Shane Baughmans Bulldogs needed an immediate boost after a lackluster dual at Durango last Thursday.
The Dove Creek wrestling team got its dog-on boost last Saturday at its 13-team Dawg Fight tournament.
Four Bulldogs took home first place medals, and three others took second en route to a Dawg Fight championship.
They bounced back and thats what I was hoping to see out of this team. They did a good job today, Baughman said. It was the exact opposite of what we did Thursday night (at Durango). We wrestled terrible and we wrestled great today. We had seven kids in the finals and were in every single match against some real tough kids. This team is starting to come along.
The Bulldogs won with 147 points. Farmington (N.M.) was second with 120 points. Del Norte, Aztec (N.M) and Dolores rounded out the top-five with 101.5, 90 and 68 points, respectively.
Three of the four Dove Creek tournament title victors were underclassmen. Freshman Chance Randolph went 4-0 at 120 pounds, defeating Hunter Bowering, of Monticello (Utah), by a 7-1 decision to win the title. Sophomores Nick Jones and Tyson Smith took first at 113 pounds and heavyweight.
That is huge, said Baughman about his underclassmen winners. Theyre looking tough. They were tough coming in, but I didnt realize (how tough). For their heads to be on straight, as freshmen sometimes, youre head isnt there. These kids are just wrestling. Thats what we told them at the beginning of the year, Just go out and wrestle. It seems to be working. Hopefully we can continue it with those guys.
It was Smiths first tournament title, as he moved to 11-1 on the season with four wins Saturday.
It definitely boosted my confidence. Winning the matches that I won, and taking first and getting my record better, said Smith about his tourney championship. I feel we corrected a lot of mistakes. A lot of the team came out to win. I felt like I started wrestling like I needed to wrestle, coming out with the mentality that I needed to have. I used the strength that I have.
In the championship match against a Kirtland (N.M.) Central wrestler, Smith used his strength and endurance to overpower his opponent to get the pin.
Jones pinned Deano Valdez, of Dolores, in their title bout. Cole Baughman won the 126-pound championship over Padilla, of Farmington.
Tyler Ebberts, Jared Galyean and Chance Johnson each took second at 132, 220 and 182 pounds.
Johnson lost a heartbreaking championship match in overtime to defending 2A Norwood state champ Brent Harris. Johnson (12-1) lead 4-1 early and kept his lead into the third period. But Harris used his escapability to net three points and then took a 5-4 lead on a takedown. Johnson earned an escape point to tie the match at 5 and force overtime. Harris quickly used his strength in the extra frame, taking down Johnson to win, 7-5.
Hes got a little bit of work to do from bottom. I felt we could have won that match, Shane Baughman said about Johnson. In the overtime, I think he was just so tired and out of shape. Hes got to work on his lungs a little bit, too. So does the other guy. It looks like theyre not quite where they need to be for the state tournament.
The Dolores Bears performed well, too. Senior Wyatt Wallace highlighted the day for Dolores winning the 160-pound championship. Wallace went 4-0 in the tourney, all wins by pin. He knew early on it would be a special day.
It was the first tournament since last year when I won three consecutive matches. After the second round, I had a good feeling about winning some matches, Wallace said. I was a little nervous about this championship round. Ive never been in a situation like that. I just kind of got everything straight in my head. Its just another match. You just got to wrestle hard and just do what you can. It turned out for me.
Wallace (6-3) took care of Joel Almanza, Cade Carver and Jacob Miller of Farmington, Norwood and Monticello to get to the championship. It was 2:53 in the second round against Del Nortes Tharen Smith when the referee slapped the mat for Wallace. The win setoff a raucous cheer from the Dolores faithful, as head coach Dean Valdez and assistant Josh Edwards mobbed Wallace in celebration.
Mr. Wallace, weve just been waiting for his moment, said Dean Valdez about Wallaces first tourney title. Hes so explosive. Once his wind hits, and he can wrestle like he does, I dont see many kids holding with him. He has a great shot at a good place at state this year.
Deano Valdez was second at 113 pounds, going 3-1. Wyatt Wade took third-place at 126 pounds with a 4-1 ledger. Wyatt Mattausch finished fourth at 132 pounds, posting a 3-2 record.
We had our good moments and our very disappointing moments. Getting caught out of position and things like that, but I see some good promise with these kids, Dean Valdez said. Now that their weights are getting right where theyre supposed to be, now were starting to make a little bit of a mark. Were more interested in mat time right now, trying to get their technique right.
Both Dove Creek and Dolores will be at the Piedra Vista High School tournament in Farmington on Saturday before going on Christmas break. Piedra Vista is the defending 4A New Mexico state champion.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected].
