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Trappers win rematch with WWCC Mustangs
BY DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
In November, Western Wyoming Community College's wrestling team entered Powell and squeaked out a 24-23, dual-meet victory against Northwest College. Last Thursday, the Trappers repaid the favor.
NWC, ranked 13th in the latest NJCAA rankings, claimed a 37-12 decision over the Mustangs after picking five wins in the seven bouts that were conducted. The Trappers also picked up forfeits in the lower weight divisions, while No. 12 WWCC claimed a forfeit at 184.
"The last time we wrestled them, we gave up two forfeits, and they gave up one," said NWC head coach Jim Zeigler. "This time, they gave up two weight classes, and we gave up one. They beat us at home by one point when that happened, and when the tables were turned, we were able to win by a good margin. I thought our guys did very well, and it was a good win for us."
After getting 12 points toward the team score for the Mustangs' forfeits at 125 and 133, the Trappers' McCade Ford picked up a momentum-building pin in the first period of his bout with Mustang freshman Jacob Bassett, who is a graduate of Lovell High School.
"By winning the way he did, McCade really got things rolling in our direction," Zeigler said.
At 149, NWC sophomore and sixth-ranked Anthony Varnell registered a 7-2 victory over freshman Rodney Dollar. Dollar, who is ranked fifth, defeated Varnell in the Utah Valley Open Jan. 10.
"That was a good match for Anthony, especially since Dollar beat him in the recent tournament in Utah," Zeigler said.
The Mustangs got their first victory during the bout at 157, where WWCC's Jerod Hammond edged Trapper freshman Briston Brenton 3-2.
In the following bout, Trapper freshman Corey Woodruff defeated Justin Curtice at 157. Woodruff registered a pin against the Mustang freshman after building an 8-0 lead.
"That was a big win for us there," Zeigler said. "Corey lost to Curtice at the Utah Valley Open, and now he's 2-1 against him. Corey had a big lead and he was very much in control when he pinned (Curtice)."
At 174, NWC's Tyrell Wright lost a 7-1 decision to sophomore Thad Zempel.
"Zempel is a solid, second year guy, and I thought Tyrell wrestled well against him," Zeigler said.
Following NWC's forfeit at 184, Trapper freshman and recent Powell High School graduate Mak Jones defeated Tyson Anderson with a major decision. The score in that bout was 9-1.
The match ended with third-ranked, Trapper heavyweight Landon Harris pinning WWCC's Rusty Farnsworth.
¦ Up next: On Friday, the Trappers will conduct day one of their annual Apodaca Dual Showdown in Powell. Wrestling is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Day two's action is slated to begin at 10 a.m.
This year's Apodaca Dual Showdown will feature NWC, Clackamas Community College, North Iowa Area Community College, Labette Community College, Southwest Oregon Community College, North Idaho College and Western Wyoming.
During the round-robin event, each team is scheduled to have four duals.
Also during the showdown, Zeigler said the Trappers will recognize this year's winner of the Brooks Apodaca Memorial Award for Leadership and Excellence. The award and event were created to honor the memory of Christopher Brooks Apodaca, a former NWC wrestler who died in a one-vehicle accident in 1998.