Your future, our focus
BY DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
Jim Zeigler, head coach and athletic director at Northwest College, recently announced three new signees for the Trapper wrestling team. Among the latest student athletes who signed letters of intent with the Trappers was heavyweight Landon Harris.
Harris, who wrestled at Sugar-Salem High School in Rexburg, Idaho, was a two time state champion in Idaho and finished his high school career with a record of 120-5. During a three-year span, he posted an 11-1 mark during Idaho's state wrestling tournament. All of those 11 victories came via pins.
Harris, who finished the 2005-06 wrestling season as one of the top-ranked heavyweights in the country, initially signed with Oklahoma State University. Harris was redshirted during his freshman year (2006-07) with the Cowboys and later returned to Rexburg, Idaho after leaving OSU's program.
According to Zeigler, almost every Division I program in the West sought Harris' talents after he left Stillwater, Okla., but Harris opted not to wrestle at that level because the Cowboys would not offer him a release.
Because Harris redshirted during his freshman season and sat out the 2007-08 school year, he has two years of eligibility remaining at the junior college level. Joining Harris at NWC will be his wife, Shawna, who will be working toward acceptance into NWC's nursing program.
"Signing him was big for us," Zeigler said. "Having coached Tyler Rhodes, who was a two time national champion for us, I can tell you it means a lot for a team to have a good big man in the lineup. When you have a big-time heavyweight, it brings a different dynamic to the team. It elevates the confidence level of the team, and that's what we're expecting to happen with Landon in the lineup."
Zeigler said Harris, who will be in Powell to assist with NWC's American Frontier Wrestling Camp July 13-17 stands 6-1 and weighs 280 pounds.
"He runs like a gazelle, tumbles like a 100-pound gymnast and wrestles like a 125-pounder," Zeigler said. "If there is someone in the junior college ranks who can beat him, I'm anxious to see who that is."
In addition to signing Harris, Zeigler also added the talents of Jessy Amos and McCade Ford to the Trappers' lineup.
Amos who earned a No.12 national ranking at the 171-pound weight class in high school last season, attended South Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska. As a senior, he notched a unblemished record of 47-0.
During the last high school wrestling season, Amos won his second state championship and won his weight class at the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions in Nevada. Amos is expected to compete for time on the mat in the 174-pound weight class.
Ford, of Payson, Utah, is a one-time state champion. He won the 135-pound weight class last season by defeating Springville High School's Hayden Peterson, the defending state champion at 135. Ford, who wrestled most of the 2007-08 season at 140 before dropping down to 135, is expected to compete at 141 at NWC
Zeigler now has a lineup consisting of three returning wrestlers from last year's squad and eight signees.
NWC's returning wrestlers include Josh Clark (174 or 184), Mason Peebles (165) and Anthony Varnell (141 or 149). Zeigler did note that Varnell, a standout freshman from NWC's 2007-08 squad, likely will be redshirted during the upcoming season. Varnell recently underwent knee surgery, and his recovery is expected to be lengthy, Zeigler said.
Among Zeigler's earlier signees are Mak Jones (Powell) Dustin Baldwin (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.), Corey Woodruff (Linwood, Mich.) Briston Brenton (Casper) and Jeff Wood (Gillette).