The Bayfield High School wrestling team made the most out of a more than awkward situation on senior night in a 49-30 loss to Alamosa in a 3A Intermountain League dual.
The Wolverines got off to a slow start and were down 37-0 after the Mean Moose dominated the lower weights. At 145-pounds, Geron Goring got BHS – and the crowd involved, as Goring got a pin at the 1:08 mark of the first period.
Alamosa froze. The Mean Moose shuffled their lineup twice, but Bayfield came back to dominate the heavyweights.
Senior Daniel Westbrook, ranked No. 3 in the latest On the Mat rankings in 3A at 220, was supposed to be the final wrestler of the night and take on Austin Trujillo, ranked No. 8. The Mean Moose didn’t risk a top-10 matchup and forfeited. As a result, Westbrook never wrestled his final match at BHS.
“For Daniel, it was a huge disappointment,” said BHS head coach Todd McMenimen. “It’s his last home dual ever, and to go out there expecting a top-10 matchup to never get it? For Daniel’s sake, it’s very upsetting. Personally, I believe in taking on the best opponents. That’s what makes you a better man in life by accepting those challenges. It wasn’t a low blow, but more of us getting the momentum swing. There was fear in their coaches’ eyes when Geron got that pin. It all changed, and they didn’t want to take that risk because of the potential matchup next weekend at regionals.”
Shane Moore pinned Brooks Anderson at 170, while John Foutz pinned Isiah Coffee in just 32 seconds at 195.
“Our kids were pumped up this entire week, and I was very proud of the way they handled every twist that came their way,” McMenimen said. “We were ready to go last night, but when Alamosa couldn’t make it over (Wolf Creek Pass), we just told them to stay in that same mindset, and they did. We really battled tonight and it was a much better performance than what we’ve shown.”
Joe Chavez of Alamosa, No. 1 ranked wrestler in 3A at 126, got a technical fall over Dylan Pickering.
“Dylan was really ready to take on a two-time defending state champion,” McMenimen said. “It was his energy and attitude that really made us successful, and not just Dylan, but everybody had that same mindset, and it was a really great dual.”
BHS will prepare for the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 3A Region 1 tournament hosted by Montrose High School Feb. 15-16 at Montrose Events Center.
bploen@ durangoherald.com
