Wrestlers from Bayfield, Center, Ignacio, Pagosa Springs, and Piedra Vista joined for the 16th annual Wolverine Classic on Saturday at Bayfield High School.
As Bayfield and Ignacio featured its newly minted head coaches, the Bayfield Wolverines came out on top based on a coin flip to give them the win.
After a full day of matches, Bayfield and Pagosa Springs sat tied with 86½ points for first place. With the mats were already put away, the entire day was pinned on the luck of a coin flip. Bayfield was fortunate to have the coin bounce its way for the win.
“I’ve never seen that happen,” Bayfield first-year head coach Neil Barnes said after his squad won the toss.
Coming in third was Piedra Vista’s junior varsity squad with 59 points, Ignacio came in fourth with 51, and Center finished fifth with 41.
Bayfield’s Sam Westbrook took first in the 285-pound weight class after beating teammate Dakota Ehart. Westbrook was on the Bayfield football championship team and felt like there wasn’t any issue transitioning between sports only a week removed from the football title game.
“I didn’t have any trouble with it at all,” said Westbrook, son of Mark and Kirsten Westbrook. “I took the intensity that we had in football and applied it to wrestling.”
Fellow football teammate Ryan Nava took first in his 152-pound weight class when he beat Ignacio’s Timothy Plehinger. Plehinger finished third place behind Pagosa Springs’ Dalton Lucero.
“I actually feel pretty good,” said Nava, son of Allec Rodriguez and Ramona Nava. “I wasn’t too tired in that last match.”
Nava added that he’s ready to increase his work each week. He said his goal for the 2015-16 season is to be on top of the Colorado High School Activities Association state podium.
“I feel like this year has to be the year,” he said. “There’s no other time but right now.”
Much like Westrbook, Nava’s transition from football to wrestling has been not just smooth and driven.
“Honestly, the first day back I felt really motivated,” Nava said. “I was telling my team that we can get a ring. I’ve felt that feeling once already, and I want to chase after it again this time in my sport. I didn’t think we’d go that far as a (football) team until we were in the semifinals. But it teaches me that even with the down weeks where I may not come in first, but if I keep my eyes on the big picture and keep working toward it, it won’t be a dream anymore, it will become a reality.”
Barnes feels like his team has potential this year, especially with the roster he has.
“I feel like we have a lot of good wrestlers on the roster,” he said. “I see us having a really good team.”
Macoy Michali came in first for Bayfield in the 182-pound weight class when he beat Broden McGuffey from Piedra Vista.
For Ignacio, the Bobcats saw success from Lorenzo Peña, who beat Anselm Hollie form Piedra Vista. Peña went 5-0 throughout the tournament and finished being named Most Outstanding Wrestler.
“(Peña) had good focus, he has a lot of potential this year,” Ignacio head coach Jordan Larsen said. “We went out there and wrestled hard. Our shape was a little bit lower than I would have like to have seen it, but at the beginning of the season that’s to be expected. Overall, I thought we wrestled great. We had some outstanding performances, even in our losses. Hard work is paying off.”
Ignacio’s other top wrestler was junior Stocker Robbins, who went 5-0 including pinning his first two opponents.
“I think I did alright,” said Robbins, son of Daniella Perez and Joshua Robbins. “There’s definitely room for improvement. I was quick on my feet. Once I was there I just kept progressing and looking for the pin. It feels good (to get the first meet) out of the way.”
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
