Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
A pair of Trapper wrestlers are on their way to the NJCAA National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa: Ryker Blackburn and Gus Harrison earned qualifying positions at the Plains District Championships in Rock Springs on Saturday.
Blackburn made his mark on the competition by pinning his two competitors at 197 pounds. He earned first place along with top honors for the competition after being voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“That was really cool that he got MVP because there are nine other champions,” Trapper head coach Jim Zeigler said.
Harrison had a tougher route to earn his position at 149 pounds.
He won his first match by pin to advance to the championship bout with River Wardle from Western Wyoming. Wardle came out of the gates strong, earning six points in the first period to Harrison’s zero.
Both competitors earned two points in the second period which left Harrison trailing 8-2 going into the third period.
Wardle used a strong early push through a takedown and a four point near fall to extend his lead, and outscored Harrison 9-2 in the third to take home the championship by major decision, 17-4.
Despite losing in the championship, Harrison still had an opportunity to advance to nationals: He was awarded the second place match after a no contest against Anthony Flores from Otero Junior College.
Harrison has rebounded from an early season injury, and has continued to perform strong after winning the Dickinson State tournament at the end of January.
“I was really pleased with both of their performances,” Zeigler said of Blackburn and Harrison. “He [Harrison] won that Dickinson State tournament and has wrestled well all semester.”
Other competitors for the Trappers included: Ivan Lee, who placed third at 125 pounds after going 0-1 on the weekend; Avery McSpadden went 0-1 at 141 pounds and placed third; and Kendell Cummings went 0-2 at 133 pounds and placed fourth.
Blackburn and Harrison now have three weeks to prepare, as they will head to Iowa on March 4-5 to take part in the national championships.
Zeigler said the Trappers’ other competitors will now transition into their offseason workouts, and continue to help Blackburn and Harrison prepare.
With two competitors qualified for the national competition, Zeigler expressed his gratitude for the way the team performed throughout a difficult year.
“I am so proud of this group,” the coach said. “The program has been in trying times this year, and they had a lot of courage to come in when others would not, and build this program to be competitive this year.”
Zeigler said spirits are high as the team transitions towards their respective workouts.
Due to the cancellation of the Apodaca Duals, Zeigler said the program will not be presenting the Apodaca award in 2022 and will leave a gap year in the award.