Dove Creek returns five of seven state qualifiers from a season ago. As always, expectations are high.
Five years removed from a 2A state championship, 18-year coach Shane Baughman feels his returning experience and strong underclassmen have what it takes to get the Bulldogs back to an elite level.
I think our best kids are all back, Baughman said. Every kid has experience. That makes coaching easier. My goal for the team is top-five in the state. Individually, we should do well down there (at state).
Nick Jones, Cole Baughman, Tyler Ebberts, Dalton Randolph, and Chance Johnson are the returning state qualifiers. Both Jones and Cole Baughman placed sixth at state at 103 and 119 pounds respectively. This season, Jones will wrestle at 113 pounds and may move down to 106 (some of the weight classes have been changed slightly). Cole Baughman is at 126 pounds now and could move to 120. The junior has been to state twice and feels comfortable wrestling up a weight class.
Really its just wrestling and going out and competing every time, said Cole Baughman about if there is a difference wrestling up a weight. I feel like Ive gotten a lot stronger from last season. I was working out five days a week all summer long. Im still going during the week.
Dove Creek wrestled in summer camps at San Diego, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev., to prepare for a challenging schedule.
It was tough, Cole Baughman said. Every single person you go up against, youre just in a battle every time. Every match you get to compete in, you just have to work that much harder to compete. I think it did a lot for our team.
Randolph will hit the mat at 138 pounds. Coach Baughman thinks Randolph is the most technically sound grappler right now. Weights 145 and 152 have a trio vying for spots in Tyler Ladner, Seth Kelshaw and Dillon Daves. Ebberts will wrestle at 132 and Johnson looks to be back at state at 170.
Many spots will be determined tonight at the Montezuma-Cortez High School tri-meet. The Bulldogs will face Aztec (N.M.) and host M-CHS. Dove Creek frequently beats bigger schools and swept the M-CHS tri-meet last year in dominant fashion. The Bulldogs are looking to repeat that performance.
Were going out and wrestling 4A and 5A schools, Shane Baughman said. This is by far the toughest schedule weve had. Theyll be tested. This opener at Cortez, theyre pretty excited about it.
The Bulldogs will be at the Bayfield Wolverine Tournament on Saturday at 8 a.m.
Other notable meets include the 13-team Dawg Fight tournament at Dove Creek High School on Saturday, Dec. 10. There are home duals against Utah schools San Juan and Monticello on Jan. 12, 2012 and Feb. 1. The San Juan Basin League tournament is at Norwood Feb. 3, and regionals are at Palisade on Dec. 10.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.