A young Baker wrestling squad continued to make strides toward peaking in the post season Saturday.

The Bulldogs, who placed 13th at the Padilla Invitational in Parma, Idaho, a year ago, placed seventh this time around.

“Baker continues to surprise,” said Coach Brandon Young.

“We slept on the mats in the Parma gym. Everyone had a great time and we are beginning to come together as a team.”

Young said Andrew Gettle’s grandpa Dewayne Lang and Ted Shaw have been volunteering as assistant coaches this season and have been a tremendous asset to the program.

“Along with help of a motivating Coach David Johnson we are really starting to see some changes,” Young said.

Baker had three wrestlers place.

“At 130 pounds Andrew Porter destroyed all competitors,” he said. “He entered as the No. 1 seed and earned a fall followed by a major decision.”

In the final Porter faced Parma’s Ceasar Jacobo, ranked No. 2 in Idaho. Young said the two had met earlier this season in Baker with Porter gaining a 5-2 win.

“This time Andrew walked right through Jacobo. In the second period Andrew had built a 9-0 lead and then pinned Jacobo. I have never seen Andrew wrestle so well.”

Sam Pearson placed third in his weight class. He lost early in the tournament to the No. 2 seed 9-6. He battled back through the consolation bracket pinning everyone in his way to take third. Pearson went 5-1 on the weekend.

Anthony Constantine took fourth in his weight. He lost a close match in the championship semis the last 20 seconds to Brian Moore of Nyssa when Moore scored a 1-point escape to win 4-3.

“Many of the kids wrestled the best they have this season,” Young said.

Baker had eight wrestlers make it to the consolation semi-finals. Those eight were Josh and Zach Valentine, Pearson, Drew Stanley, Constantine, Brandon Zunino, Wyatt Duncan, and Devon Baldwin.

Next up is La Grande JV today and then the Homedale Dual Tournament on Saturday.

Padilla Tournament

at Parma, Idaho

(Baker results)

Team standings – Parma 228.5, Weiser 155, Skyview 133, Emmett 115, Nyssa 114.5, Filer 111.5, Baker 108, Homedale 93, Wendell 91, Middleton 89, McCall-Donnelly 63, Vale 53, Aberdeen 34.

103 – Josh Valentine, 2-2; Noah Fulfer, 1-2. 112 – Zach Valentine, 1-2; Travis Whiting, 0-2. 130 – 1. Andrew Porter, 3-0. 140 – 3. Sam Pearson, 5-1. 145 – Drew Stanley, 3-2. 152 – 4. Anthony Constantine, 2-2. 160 – Brandon Zunino, 2-2. 171 – Wyatt Duncan, 1-2. 189 – Colton Flynn, 0-2. 285 – Devon Baldwin, 0-2.