The Bayfield Wolverine boys wrestling team traveled to Salida to compete in the Rob Mickel Tournament at Salida High School on Saturday and returned with a second-place finish out of 14 teams.

The Cedaredge Bruins took the top spot of the tournament with 197 points. The Wolverines scored 173½ points and Ignacio took 3rd with 147½ points.

The Wolverines have been inching toward improvement each week since opening the season, and Bayfield’s performance was indicative of such improvement. Heavyweight Sam Westbrook was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in the upper weight classes as he won the 285-pound weight class via pin. Ryan Nava also won at 145 pounds via pin, and Garrett Beebe took first at 126 pounds by decision, 4-1.

“It feels great since we got a late start to the season,” Bayfield head coach Neil Barnes said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “I feel like we’ve turned it on and I think we’re going to turn it on at the right time. To come in second at a tournament like that is pretty exciting.”

Overall, Bayfield had eight wrestlers place. Second place finishers were Jake Sandry at 132 pounds, Macoy Michaeli at 160 pounds and Cash Snooks at 170 pounds.

Rounding the night out for Bayfield were third-place finishes from Taylor Winch at 138 pounds and Cody Speece at 113 pounds. Barnes added he had a bunch of strong performances by Coby Baker at 106 pounds, Coby Ross at 145 pounds, Nate Howell at 124 pounds and Dakota Ehart at 220 pounds.

heraldsports@durangoherald.com