Your future, our focus
Zeigler Notes Gains Made by Trappers in Home Match
By DAVID DICKEY
Powell Tribune Sports Editor
Northwest College's wrestling team rebounded from a disappointing loss in their first dual of the season by claiming a 31-21 win over Montana State University-Northern last Thursday night in Hank Cabre Gymnasium.
The win against the four-year NAIA university came exactly one week after the Trappers suffered a 24-21 setback to Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs. That loss was only the second against the Mustangs during NWC head coach Jim Zeigler's 15 years at the helm of the Trapper wrestling program.
"I was real happy with the way the guys wrestled," Zeigler said. "It was a huge improvement over what we saw a week earlier. We've got a young team, and these guys are still learning how to compete at this level, and I believe they'll continue to get a little better each time they compete."
During the dual loss to WWCC Nov. 8, Zeigler said the Mustangs simply showed they were more determined to get the win. Last Thursday, the Trappers made that same type of statement by the way they wrestled in each match. Even in the bouts NWC lost, Zeigler said the Trappers showed the toughness and determination that he's come to expect out of his squads. He used the effort of Trapper freshman Josh Wilhelm as a prime example of the Trappers' intensity against MSU-Northern.
Wilhelm, though only in his first year as a Trapper, found himself facing the Lights' Mike McPeak in the 141-pound weight class. McPeak, a regional placer last season and the Lights' team captain didn't get an easy win, however, thanks to Wilhelm's tenacity on the mat.
"Josh went into it with no varsity experience, but he jumped right in and did a great job," Zeigler said. "He went up against a senior and a proven wrestler and Josh went after him. He was physically outmatched, but he didn't let that stop him from making it a contest."
Wilhelm eventually lost when he was pinned, but his hardnosed performance was one of several early bouts in the dual which helped set the tone for the evening, according to Zeigler.
NWC's Jeremy Ensley claimed a win by forfeit at 125, and Trapper freshman Kyle Banko followed with a 13-6 decision over Beau LaSalle in the 133-pound weight class.
"Kyle wrestled a smart, tactical match, and he did a good job of scoring at the end," Zeigler said.
Freshman Anthony Varnell followed Banko's and Wilhelm's performances with a solid bout of his own. Varnell, who was in control throughout his matchup with MSU-Northern's J.D. Goodrich, picked up points late in the bout to helped him to a major decision to help boost the Trappers' team score.
"Anthony really pushed hard during the last 25 seconds, and that allowed him to get a major decision for his team," Zeigler said. "The way he went about doing that was impressive. He made up his mind to do it, and he went out and got it."
At 157, Travis Lamborn picked up a win by forfeit, and at 165, NWC redshirt freshman Mason Peebles dropped a hard-fought 7-2 decision to sophomore Austin Ouellette.
Trapper sophomore Keenen Funk, however, put the Trappers back on the winning track with a pin against Jake Spencer in the 174-pound weight division. Funk, who was wrestling up a weight class, gave the Trappers six points toward their team score by registering a pin.
"That was a big turn in the dual for us," Zeigler said. "Keenen was in trouble and at a disadvantage in his bout, but he found a way to get in position to get a fall. And when he got in that position, he finished off the guy."
At 184, redshirt freshman Josh Clark saw his bout come to an early end against MSU-Northern's Chris Thompson after Clark suffered a cut on his scalp. The loss by injury default narrowed the team point totals by six points, but NWC sophomore Corey Green helped seal the win for the Trappers by notching a pin at 197. Green, like Funk, was wrestling up a weight class, and he was facing a proven junior and national qualifier in Colter Dimas.
"Corey wrestles so well at home," Zeigler said. "He was giving up a considerable amount of weight in that bout, and he did a great job of getting a pin."
In the final matchup of the dual, NWC freshman Brian Cates faced junior and All-American Rob Shaw. Cates was pinned by Shaw, but Zeigler noted the Trappers' heavyweight entry showed more signs of improvement against a formidable opponent.
"Brian is opening up more and trying some things," Zeigler said. "He's inexperienced and when the season started he was like a 5- year-old kid trying to go off a diving board for the first time. He was a little timid about trying things, but now he's going for those scoring attempts without any fear of negative consequences."
The Trappers followed Thursday's dual by competing in the University of Northern Colorado Open Sunday in Greeley, Colo. Results from the tournament were not available at press time.
Up next: The Trappers will be in action again Friday, Nov. 30, when they travel to Montana to face the University of Great Falls. The following day, NWC will have a rematch with MSU-Northern in Havre, Mont. On Dec. 5, the Trappers will be at home for a 7:30 p.m. rematch with Western Wyoming.