Top finishes by standouts Sam Westbrook and Ryan Nava highlighted Bayfield wrestling's season-opening trip to last weekend's Wade Hendershott Peaks Invitational in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Having posted a sixth-place 4-3 duals mark for the Day 1 (Friday) portion of the event, seven Wolverines qualified for Day 2 action. and placed on Day 2 when champions in each weight class were decided.
Elated by his team's performance in his first-ever tournament as BHS' head coach, Cole Baughman noted that had junior-varsity wrestlers been eligible to participate in the Saturday session, Bayfield would have actually had 10 athletes in contention.
King of the heavyweights, Westbrook beat Prescott, Arizona's Gavin Nelson to clinch first place, with Yuma, Arizona's Oscar Vega finishing third. And while working towards certification at his expected 145 pounds, Nava ruled over the 152s after defeating Page, Arizona's Hayden Gracia with PHS' Dylan Davis settling for third.
Macoy Michaeli was second at 170, ahead of Kingman Lee Williams' Dylan Shaffer but behind an unknown Grand Canyon Stater after a close 3-1 loss in the final. Jake Sandrey also scored BHS a second-place finish after losing to Cottonwood Mingus Union's Trent Miller at 138, and 120-pounder Cody Speece placed second behind 2A Dolores' Brandon Ward.
Winning more matches in one weekend than he had as a high-school rookie last winter, Colby Baker was a strong fourth at 106, and newcomer Colby Joosten took fourth at 126.
Nicknamed the Criminals, Yuma went unbeaten on Day 1 to win the Invitational's team title. PHS placed second, followed by Page, Yuma Gila Ridge and LWHS. Flagstaff Coconino finished seventh, one spot behind Bayfield.
Up next, the Wolverines will travel to the Dove Creek 'Dawg Fight' this Saturday.
WADE HENDERSHOTT PEAKS INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS: 106-Kamron Whitewater, Page; 113-Jonathan Ruiz, Yuma; 120-Brandon Ward, Dolores (CO); 126-Adrian Gomez, Yuma; 132-Nic Verville, Kingman Lee Williams; 138-Trent Miller, Cottonwood Mingus Union; 145-Lucas Svoboda, Cottonwood Mingus Union; 152-RYAN NAVA, BAYFIELD (CO); 160-Jacob Sanchez, Yuma; 170-unknown from Arizona; 182-Charles Hardy, Cottonwood Mingus Union; 195-Adrian Madrid, Yuma; 220-Angel Encinas, Yuma Gila Ridge; HWT-SAM WESTBROOK, BAYFIELD (CO).
