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Eagle Valley's Trent Book, right, squares off with Rifle's Mario Navaro in the finals of the 140 weight at the Eagle Valley Invitational earlier this month. Book had two pins Saturday in Leadville.
LEADVILLE - After last week's mediocre showing at a dual in Palisade, the Eagle Valley wrestling squad had some work to do.
"We challenged the kids," said Devils' head coach Ron Beard. "We told them to step it up and not let the close ones get away because there are enough tough kids out there. (Assistant coach) Luke Cross called them out in practice and said we looked really flat in the first round, and we have to come out ready to wrestle."
The Devils heeded their coaches' advice Saturday at the Jim McCall Invitational in Leadville.
All but one of the Devils recorded pins en route to a sixth-place finish.
"They responded," Beard said.
"We challenged the kids," said Devils' head coach Ron Beard. "We told them to step it up and not let the close ones get away because there are enough tough kids out there. (Assistant coach) Luke Cross called them out in practice and said we looked really flat in the first round, and we have to come out ready to wrestle."
The Devils heeded their coaches' advice Saturday at the Jim McCall Invitational in Leadville.
All but one of the Devils recorded pins en route to a sixth-place finish.
"They responded," Beard said.
Leading the way for Eagle Valley were Brendan Best and James Harvey, both of whom brought home titles. Josh Wambolt took third, while Trent Book advanced to the semifinals and Chad Strakbein won three matches.
Much like he did at the Eagle Valley Invitational, Best, wrestling at the 189 weight, pinned his way through the tourney. Best also grabbed the outstanding wrestler award, his third of the season.
Harvey, a freshman at 130, pinned his first three opponents in under two minutes, then beat a wrestler from Florence in the finals, 13-3.
Despite moving up a class to 112, Wambolt had a great tournament, recording three pins en route to a third-place finish.
"He was on fire," Beard said. "He can pin anybody."
Much like he did at the Eagle Valley Invitational, Best, wrestling at the 189 weight, pinned his way through the tourney. Best also grabbed the outstanding wrestler award, his third of the season.
Harvey, a freshman at 130, pinned his first three opponents in under two minutes, then beat a wrestler from Florence in the finals, 13-3.
Despite moving up a class to 112, Wambolt had a great tournament, recording three pins en route to a third-place finish.
"He was on fire," Beard said. "He can pin anybody."
Book won two matches at 140 to get to the semifinals, but lost his next two. Strakbein beat teammates Colt Ewing and C.J. Duty at 103, as well as another wrestler. Manuel Carrassco pinned two wrestlers at 125.
Rewind, fast-forward
Thursday, Eagle Valley hosts Delta for a dual, then it heads to Denver for the Abraham Lincoln Tourney, where there will be top 4A and 5A teams. Next week, after a dual with Moffat County, the Devils gear up for regionals.
Beard thinks some of his top wrestlers are in good shaping heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Harvey lost a match in Palisade, which dropped him in the state rankings.
Rewind, fast-forward
Thursday, Eagle Valley hosts Delta for a dual, then it heads to Denver for the Abraham Lincoln Tourney, where there will be top 4A and 5A teams. Next week, after a dual with Moffat County, the Devils gear up for regionals.
Beard thinks some of his top wrestlers are in good shaping heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Harvey lost a match in Palisade, which dropped him in the state rankings.
"It takes some pressure off him," Beard said. "Right away (as a freshman) with that early ranking, that was a lot of pressure. When he lost to that kid in Palisade, it was a good wake-up call. He made some mistakes, but I'm glad he made them. They are the type that, at state, will cost you placing."
Best will see one of his top competitors next week in Moffat's Nick Navratil, and then again at regionals. The 189 class will be one of the toughest at state, with Sonny Yohn of Alamosa, last year's state champion, and runnerup Josh Larson of Windsor.
"It'll be a dog fight the whole way through," Beard said. "But Brendan is one kid who can pin anybody."
Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.
Best will see one of his top competitors next week in Moffat's Nick Navratil, and then again at regionals. The 189 class will be one of the toughest at state, with Sonny Yohn of Alamosa, last year's state champion, and runnerup Josh Larson of Windsor.
"It'll be a dog fight the whole way through," Beard said. "But Brendan is one kid who can pin anybody."
Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.
