The nostalgia is wearing off and the parade has ended. It’s time to go back to work.
Coming off an impressive championship run last year, the Bayfield Wolverines enter 2016 focused, reloaded and ready for another run at a Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A state football title. The only difference from last year is the No. 1 CHSAA preseason football ranking and a giant target the Wolverines have on their backs.
With all the offseason hype, head coach Gary Heide is preaching patience.
“We have to be even keel and be even emotionally,” said Heide, who is entering his fifth year at the helm with a 45-11 overall record. “We have to play our best because we know other teams are coming after us. We are going to expect highly-charged opponents.”
Most teams would fret after losing 13 seniors, but Bayfield is in good hands. Even though the Wolverines have only nine seniors on the roster, the team has 16 juniors and 19 sophomores whose future looks bright.
Heide is bringing back a coaching staff that led Bayfield to a 12-0 record with a 28-20 win over Platte Valley in the CHSAA State Championship. As Heide runs the offense, Mike Wnorowski will once again coordinate a defense that allowed only 90 points all of last year. Ed Hisey, Frank Hawkins, Justin Matherson and Mike Wood also return.
The biggest holes for BHS to fill come at quarterback and running back, as CHSAA Class 2A Player of the Year Kelton McCoy is gone from behind center and Zane Phelps leaves massive shoes to fill at running back and safety.
Heide is trying to keep the competition for starting quarterback open for the preseason. Senior Josh Westbrook and sophomore Hayden Farmer have been battling it out, but it’s Westbrook who has been getting the majority of the work with the No. 1 offense. His size and speed will be a valuable asset for the offense, but sitting behind McCoy for three years will prove equally beneficial.
“I feel comfortable, it’s going pretty smooth,” said Westbrook, son of Kathy and Richard Westbrook. “(McCoy) taught me a lot. Things won’t come easy for us. We’re focusing on this season like any other season.”
At running back, Bayfield will have a two-headed attack on its hands. With Westbrook most likely calling the signals at quarterback, it’ll be another Westbrook who will split time taking handoffs. Senior Jesse Westbrook – twin brother of Josh Westbrook – and sophomore David Hawkins will be a dynamic-duo combining experience, size, strength and speed. Both players will also get the bulk of time at linebacker while on defense, so having the players split time at running back is crucial.
With a Westbrook at quarterback and a Westbrook at running back, it would only be fitting that a Westbrook would snap the ball. Senior Sam Westbrook is the center and anchor on the offense while playing nose guard on defense.
“We really have a rock in Sam Westbrook,” Heide said. “I don’t think there’s anybody else in high school football that I’d rather rely on than a 280-pound Sam Westbrook.”
There are four Westbrooks on the team with Sam’s younger brother Daniel, who is also on the offensive line as a sophomore.
It should be no surprise that Bayfield’s offensive and defensive lines are the strengths of the team.
“I don’t see any reason why we can’t win in the trenches on the defensive side,” said Sam Westbrook, son of Kirsten and Mark Westbrook. “Offensively, we’re a little young, but as long as we execute we’ll do fine.”
Along with Sam Westbrook, senior Macoy Michaeli will be featured on both offensive and defensive lines. Two players that Heide and company are excited about are juniors Cole Wood and Wyatt Killinen, who will be at the guard positions.
“We’re all feeling good, but we have big shoes to fill,” said Killinen, the son of Dustin and Rachel Killinen. “We’re eager to see what we can do.”
The Wolverines are already carrying over traditions from last season. Bayfield once again spent a week at CSU-Pueblo’s team football camp, and they also found a new motivational tool. Last year, the team built a ladder with each game signifying each step toward a championship. This year, the team made a giant target with rings representing each win. The Wolverines hope that by the time they reach the bullseye, they’ll be marking down another state championship.
“Last year, it was one step at a time. This year it’s hunt the hunter,” Heide said of the team’s motto.
On top of an improving 2A Intermountain League, the Wolverines will have a brutal non-conference schedule. Bayfield will open the season Friday against San Juan in Blanding, Utah.
The big game that everyone has circled on the schedule is Sept. 23 when Bayfield finally plays against the Demons of Durango on Durango’s homecoming night.
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
Schedule
Bayfield High School
*–2A Intermountain League; **–Homecoming
Aug. 26 – at San Juan (Blanding, Utah) 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 – at Bloomfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Aztec, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 – at Durango, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 – Gunnison*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 – Cortez**, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 – at Pagosa Springs*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 – at Delta*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 – Alamosa*, 1 p.m.
