Only weeks removed from beating third-ranked Centauri in a home dual-meet, the unranked Bayfield High School wrestling team set its sights on top-ranked Alamosa.
The Alamosa Mean Moose shuffled their lineup a bit but only gave up one forfeit to two by the Bayfield Wolverines. In the end, the forfeits didn’t matter, as the Mean Moose won 37-30 to win by one point in the 11 out of a possible 14 matches actually wrestled.
It was the final home meet of the season for BHS. For seniors Macoy Michaeli, Ryan Nava, Cody Speece and Sam Westbrook, it was their last chance to compete on their home mat.
But Michaeli didn’t get a chance to wrestle, as Alamosa’s Austin Trujillo was bumped up to 182 pounds, leaving Michaeli without an opponent at 170.
Nava and Westbrook were able to earn victories, while Speece was on the wrong end of a major decision.
The night started at 152 pounds, with the Wolverines saving Nava’s match at 145 for last. Ben Vance of Alamosa got the Mean Moose on the board first with a 12-0 major decision against Jason Schneider. Alamosa’s Armando Martinez followed with an 8-2 decision win against Shane Moore, giving his team an early 7-0 lead.
Michaeli’s forfeit win at 170 put BHS within one point, and the Wolverines made the Mean Moose pay for moving Trujillo up to 182 pounds moments later, as freshman John Foutz came through with a third-period pin for Bayfield. The match was tied at 4-4 after two periods before Foutz got the pin in 4:48. Suddenly, BHS led 12-7.
Daniel Westbrook moved up to 195 pounds for the Wolverines to face Zendon Bernal, and it was Bernal who earned a 5-3 decision to cut Bayfield’s lead to 12-10.
BHS had a forfeit at 220 pounds, moving action to heavyweights. Sam Westbrook had work to do against Preston Duran and trailed 1-0 after two periods. But Westbrook showed his strength in the third period and earned a pin in 4:35. That restored the BHS lead at 18-16.
Alamosa went on a roll and won three consecutive matches once action turned to the lower weight classes. Elijah Delacerda pinned Colby Baker in 36 seconds at 106 pounds, and Alamosa star Isaiah Delacerda took a forfeit for six more points at 113.
A pivotal match came at 120, where Alamosa’s Tyler Kenison scored a 12-0 major decision win against Speece, giving Alamosa a commanding 32-18 lead.
But the Wolverines responded with a pair of wins, as Garrett Beebe earned a 9-4 decision win against Colton Liddell at 126 pounds. Jake Sandrey then claimed a 6-0 decision win against Colten Hillis at 132 pounds.
With two matches to go, BHS had a chance to win the dual, but Devon Atencio secured an Alamosa team win with a 15-0 tech fall win at 3:29 against Colby Joosten.
Focus then switched to Nava at 145 pounds. He was hoping to face Alamosa star Reis Martinez, but it didn’t happen. Justin Astalos stepped on the mat instead, and Nava pinned him at 1:40 of the first period.
It was the first of three consecutive days of wrestling for the Wolverines, who will visit Ignacio for a dual-meet at 7 p.m. Friday before going to work in the 18-team Butch Melton Invitational tournament Saturday in Ignacio.
Pine River Times sports writer Joel Priest contributed to this report.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
