Disappointment led to an improved Bayfield High School wrestling team.
Two days after losing a heartbreaking dual meet against Monte Vista, the BHS Wolverines turned it around on the mat Saturday at a tournament at Salida High School.
The Wolverines placed second behind only Cedaredge while placing eight out of the 10 boys they brought. BHS scored 131 team points, edging third-place Ignacio, which had 128.
“It felt good to bump them out of the top two and their spot,” BHS head coach Todd McMenimen said of placing ahead of rival Ignacio. “We responded well from a lackluster showing Thursday. The kids came out and wrestled tough all day.”
Two BHS wrestled took first place in their brackets – Colter McMenimen at 145 pounds and heavyweight Sam Westbrook.
“(Westbrook) had one of the tougher brackets. He had to go through two state-ranked kids, one being Josh Gallegos of Ignacio, and we beat him in overtime,” coach McMenimen said. “Then the other was a young man from Cedaredge who’s ranked sixth right now in 2A. We got a tight victory over him. Two tough wins.”
BHS also had two second-place finishers – Garrett Beebe at 106 pounds and Cody Speece at 120 pounds.
“That was Speece’s first time to get in the finals at a tournament. We didn’t get the last victory, but making the finals was excellent to see,” coach McMenimen said.
Placing third for BHS was Jake Sandrey at 113 pounds and Taylor Winch at 132 pounds.
Cash Snooks took fifth for BHS at 152 pounds, and Marquis Mashak took sixth at 160 pounds.
“That was the first time Cash ever placed in a tournament. Those things are real big and nice to see,” coach McMenimen said.
BHS has two weeks of the season to wrestle before regionals. Coach McMenimen hopes this weekend is a turning point for the Wolverines.
“Probably the best learning portion of (Saturday) was to figure out how to get off the bus and wrestle,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to get things turned in the right direction as we get down to the end of the season.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
