A strong start and finish for the Wolverines secured a home dual-meet win Thursday.
The Bayfield High School wrestling team secured a 33-21 win against Montezuma-Cortez in Bayfield. The Panthers trailed only 27-21 going into the final match of the night, giving the visitors hope of tying the team score with a pin victory. It wasn’t to be, as Bayfield’s Garrett Beebe silenced any chance of a comeback with a pin victory of his own 1 minute, 53 seconds into the first period against Cortez’s Quayde Oliver. That pin at 126 pounds secured the team victory for the Wolverines.
The night started at 132 pounds, as Bayfield’s Jake Sandrey picked up a 5-4 minor decision win against Matthew Broughton, a state qualifier from a year ago. Sandrey was warned for stalling on the bottom late in the match, but he held on to secure the narrow decision victory.
Cortez picked up six team points at 138 pounds with a pin victory from Ethan Root against Bayfield’s Gus McCombs only 48 seconds into the first period.
The Panthers earned another six points moments later, as Josh Ramos pinned Chris Kane at 1:47 of the second period.
Bayfield picked up 12 points via forfeit at 152 pounds and another at heavyweight.
Cortez earned another win at 170 pounds, as Briggs Durban moved up from 160 to take on Bayfield’s Macoy Micaheli. The Bayfield senior made quick work of Durban, pinning him in 45 seconds.
Daniel Westbrook made it consecutive pin wins for the Wolverines, as he defeated Suayde Noyes 45 seconds into the third period.
Once the dual-meet turned back to the lower weight classes, Shawn Higgins of Cortez earned a second-period pin against Bayfield’s Coby Baker.
In a great finish at 120 pounds, Stevie Fuentes was able to hold off Bayfield’s Cody Speece for a 4-3 minor decision. Speece scored an escape point with less than 10 seconds to wrestle and shot in for a double-leg takedown. He took Fuentes down at the buzzer, but the referee waved it off and didn’t award any points, sending Fuentes to a victory.
Beebe then secured the win for the Wolverines, who will host Aztec for another dual-meet at 6 p.m. Friday. Legendary BHS wrestling coach Herb Stinson will return to the Wolverines’ wrestling mats as an assistant coach with Aztec.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
