Your future, our focus
By DAVID DICKEY
Powell Tribune Sports Editor
The Northwest College wrestling team took fifth place at the NWCA-Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last weekend after posting a 2-1 mark in the two-day event.
The Trappers opened the tournament with a 36-8 loss to Harper College. During that match, Jeremy Ensley at 125 and Nathan Barzee at 197 registered NWC's lone victories. Ensley won his bout 9-3, and Barzee won by technical fall after posting a 17-1 score.
"I wasn't happy with the way we started," said NWC head coach Jim Zeigler. "We started slow. Nathan (Barzee) did a good job, but we just didn't look very sharp as a team."
Because of the loss, the Trappers were forced to wrestle again Saturday night against Ridgewater College. NWC squeaked out a 19-18 win. Ensley, Luis Carranza, Keenen Funk, Mason Peebles and Barzee posted victories in their bouts to help the Trappers advance to the match for fifth place in the eight-team field. That match took place Sunday, and Zeigler said his squad looked noticeably sharper on the mat during the Trappers' 27-10 team victory.
"The team did a lot better Sunday," Zeigler said. "After a disappointing first day, they looked good against a strong Nassau team.
Zeigler said Trappers Funk, Peebles and Lewis all went into their bouts as underdogs, but all three came out with victories. Funk and Lewis won via pins, and Peebles claimed a 10-3 victory.
"Those three wins were big," Zeigler said. "Darren Lewis' win at 184 was a big swing in our favor and was one of the bright spots of the weekend. I wasn't happy with the way we had been wrestling, but Darren's win gave us a lift and put some life back into us."
Others notching victories during the match for fifth place were Ensley, Corey Green and Barzee.
As for the rest of the tournament's results, Iowa Central, ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA, made its case for No. 1 by winning the event. They topped St. Louis-Meramec 34-14. St. Louis- Meramec entered the tournament with the No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA.
Up next: The Trappers have one match scheduled for this week. That contest is slated for Thursday against the University of Great Falls at Huntley Project High School in Montana. The start time, as of Monday, had not been determined.