Steamboat Springs High School junior Tucker Havel pins Battle Mountain’s Andore Horruitiner. Havel won both of his duals by fall at the triangular meet against Battle Mountain and Summit on Friday Nov. 30, in Steamboat. (Photo by Leah Vann)

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — As Summit and Battle Mountain High Schools fought on the mat below, the Sailors waited in the wings above, looking down on their opponents while dressed uniformly in their black and red singlets.

Once the two road schools finished their fights, the lights dimmed and the music blasted. The Steamboat Springs High School wrestling team rounded the top of the gym, then came to the mat below, running in circles around the red emblem. While the forfeits piled on tonight, the Sailors would emerge victorious overall in both matches: 33-30 against Battle Mountain and 48-30 against Summit.

Sailor Caleb Anderson opened competition on the mat with a tightly contested match against Battle Mountain’s Ignacio Adelphia. Adelphia was the first to attack, taking Anderson down to the mat for a 2-0 advantage. Anderson managed to take advantage from the bottom, rolling Adelphia over in escapes and reversals to ultimately wear him down, taking the match 11-4. He’d lose by fall against Summit’s Filipio Nardella in a higher weight class at 152, instead of 145, but showed signs of promise for a second-year wrestler.

“The first one was good, he was pretty stocky. I was a little nervous going into it, but coach says to be confident in your shots and what you’re doing,” Anderson said. “I started working my moves. I knew I could throw a leg in and he couldn’t really defend it.”

Steamboat Springs High School junior Caleb Anderson, 145, wrestles Battle Mountain’s Ignacio Adelphia. Anderson won his dual with Adelphia, but lost to Summit’s Filipio Nardella at the triangular meet on Friday, Nov. 30, hosted by Steamboat. (Photo by Leah Vann)

Anderson was encouraged by his friends to start wrestling last year, and after a summer of camps and tournaments, and extra work with his coaches in the early mornings, he likes seeing improvement.

“All the kids are helping me out. They know I’m kind of newer, but they don’t give me any slack for it,” Anderson said. “Which is good because it pushes me harder and I feel like it’s gotten me far. It’s one-on-one, and I like that experience, I do golf as well which is a single person sport. I don’t know the mentality, it’s you, it’s all or nothing.”

Steamboat junior Spencer Mader is an experienced wrestler who wants nothing short of a state medal this year.

Mader pinned both of his opponents, Battle Mountain’s Sam Koontz and Summit’s Brandon Daniel. His speed on the floor enabled him to surprise his opponents, but his success came from his tenacity and technical moves on the floor.

“A lot of my shots were moving in nicely, thanks to my coach. I could create some angles,” Mader said. “I took in the single leg and sweep. I also got a good snap, go behind, definitely my chicken wings came in handy.”

Chicken wings are when you lock the opponent’s arms behind them, so they’re tied up and unable to use them. It enables a wrestler to control the whole match and pin his opponent.

Mader traveled all over Colorado for national tournaments and three collegiate camps this summer. The wrestling experience was already there, and as a result, his mental game improved, enabling him to see opportunities to take risks.

“Mader’s been wrestling all summer,” head coach Jordan Bonifas said. “He’s on a mission.”

Steamboat junior Tucker Havel joined Mader finishing the night with two pins.

“I thought they also wrestled really hard. I was happy with how they fought,” Sailors wrestling head coach Jordan Bonifas said.

To reach Leah Vann, call 970-871-4253, email lvann@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @LVann_Sports.