Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Spring High School wrestling coach Shane Yeager said he sent his team into its first meet at Middle Park with a goal in mind.

“This one was to show them how far they have to go,” he said.

For many of the Sailors, his plan was successful, and they realized a lot of work remained.

Most of the team struggled against a field that featured 23 schools and some of the top competition in the state.

Still, Yeager said there were plenty of positives to be found, and he remains confident his young team can appropriately incorporate those lessons before shipping off for a junior varsity meet next weekend.

“I was surprised, actually. Most of my new guys wrestled really well for it being their first big tournament,” he said.

“You could see they were thinking the right way and trying moves. This week, experience beat them.”

The exception to that rule was Steamboat’s most experienced veteran, Derek Morris.

Morris wrestled well at 152 points and finished third in his 16-wrestler bracket.

“He really wrestled tough this weekend,” Yeager said.

“This week showed them all how far they have to go. It was really good experience for the whole team.”