Despite having only six wrestlers on its roster, the Dove Creek High School wrestling team placed sixth at the Screaming Eagle Invitational in Paonia on Jan. 24. Seventeen teams competed in the tournament, which was won by Paonia High School.
“We wrestled really well,” said Dove Creek head coach Shane Baughman. “Even in our losses, we had guys on the ropes. It was a real good weekend.”
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was 106-pound junior Collin Hobbs, who won four consecutive matches and finished first overall. Hobbs defeated Paonia’s Colton Godwin in the championship match.
“(Collin) looked real good,” said Dove Creek head coach Shane Baughman. “He beat the third-ranked wrestler in the state in the finals and beat the fifth-ranked wrestler in the state in the semifinals.”
Also wrestling well for Dove Creek was 126-pound junior Case Baughman, who won three of four matches and finished second overall. Baughman lost a 5-4 decision to Paonia’s three-time defending state champion Jesse Reed in the finals.
“It was a pretty controversial match,” said Bulldogs head coach Shane Baughman. “Case had Jesse on his back two times and should’ve gotten some points. (Case) had him on the ropes.”
At 138-pounds, Chance Randolph finished second overall after winning three of his four matches. Randolph lost to Paonia’s two-time defending state champion Bo Pipher in the finals.
“(Chance) got a big knot on his eye in the semifinals match,” said Baughman. “It’s probably as big as a racquetball. He was one-eyed in the finals. He’s a tough kid, and I was proud of the way that he wrestled.”
At 195-pounds, Dove Creek senior Tyler Knuckles was pinned by Trevor Smith in the finals and finished second.
“We bumped Tyler up to 195 pounds, and he knocked off the seventh-ranked kid in the state in the semifinals,” Baughman said. “He looked strong out there.”
Also competing for Dove Creek were Derek Kibel, who finished 3-2, and Ricky Adams, who finished 1-2.
Next up for the Bulldogs will be a home dual against Moab on Jan. 28. Dove Creek will then travel to Ignacio for a tournament on Jan. 31.