Eager to at last get several key returnees who were delayed by the football team’s run to a state championship that ended only last Saturday, Bayfield High School wrestling head coach Roy Westbrook looked forward to leading his first squad into action this weekend.
“Things have been going pretty good, or as well as could be expected with only having six kids in the room,” said Westbrook, who took the reins this winter from Cole Baughman. “So it will be a real game-changer having all the guys coming in off of football now.”
Whatever rust may have accumulated on the Wolverines’ mat skills during a lighter-than-usual summer and extended gridiron season was knocked off quickly Friday at the 24th annual Verde Duals – a two-day event hosted by Arizona Interscholastic Association small-school power Camp Verde.
“We’re really excited, you know? It was kind of a mix-up, a last-minute decision with Flagstaff not being there,” said Westbrook, “and we kind of got together with the coaching staff and just decided since it’s the same tournament style ... to go there. And we know we’re going to see a bunch of tough teams at that tournament.”
The Wolverines didn’t have much difficulty quickly getting acclimated to wrestling season, even after only three days of wrestling in practice. After the first day of duals, the Wolverines’ wrestlers amassed a record of 25-10. Garrett Beebe (138 pounds) went 5-0, as did Jake Sandrey (160). Both boys were on the football team. Lane Grimwood (152) went 4-1, and Daniel Westbrook also had a 4-1 day for Bayfield. Daniel Westbrook’s lone loss at 220 pounds came to a defending state champion from Camp Verde.
Returning three of four AIA Division IV state champions (the exception being four-time king Hayden Uhler at 138 pounds) from last season, Camp
Bayfield began the 2017-18 slate looking to retool a roster which graduated CHSAA Class 3A State Championships qualifiers Ryan Nava at 145, Macoy Michaeli at 170 and heavyweight Sam Westbrook, along with near-miss Cody Speece at 113.
However, now-seniors Garrett Beebe and Jake Sandrey are among those set to return and lead, with the former qualifying for state last year at 126 pounds and the latter at 132 while combining for a 71-22 record.
“Both know how to lead,” said Westbrook. “They know what it takes to win, especially coming off of football. So I’m hoping that they will carry over and take control. The other senior that I’ve got would be Grimwood, and he looks like he’s going to be tough this year.”
Also ready to return are sophomore John Foutz, a 182-pound sophomore, and Shane Moore, a 160-pound junior who went 3-2 Friday at 170 pounds. Junior Colby Baker is reportedly weighing his options after a season at 106.
“We’re going to be a little green, having quite a bit of sophomores and a few freshmen,” Roy Westbrook said, “but I think we’ll have some good guys that will be in the hunt for at least placing at state.
“We’ve got some pretty well-seasoned kids, and I think we could have several go that far.”
Coach Westbrook, a 2007 Bayfield graduate who finished his prep grappling career with a fourth-place state finish at 135 pounds, noted that taking charge of the program has been relatively smooth.
“You know, it was kind of an easy transition for the most part because I’d already been in the room and coaching,” he said, having served as an assistant last year. “It’s a little more challenging in terms of the paperwork stuff I’ve got to have done, you know, and scheduling buses and whatnot, but all that will come with time.”
Durango Herald sports editor John Livingston contributed to this report.
