Your future, our focus
Season Begins Saturday With Annual NWC Open
By DAVID DICKEY
Powell Tribune Sports Editor
The Northwest College wrestling team will kick off its 2007- 08 season Saturday with the annual NWC Open at Hank Cabre Gymnasium in Powell. And when the Trappers step onto the mats this weekend, they will do so with high expectations, according to NWC head coach Jim Zeigler.
"We've got good talent, and we've got a fairly young squad," Zeigler said. "They still need to establish an identity as a team, and they'll have a chance to do that as we get into our schedule."
Paving the way for Zeigler's young team will be a trio of wrestlers who enjoyed strong efforts during the 2006-07 campaign, including a pair of All-Americans - sophomores Jeremy Ensley and Nathan Barzee.
Ensley, from Homedale, Idaho, went 4-2 in the 125 weight class during the NJCAA National Championships last February and placed fifth. He did so despite being hampered by a knee injury. According to Zeigler, Ensley's effort last season was one of the highlights from last season's schedule.
"Jeremy did a great job last year," Zeigler said. "He's so relaxed when he steps onto the mat. He has a live-and-let-live type of attitude, and he simply goes out and gets the job done."
Barzee, at 197, proved to be one of the fan favorites for NWC last year with his aggressive and enthusiastic style of wrestling. The sophomore from Idaho finished fourth in his first trip to the NJCAA National Championships, and he's looking for a repeat performance this year. However, his season will be sidetracked early because of a dislocated elbow suffered during practice.
Zeigler said Barzee is one of the top leaders on this season's team. And despite his current status on the disabled list, Barzee is still finding ways to set a good example for the younger wrestlers to follow. A good example of that, according to Zeigler, is the way Barzee has aggressively dived into the rehabilitation program developed to help him overcome his current injury.
"When you lose a great leader like that, it's tough," Zeigler said. "Because he's such a dedicated wrestler, he's been able to find other ways to put himself in a leadership role, and that's important."
Zeigler said Barzee hopes to get back into a steady practice routine at some point in December and begin competing in January.
Another returning wrestler who garnered a considerable amount of mat time as a freshman is sophomore Cory Green from Rexburg, Idaho. Because of injuries to sophomore Joe Woods at 184 and Julius Rios at 174, Green found himself getting more experience than expected.
Green responded by posting a winning record, and several inspired matches down the stretchhelped give the Trappers momentu entering the West Central Zone Championships.
Green will again wrestle at two different weights this year, thanks in part to Barzee's injury. Green is listed at 184 on the roster, but look for him to see time in matches at 197.
Also at 184 will be freshman and three-time state champion Josh Clark from Ashton, Idaho. Clark redshirted last season, and he's expected to be another strong point for NWC as they look to build on last season's fourth-place finish among Division I teams at the national championships last February.
At 133, Kyle Banko, a freshman from Carson City, Nev., has the early lead in a heavily contested weight class, that also boasts freshman Jacob West. West, who is hampered with an elbow injury, is expected to be healthy and in the running for mat time at 133 during the second half of the season, according to Zeigler.
At 141, Tyler Osborn from Hoover, Ala., is expected to be the top performer. He brings impressive credentials to the mat, according to Zeigler. While at Hoover High School, Osborn was a five-time state champion.
Zeigler said Adam Orton of Evanston also has made steady strides at 141.
Anthony Varnell of Spokane, Wash., is another young wrestler for NWC who enjoyed a stellar high school career. He is a former state champion and a high school All-American, and Zeigler said he will be the Trappers' top wrestler at 149.
At 157, Travis Lamborn, another wrestler from Carson City, is looking to make a statement as a freshman. He's a former state champion, and he's determined to continue his success at NWC, Zeigler said.
The 165-pound weight class, according to Zeigler, is up for grabs between freshmen Mason Peebles and Keenan Funk. At 174, the spot vacated by Rios, Darrin Lewis of Fallen, Nev. has been penciled in as the starter.
At 285, Brian Cates, a freshman from Enterprise, Utah, will be the starter
Zeigler said he will learn a great deal about his team this weekend when the NWC Open gets underway at 9:30 a.m. He added the semifinals likely will start between noon and 2 p.m. The placing rounds are expected to begin after 3 p.m.
Among the teams competing in this year's NWC Open are Great Falls, MSU-Northern and Western Wyoming. Utah Valley, Northern Colorado and Wyoming also are expected to bring a limited number of wrestlers to the event.
"We have the talent and skill, but the question is whether we can put it all together so it adds up to wins," Zeigler said about the upcoming season. It's hard to look at a team before the season starts and predict how they'll do. I've had teams I thought would do really well, and it didn't work out that way. I've also had teams I was worried about that went out and did really well. You just never know until you can line up against somebody else and get after it."