In the weeks leading up to the Class 2A state tournament in Denver, Feb. 19-21, members Dove Creek High School wrestling team admitted that they was gunning for top finishes.
Although the Bulldogs did not win any individual state titles, the team departed the Pepsi Center somewhat pleased with their results after placing two of its three state-qualifying wrestlers on the podium.
Dove Creek finished in 21st place in Class 2A as a team.
Baughman placed third in a tough weight-class
Among the Dove Creek wrestlers that stepped onto the podium was 126-pound junior Case Baughman, who finished third overall after winning four of his five matches.
Baughman opened the tournament with a 7-2 victory over Fleming High School’s Keith Graham before pinning Monte Vista High School’s Keith Graham in the quarterfinals.
“My approach was to go out there, wrestle my style and win,” said Case Baughman after the match. “You can’t worry until the last whistle blows. You just have to wrestle all three periods and do the best you can.”
Gunning for a spot in the state finals, Case Baughman matched up against Rocky Ford High School’s Jeremy Fraser and suffered a 4-3 loss.
Fraser led by one point throughout the third period, during which Case Baughman nearly tied the match several times.
“(Case) got to his feet three or four times and couldn’t get out,” said Shane Baughman. “He was very close.”
Baughman closed out his tournament with an 8-4 victory over Fowler High School’s Drew Corsentino and an 8-3 victory over Duran to finish third.
“Case showed a lot of resiliency,” said Dove Creek head coach Shane Baughman. “He was in a tough weight class, but he’s had that all year. He goes up against state champ after state champ.”
Baghman finished his season with a 41-10 record.
Wrestling in his final state tournament, Dove Creek’s 138-pound senior
Randolph pinned Del Norte High School’s Tyler Martinez in the opening round of the tournament before defeating Burlington High School’s martin Torres Jr. 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
Randolph lost to Baca County’s J.C. Chenoweth 7-3 in the semifinals and moved into the consolation bracket where he won one of his two matches and finished fourth.
“I was proud of Chance because he battled real hard,” said Shane Baughman. “He did great things for our program over the years.”
For 113-pound junior Colin Hobbs, the state tournament did not go as planned as the talented junior fell one win shy of the podium.
Hobbs was pinned in his opening match of the tournament by Burlington High School’s Cody Jacobson before scoring wins over Peyton High School’s Austin Hermes and Calhan High School’s Zach McCrary.
Trevor Eliot defeated Hobbs 5-3 in the third round of consolations and eliminated the Dove Creek wrestler from the tournament.
“Colin never caught his stride,” said Shane Baughman. “He has beaten a lot of kids who placed. It’s just one of those cases where he got nerved up, I guess.”