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Harris takes first at 285
BY DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
The Northwest College Trappers traveled to Orem, Utah, for the Utah Valley Open last Saturday and had four wrestlers earn solid finishes in their respective divisions.
Trapper freshman Landon Harris led the way for NWC by placing first in the heavyweight division. Harris opened the tournament with a major decision (11-1) over Menlo College's Nicholas Berry, and followed with a pin at the 3:45 mark during his bout with Spencer Paulsen, who was wrestling unattached. Harris then added a victory with a pin at 1:56 in his matchup with unattached wrestler Jeff Nave. An injury forfeit by Menlo College's Jesse Ruiz in the title bout gave Harris the top spot.
"Landon continued to look strong," said NWC head coach Jim Zeigler. "He had another solid weekend."
McCade Ford enjoyed a solid Saturday as well and finished second in the 141-pound weight class with a 3-1 record. He opened the event with a major decision (10-2) over San Jose State's Brandon Homringhausen. Against Boise State University's Brad Perry, Ford won an 11-8 decision and advanced to face Wyatt Ray, who was wrestling unattached. Ford edged Ray for a 3-2 decision. That put the Trapper freshman in the championship bout against Boise State's Levi Jones. Jones registered a pin at the 5:29 mark to give the NWC wrestler his lone loss of the weekend.
"McCade was one of the bright spots for us," Zeigler said. "He wrestled very well, and it proved to be a good tournament for him."
NWC's other placers were Briston Brenton at 157 and Mak Jones at 197. Brenton opened with an 8-6 loss to Menlo College's Joshua Emmett and followed with a major decision (12-4) over Grand Canyon University's Dan Rubio. Against Eric Jorgensen of Boise State, Brenton registered a pin at 1:43. That setup a bout with Corey Woodruff, also of NWC. Woodruff bowed out by a medical forfeit, and Brenton advanced to face Emmett for the second time Saturday. Brenton emerged with an 11-7 decision, and moved on to the bout for third place, where he lost by technical fall (18-2) to unattached wrestler Eric Jones.
Freshman Mak Jones, like Brenton, notched a fourth-place finish. He opened with a loss by major decision (15-2) against Menlo College's Ali Bannout, but rebounded to pin Bryan Cooper of Grand Canyon University at 3:30. Against Boise State's Read Kause, Mak Jones registered a 9-4 victory. That setup a bout with unattached wrestler Marc Fenwick, who took a medial forfeit. During Mak Jones' matchup with Keldrick Hall for third place, Hall won by a slim 7-5 margin.
"Briston was wrestling up a weight class, and he had a good tournament," Zeigler said. "Mak had a solid tournament as well, and we're hoping to see him make a strong run in the second half of the season."
Other Trappers who competed in the tournament were Eddie Whiting (0-2, 125), Luis Carranza (0-2, 133), Saul Guerrero (0-2, 133), Matt Chandler (0-2, 141), Anthony Varnell (1-2, 149), Woodruff (2-1, 157), Tyrell Wright (0-2, 174) and Sears Tiernan (2 2, heavyweight). Chandler and Tiernan both were wrestling unattached.
"Overall I thought we started a little slow, but we picked up steam as the day went along," Zeigler said. "By the end of the day, the guys that were still in it were wrestling pretty well."
Up next: The Trappers next matchup is slated for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against the University of Great Falls. That dual meet will be conducted in Powell. On Saturday, NWC is scheduled to compete in the Clackamas Open in Oregon City, Oreg. Zeigler also noted that NWC will face Western Wyoming Community College, Thursday, Jan. 22. That matchup originally was scheduled for Jan. 8, but was postponed.