Four Greyhounds race into state wrestling championship meet

Adam Hendrickson and Ricardo Sandoval will lead a group of four wrestlers to the California Interscholastic Federation Championships in Bakersfield this week.

Hendrickson won the North Coast Section championship in the 135-pound division in Newark over the weekend to earn his spot in the state meet.

Sandoval was the 171-pound champion for the Greyhounds in NCS action. Teammate Matthew Tsarnas finished second in the section to advance to the state meet along with 287-pounder Eric Chavez, who ended fourth in the section in his weight category.

The top four finishers in each weight division in the North Coast Section meet advance to the CIF meet at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. Preliminary rounds begin on Friday with action continuing Saturday, leading up to the state championship matches Saturday evening.

The sizzling Greyhounds roared into the North Coast Section individual wrestling championship meet after winning the North Coast Section Division II Dual Team Meet crown in Santa Rosa Feb. 18. The team dual meet tournament featured schools from throughout the North Bay area including Sonoma and Marin counties.

Healdsburg beat rival Windsor, 45-24, in the championship match to win the prestigious team title.

Individual honors are on the line in Bakersfield this week.

Pairings for the opening rounds of the state championship meet have been set.

Hendrickson and his opponent Jason Ladd, of Clovis, both received a first-round bye at 132. The winner of their match advances into the third round in a bracket headlined by Brett Harte standout Devin Nanik.

Hendrickson won his North Coast Section championship despite a shoulder injury that plagued him throughout the tournament. He is expected to be ready for the state meet, but whether he will be at full strength is uncertain.

Tsarnas opens at 152 against Tony Del Gado, from the Sac-Joaquin Section power Vacaville. The winner of that match will wrestle Cupertino's Ian Messaros.

Sandoval meets Vista (San Diego) wrestler Jordan Donahue at 171 as both received first-round byes. The winner of that match will almost certainly take on Cordova star Yevgeniy Isayek in the third round.

San Fernando heavyweight Ted Peralta opens the state tournament for Healdsburg's Chavez at 287 pounds.

Hendrickson captured his section championship by defeating Liberty's Nico Serrano, 3-1.

Sandoval claimed the crown at 171 by pounding Rancho Cotati's Anthony Navarro, 9-1, in the title match.

Tsarnas will be out to bounce back for Healdsburg in the state meet after falling to Newark's Victor Pareirra, 10-2, in the section championship match at 154.

Healdsburg's Trey Salter finished eighth in the section at 132 pounds. Max Manoukian wound up eighth for the Greyhounds at 191.