Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio’s wrestling teams went to battle on the mat Friday at DHS in the annual La Plata County Championship.

Durango technically won the event, with a 66-18 win over Ignacio and a 50-28 win against Bayfield. In the other dual, the Wolverines beat Ignacio 48-12.

Not including forfeits, however, and Bayfield got its hand raised the most after contested matches.

“Winning most of our matches felt good against some good competition in the county,” said Bayfield assistant coach Dusty Mars. “I’m super-proud of the amount of fight everyone put in.”

“For only having four guys, we wrestled well,” said Ignacio head coach Jordan Larsen. “Even in the matches we lost we showed improvement.”

“We were a little flat, which is typical. It’s always hard to get back in the groove (after Christmas break),” said DHS head coach Robert Finneseth. “We had some great wins, but as a whole were a little flat.”

One of the night’s best matches was at 170 pounds with a pair of ranked wrestlers squaring off: Durango’s Ben Belt and Bayfield’s Kobe Prior.

Belt said he was looking forward to the match ever since he finished third at the Warrior Classic at Grand Junction Central and Prior won it.

“I performed short of my potential in the semis (at the Warrior) so this was a chance to redeem myself,” Belt said.

Belt got in a couple deep shots in the first period, but Prior was able to scramble out every time, and they went into the second scoreless. Prior chose down and escaped to take a 1-0 lead. Belt then got in a shot, but Prior rolled him through to his back. Before any points were awarded, however, Belt scrambled off of his back, and a stalemate was called.

In the third, Belt chose down and Prior cut him free to tie the match, 1-1. Belt was then able to finish a shot for a takedown, but Prior escaped soon after. With a 3-2 lead, Belt got dinged once for stalling. Another stall call would have tied the match, so Belt went on the offensive.

“I knew I had to score, but I was a little nervous because we had so many scrambles before,” Belt said. “The great thing about wrestling is if you can keep pressure on for six minutes, it makes it hard for the other guy.”

With time winding down, Belt was able to not only finish a shot, but also put Prior on his back for a couple of counts to finish on top, 7-2.

“It felt pretty good,” Belt said. “I have high aspirations and want to go all the way to state. Having a match with a high-ranked guy is great to find out where you’re at.”

Durango’s Ryan Dugan started the dual with a pin for DHS at 106 pounds, but Bayfield responded with Keaton Pickering scoring a 17-1 technical fall at 113.

Logan Valencia then gave Bayfield the lead, 11-6, with second-period pin against Izik Garret.

At 126, Cole Pontine of DHS put Avery Mitzlaff on his back four times and eventually won by a technical fall, 16-0.

At 132, BHS’ James Mars took Chris McGrath down to his back twice and then titled him for another near fall. In the second period, Mars escaped and scored a takedown to win by technical fall, 16-1, and give Bayfield a 16-11 lead.

Bayfield forfeited the next two weights, giving DHS a 23-16 lead. Deegan Barnes, however, pinned Dale Harris at 152 pounds to cut the lead to one, 23-22.

At 160, Tyler Woodworth of Durango scored three takedowns and a near fall to take an 8-2 lead against Donovan Candelaria. Woodworth then started the second period with a reversal and put Candelaria on his back twice more before pinning him at the 3:59 mark.

Belt added to Durango’s lead, and then forfeits at 182, 190 and 220 sealed the win for Durango. Bayfield’s Jordan Cundiff ended the dual with a hip toss to pin his opponent at 285.

In the night’s first dual, Durango faced Ignacio. Only three matches were contested in the dual, and Ignacio won all three. Jeremy Roderick pinned Vance Draper at 285, and Keaton McCoy stuck Oren Moore at 145.

In the 152-pound bout, Durango’s Dale Harris scored first against John Nossaman, snapping him and scoring behind. With a 2-1 lead in the second, Harris took Nossaman down to his back for a four-point move, but Nassaman kept fighting and was able to roll through and put Harris on his back and pin him with a reverse half.

“I think we’re doing pretty good,” Belt said. “I’m really excited to see how we do in league dials. We have some weak points, but we just have to keep working.”

Belt also gave a shout out to all the Durango fans that showed up to support the team.

In the Bayfield and Ignacio dual, Cundiff and Roderick went into the second period scoreless at 285. Roderick, however, escaped with a sit-out and then turned and caught Cundiff out of position, drove through him and pinned him.

At 106, Bayfield’s Hunter Mats took Cayle McCoy down with a shuck and then used a power half to pin him.

At 160, Candelaria pinned Nossaman in 52 seconds.

The closest match was an exhibition between Ignacio’s 145-pounder, McCoy, and Bayfield’s 152-pounder, Barnes. Barnes got the first takedown, but McCoy was able to reverse him to go into the second tied, 2-2. In the second, however, McCoy started in the bottom position, and Barnes was able to pin him.

Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio will compete in Pagosa Springs tournament Saturday.

“I’m excited to get after it tomorrow,” Larsen said.