With a winning 3-0 event record, Bayfield heavyweight Sam Westbrook could certainly have been named an Outstanding Wrestler at last Saturday's 2017 Vern Rose Memorial in Rangeley.
Westbrook's wins included a 3-1 defeat of 2A Meeker's Tyler Ilgen in the finale, and a 29-second pin of Trevor Nielson of 4A Vernal, Utah, in the match prior. He's now ranked second in the Class 3A On the Mat poll, as of Jan. 12.
The Wolverines ammassed 156 points, finishing behind only Meeker (204).
But in true wrestling fashion, the team is more than just one or two athletes, and praise also needs awarded to a couple of his teammates.
Senior Ryan Nava also bagged BHS a title up in Rangely with a 3-0 mark capped by an 11-8 decision over 2A Oak Creek Soroco's sixth-ranked Lane Martindale, with first place at stake. Nava is unlisted among On the Mat's ranked 145-pounders as yet, probably due to simply having wrestled fewer matches.
But as impressive as both standouts' work was, another Wolverine definitely raised some eyebrows.
Not a name immediately mentioned in state-contention conversation, 10th-ranked junior Jake Sandrey shone brightly in conquering the 132-pounders at the Vern Rose. He was the only Bayfield grappler to win four matches at the meet, and Sandrey won all four by pin, including a speedy 24-second stick of Meeker's Kasey Rosendahl, to clinch his crown.
Had it not been for Meeker Cowboy standout Casey Turner, BHS would have left Colorado's upper northwest with four titles. But it took Class 2A's top-ranked 170-pounder to deny senior Macoy Michaeli (3A's #4) an undefeated 3-0 mark - by a 9-4 count. Michaeli pinned his first two foes in under a minute each.
Ranked #8 in 3A at 126, junior Garrett Beebe rebounded from a second-round loss to Meeker's Tannen Kennedy (2A's #3) to win his last two matches and finish a second-place 3-1. Colby Baker (106) and Cody Speece (120) each went 2-1 and also placed second at their weights.
Able to shake off an early setback, Manuel Robles finished a strong 3-1 and took third at 152 pounds. Shane Moore (1-2 at 160), Daniel Westbrook (1-3 at 182) and John Foutz (1-3 at 195) each placed fourth.
Though unlucky to be in a bracket dominated by Meeker star and 2A's #4 Sheridan Harvey, 138-pounder Colby Joosten still managed one victory in Rangely before falling in the consolation semis and finishing 1-2. Joosten faced 3A's then-#1, Centauri's Quinton Montague, barely 36 hours earlier in Intermountain League dual action.
The Wolverines wrestled an IML dual Thursday in Monte Vista, then travels to the 27th annual Sand Devil Classic in Page, Arizona, with Day 1 action beginning Friday.
