STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Steamboat Springs High School wrestling coach Travis Bryant doesn’t want to come out and say exactly how well he thinks some of his wrestlers are doing as the team burns through the second half of its schedule.

He’s not interested in jinxing anything.

What he will say is he was plenty pleased with his team’s performance Saturday at a duals tournament in Rifle. The team, still depleted by illness that’s ravaged the team this month, took just seven wrestlers and scored a fourth-place finish.

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“As a team we didn’t match up with a lot of our opponents so there were some forfeits, but we did get some good wrestling in,” Bryant said. “The boys did exceptionally well.”

Steamboat got a perfect day from senior Hayden Johnson, who won both of his actual matches at 160 pounds.

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Lance Bryant, wrestling at 145 pounds, also didn’t lose, returning to the mat after missing several weeks sick. He pinned both of his opponents.

Kyle Spognardi, at 132 pounds, had a strong day, as well, winning all of his matches, including a tight overtime match.

“I don’t want to jinx it,” Travis Bryant said, “but I’ll just say look for him to do something in the coming weeks.”

Caleb Anderson went 3-2 on the day and earned some extra praise from Bryant with the team’s wrestler of the week honors.

“I really like what I’m seeing from him,” Bryant said. “He continues to improve, and he always gives 110 percent.”

Ivan Reynolds and John Slowey were also 3-2, and Spencer Mader was 1-4.

Next up for the team is its only home action of the year, a triangular against Eagle Valley and Glenwood Springs. The action will start at 5 p.m. Thursday as the two visiting teams battle each other. Steamboat will then wrestle matches at 6 and 7 p.m.

Rams, Tigers compete at Paonia

The Soroco and Hayden wrestling teams both competed at the Screaming Eagle Invitational in Paonia. There, the Rams came away with two especially powerful finishes.

Both Jace Logan, at 170 pounds, and Sky Carlson, at 220, won their brackets, Logan winning all three of his matches with pins and Carlson winning both of his matches, as well.

Kody Logan went 2-2 at 132 pounds and Jonathan Jerome 2-2 at 160. Darrel Ebaugh, at 113, and Michael Boleng, at 126, both also won matches.

For Hayden, Wyatt Murphy had a strong day at 120 pounds, going 2-2. Garret Murphy, at 132 pounds, went 1-2.

To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253, email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @JReich9.