Bayfield High School’s wrestling team wanted to send a statement Thursday night. Statement sent.
The Wolverines host Centauri in a Class 3A Intermountain League dual-meet. The Falcons were fresh off a team win at the Rocky Mountain Wrestling tournament last weekend in Pagosa Springs, where Bayfield placed seventh.
As the teams met Thursday, it was the Wolverines who came out on top with a 42-34 victory. The win sent first-year head coach Cole Baughman and his squad to 2-0 in league duals this season.
“I’m to the point where I know our team is the best in the state,” Baughman said. “It’s only a matter of if we believe it. You have to believe it, and then nobody can take it from you. We’re preaching that mind-set. Tonight, we showed the state of Colorado we’re ready.”
BHS showed its depth and experience Thursday. With the team score favoring the Wolverines 39-34 going into the final match of the night, BHS sent Ryan Nava onto the mat at 145 pounds. Nava, considered the top 145 in his classification, wrestled to an 11-5 decision win to secure the Wolverines’ statement win. He took a 5-1 lead after one period but saw that lead cut to 5-4 in the second. Nava scored an escape point and then a two-point takedown at the end of the second period to claim an 8-4 lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
It was Nava’s first match of the new year.
“When Nava is in the room, it gives us an edge,” Baughman said. “He has the chip on his shoulder he always gets in the second half of the season. I love the fire he brings when he comes back, and he ups the game for everyone with how competitive he is.”
The night started with two Falcon wins, as Brian Shawcroft defeated Lane Grimwood with a 10-0 major decision to give Centauri a 5-0 lead.
Centauri’s Adam Chacon followed that with a pin victory 1 minute, 44 seconds into his match with Bayfield’s Shane Moore to give the Falcons a 10-0 advantage.
But back-to-back Bayfield pin wins by Macoy Michaeli at 170 pounds and Daniel Westbrook at 182 pounds gave BHS its first lead at 12-10. Michaeli defeated Weston Huffaker in 1:05, and Westbrook pinned Teddy Sowards in 2:33.
“Macoy is a fun wrestler to watch, because I never know what he’s going to do next,” Baughman said. “One match he’s really offensive, the next he waits for his opponent to make a mistake and capitalizes. He comes from Utah where they know wrestling, and he’s no exception.”
The teams exchanged forfeits at 195 and 220 pounds, giving BHS a narrow 18-16 lead. Heavyweight wrecking machine Sam Westbrook increased that advantage in a hurry, as he pinned Casey Fringer in 3:02.
As the dual flipped to the lower weight classes, two more forfeits were exchanged until the teams reached 120 pounds. State placer Joe Chavez of Centauri picked up a pin against Cody Speece in 33 seconds, cutting Bayfield’s lead to 30-28.
Garrett Beebe responded with a narrow 6-5 win at 126 pounds against Zach Martin.
“I think we beat the kid more handedly than the scoreboard showed,” Baughman said. “We gave them two points at the beginning to the match trying to force something. Garrett is capable of being a state champ, but he has to wrestle smart for 6 minutes with no mistakes like that. One mistake keeps it too close for comfort.”
Jake Sandrey earned a pin for BHS in 1:19 against Kord Howsman at 132 pounds to continue his strong season. Centauri’s Quinton Montague answered those six points with his own by pinning Bayfield’s Colby Joosten in 1:46. That set up Nava’s final match.
BHS has a busy week ahead with a trip to Rangely this weekend and another league dual at Monte Vista next Thursday. The next morning, BHS will load a bus for Page, Arizona.
“Nava is the only kid we have who has placed in Page,” Baughman said. “This year, we should have a few more int he finals. We want to get five or six into those finals.”
Joel Priest contributed to this report.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
