After winning all their duel meets in the 2023-2024 wrestling season and securing the undefeated title, the AHS wrestling team holds a heavy burden going into this year’s 2024-2025 season. Holding the undefeated title is very meaningful in wrestling especially at Arcata High because it has been 20 years since they’ve been undefeated. This was the first time the Tigers had beaten Del Norte in 13 years.
As the season starts, the wrestlers have been training and keeping in shape at head coach Cass Bell’s gym, Institute of Combat. “I’ve been to a few camps and rolled with some teammates this summer,” junior wrestler Chase Bickmore said when asked how he thinks this season will go, “If we bring some of those skills and techniques back into the room I think we’re gonna have an exact repeat of what happened last year just with more wins.”
This season the Tigers lost a few varsity wrestlers like Aiden Ayers, Matt Anderson, and Brycen Collinson, however past JV kids are stepping up and improving to fill those roles. wrestler, junior River Matole, had remarked, “I plan on jumping up and taking Isaiah Bell’s varsity spot.” While it is unlikely for Matole to jump that many weight classes it shows the determination the Tigers have coming into the season.
The undefeated title which typically has caused stress or burden on teams or individuals has made the team training harder and used it as motivation. Sophomore Jackson Hicks, junior Talon Villaruel, senior Lillian Afridi, senior Piper Bjorkstedt, Bickmore, and Matole have all confirmed this by each stating that the title is less of a burden and more of a motivation to improve and shoot for more as a team and individual.
With their first practice starting on Nov. 4th, the Tigers have started growing their team, teaching and improving the recruits and first-year wrestlers. As the team has grown exponentially in the four years since Cass Bell has taken over as head coach, Bjorkstedt said, “We need more girls team members, if you’re interested in wrestling, anyone, of any level, just come check it out.”
With dual meets typically starting in the first week of January the Tigers are using this time to improve and prepare to start strong at the first duel meet.
