2 tournament, held at Novato High, progressed to the quarterfinal round for each weight class and resumed on Saturday morning. Local talent remains strong in the championship brackets, with many others competing through the consolation rounds.
Windsor leads the boys’ team scores after the first day with 63 points, followed closely by Del Norte (55.5), Ukiah (55.5), and Napa (54). For the girls, American Canyon tops the leaderboard with 22 points.
Several top seeds remain in contention, including Windsor’s Roman Frye (113 pounds), Joey Guanella (120), Leesayo Sanchez (132), and Cole Schmidt (138). Other notable competitors advancing to round two include Ukiah’s Keith Christianson (144) and Judah Palley (175), along with Montgomery’s Oswald Medina (165) and Joseph Harriman (215).
A major development in the tournament was the absence of Santa Rosa’s Antonio Garaventa, a section favorite at 113 pounds, who missed weight for the second consecutive weekend, ending his season prematurely. This allowed Frye to assume the top seed in that weight class.
The girls’ brackets saw many competitors receive byes in the first round, with further action expected to intensify on Saturday. The excitement surrounding the divisional tournaments reflects the growing competitiveness of high school wrestling in the area, setting the stage for an exhilarating conclusion to the NCS events.