Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
After having to cancel their Apodaca Duals last weekend — due to teams pulling out over health concerns — the Trapper wrestling team traveled to Dickinson State in North Dakota to take part in the Tyler Plummer Classic.
“I was extremely disappointed we did not get to host the Apodaca Duals this year, which is my favorite event as a coach. It has been a long couple of years with COVID and continues to cause problems with our sport in particular,” Northwest College head coach Jim Zeigler said, “but we went to Dickinson as an alternative and competed well.”
Zeigler said the Trappers had not been to Dickinson since 1999, which made this tournament an opportunity for the wrestlers to be exposed to four-year schools in the northern part of the country.
Continued improvement has been a staple for this unusual season for the Trappers, and the hard work from early in the season is starting to pay off.
Gus Harrison — who worked his way back from an early season injury — won all four of his matches to take first in the tournament.
“The advantages of having a small team like this is that they are close-knit and go out and are relaxed when they compete,” Zeigler said.
Kendell Cummings continued his improvement as well, finishing third in the tournament. After losing his opening round match to Zetherey Kinternecht from Dickinson State by major decision, 13-4, Cummings got his revenge in the third place match; he was able to pin Kinternecht in the first period at the 1:18 mark.
A newcomer to the team is former Douglas Bearcat wrestler Cody Pinkerton, who was a state champion at 220 pounds and a runner-up twice.
Pinkerton has officially signed for the Trappers, but is unable to compete as an affiliated wrestler until next semester after he transferred from Northern State University; due to transfer rules, he currently competes unattached.
At the Tyler Plummer Classic, Pinkerton came in third place after going 5-1 over the weekend. He defeated Wyatt Kearn from Western Wyoming — an All-American who placed eighth at nationals last year — in the third place match.
Ryker Blackburn continued his impressive season, finishing in fourth place at 197 pounds after going 2-2 on the weekend.
Much like Cummings, Avery McSpadden was able to get revenge, too. After losing to Aiden Painter of Dickinson State in the quarterfinal, McSpadden came back to defeat him 4-3 in the fifth place match to finish 1-2 on the weekend.
Ivan Lee was the other Trapper to compete on the weekend, going 0-2 at 125 pounds.
Northwest will be off this weekend, as duals in Rock Springs were canceled due to the regional tournament being moved up to Feb. 12 (also hosted in Rock Springs).
“There is not a lot of pressure on them,” Zeigler said of his squad. “They want to go down and compete and I think they will do a good job.”