Steamboat Pilot & Today

Four Steamboat Springs wrestlers picked up victories at the Buena Vista Tournament over the weekend.

Donald Dillon, Walker Hammond, Dave Gittleson and Andy Morell all recorded at least one victory at the all-day Saturday tournament in Buena Vista.

Dillon went undefeated, winning all three of his matches by fall at 145 pounds.

Hammond picked up three wins at 160 pounds, and Gittleson and Morell each won two matches via fall at 140 and 119 pounds, respectively.

The Buena Vista Tournament was set up in a dual-team format, and the Sailors picked up a dual win against Lake County.

"Some of the more experienced wrestlers did fairly well," Steamboat coach Jay Muhme said. "The ones that don't have the experience are still having to take those losses and licks. It's just going to take some time for them to get their legs underneath them and to even understand what they are trying to accomplish out there."

Dillon defeated opponents from Centauri, St. Mary's and Lake County by pin. In Dillon's match against Josh Lapez of St. Mary's, Dillon was on his back in the first period for a moment. He rebounded in the second period to turn Lapez to his back for the pin. Hammond pinned opponents from St. Mary's, Lake County and Middle Park. Morell pinned his opponents from St. Mary's and Lake County.

If the Sailors' younger wrestlers need any proof that continued work will yield rewards, they can just look at Hammond. As a sophomore, Hammond is in his second year of wrestling and already is showing significant improvement.

"He's a real strong kid, and he has the desire. That's the bottom line," Muhme said. "He has the desire to be a winner, and that's half the battle."

Steamboat returns to the mats Saturday in the West Grand Tournament in Kremmling. As many as 16 teams are expected to be competing at the Saturday tournament, including all three Routt County teams.