For the Dove Creek Bulldogs wrestling team, the San Juan Basin League Tournament produced a bittersweet experience.
Competing at home in Dove Creek, several Bulldogs wrestlers performed well, yet the team came up short, finishing second behind Norwood in the league standings.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was 132-pound junior Chance Randolph, who, by virtue of a first place finish, earned 1st team all-conference honors.
Also earning top honors were 106-pound sophomore Collin Hobbs, 126-pound sophomore Case Baughman and 138-pound senior Nick Jones.
Complimenting the Dove Creek’s first place performers, Tommy Fury performed well, finishing second in the 160-pound division and earning all-conference honorable mention.
Dove Creek’s Donavan Trudeau, Wyatt Applin and Tyler Knuckles failed to win a match on the day.
“I wasn’t real pleased with our upper weights,” said Baughman. “Tyler Knuckles has to step it up.”
Next up for the Bulldogs will be the 1A/2A Regional Tournament in Grand Junction (Feb. 14-15), followed by the 1A/2A State Tournament in Denver (Feb. 20-22).
“I think our core kids are ready to go,” said Baughman of the upcoming tournaments. “They’re excited about finishing the year. With they way they are wrestling right now, that’s a good thing.”
