Bayfield High school senior Jordan Larsen captured the Class 3A title at 152 pounds on Saturday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver when he scored a takedown late in the first overtime period in his state championship match against rival Mike Smith of Pagosa Springs.

The two wrestlers battled to a 1-1stalemate through three periods of wrestling.

But late in OT, with time running out, Larsen managed to pull down and control Smith to secure the 3-1 victory and the state championship.

Larsen and Smith had wrestled twice earlier this season. Larsen won the first meeting in a dual.

Smith won the second matchup at the regionals last weekend.

But in the state championship match, Larsen prevailed to give Bayfield High School an individual state title in the 3A tournament.

Bayfield teammate Markus Eckstein battled back through the consolation bracket Saturday and finished fifth at 189 pounds.

Eckstein, who won his first two matches at state, fell to the consolation bracket with a loss to David Clark of Platte Valley. Eckstein then lost a 12-3 decision to Daniel Rubalcaba of Brush.

But Eckstein rallied in the fifth-place match, defeating Adam Liges of Roosevelt 7-6.

The other BHS state qualifiers were eliminated in Saturday matches.

Trevor Huntsman, at 125 pounds, won one match in the consolation bracket before falling to Miachel Willams of Strasburg 9-5.

At 135 pounds, Ty Conrad of Bayfield won two consolation matches. He eventually lost to Jovan Chavez of Eric.

Taylor Swanemyr, Bayfield's 140-pound qualifier, won one consolation match before being eliminated by Joe Visconti of Middle Park.

Austin Thorne, 145 pounds, lost back-to-back matches at state. Clarence Radcliff, at 160, also lost two straight matches in Denver.

Defending state champion Roosevelt repeated as the team champion in 2008. Centauri of the Intermountain League finished second.

Click here to send an email to the author