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Trappers go 2-2 in annual showdown
BY DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
During the 11th annual Apodaca Dual Showdown at Northwest College last week, Anthony Varnell added his name to NWC wrestling lore and the Trappers notched a 2-2 record against a field of nationally ranked teams.
Varnell, a sophomore who earned All-America status as a freshman during the 2007-08 season, was tabbed the winner of the Christopher Brooks Apodaca Memorial Award for Leadership and Excellence. According to Jim Zeigler, athletic director and head wrestling coach for the Trappers, Varnell was a solid choice for the prestigious honor. The award was presented prior to the 8 p.m. duals Friday night at Hank Cabre Gymnasium in Powell.
"There's something special about Anthony that draws people to him," Zeigler said. "Our kids are drawn to him, and I've always been so impressed with his attitude and work ethic. He's a solid student, and he's just a very kind, caring young man.
"I've had the opportunity to meet his parents (Dan and Darla Varnell) and spend some time with them, and it's very clear where Anthony gets all of his outstanding qualities. When I recruited Anthony to come to Northwest College, I had high hopes for him. He's been everything I hoped for and more."
Varnell burst onto the wrestling scene by becoming an All- American during his freshman campaign. However, he was faced with a major setback following the season when he had to undergo major knee surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament. That surgery took place in mid-June, but Varnell was competing again during December.
"Anthony put a lot of work into getting back on the mat," Zeigler said. "What he's done is remarkable. He fought back from a major knee surgery, and he's been there for us, offering to do whatever he can to help the team. He can wrestle at 141, but he's wrestling at 149 because that's where we need him. He's just a very unselfish guy, and that's one of the reasons he was chosen for this award."
Varnell said the honor is one he will cherish long after his wrestling career has ended.
"(Coach Zeigler) has told us a great deal about Brooks," Varnell said. "I'm very honored to get this award because of what it means and who it represents. Brooks was a hard worker with a huge heart, and he had a major impact on this program. To get the award named in his honor means a great deal to me."
As for the Trappers' overall effort last Friday and Saturday, the team posted a 2-2 mark. On Friday, the Trappers opened with a 29-21 loss to Southwest Oregon Community College in the 6 p.m. bout. In their 8 p.m. matchup with Clackamas Community College, the Trappers emerged with a 22-21 victory.
On Saturday, NWC suffered a 30-15 setback to second-ranked North Idaho College in the 2 p.m. match. However, Zeigler's squad came back to top fifth ranked Labette Community College to close out the event. Against Labette, the score was tied at 19 at the end, and the Trappers were awarded the win because they won more matches during the contest. By beating Labette, Zeigler said the Trappers carried on a tradition of finishing the event strong.
"We always seem to wrestle our best match in the last dual," Zeigler said. "It takes a little bit of time for the event to soak in for our guys, and on that last day, they usual hit a comfort zone and great things happen. It's like Brooks' spirit converges on our guys by the end of the event."
Last year, NWC closed the showdown by blasting North Idaho College 37-5. NIC, which had a point deducted during the matchup, only got six points for a forfeit in the heavyweight bout. That was the only thing that kept them from being shutout.
"Our guys were really on that day," Zeigler said. "Earlier in the season, North Idaho had beaten us 20-17, but we came back and got them in the Apodaca Duals. We won every match that was settled on the mat, and it marked a big turnaround for us."
Though they did not dominate every match against Labette last Saturday, Zeigler said his team's effort was still impressive.
"Labette has a very strong team, and we felt like we matched up well against
Labette's loss to NWC was their only setback in the five duals it participated in during the event. All scheduled matches were wrestled with the exception of the Western Wyoming Community College matchup with North Idaho at 4 p.m. Saturday. Western Wyoming was forced to sit out that match due to a large number of injuries.
In matches that were conducted, Labette posted a 4-1 mark. North Idaho finished with a 2-1 record, and NWC, Clackamas and North Iowa Area Community College went 2-2. Southwest Oregon went 1-2, and Western Wyoming finished with an 0-3 record.
NWC's results at the Apodaca Dual Showdown
No. 8 Southwest Oregon 29, No. 13 Northwest 21
Weight Winner Win Type Losing Wrester Score
125: Thomas Gowing, SWOCC, DEC, Eddie Whiting, NWC, 6-1
133: Saul Guerrero, NWC, FALL, Frank Holdburg, SWOCC, 1:35
141: Trent Stevenson, SWOCC, TF, Mc- Cade Ford, NWC, 19-2
149: No. 6 Anthony Varnell, NWC, DEC, Austin Thompson, SWOCC, 9-3
157: No. 3 Zolboo Enkhbayer, SWOCC, FALL, Cory Woodruff, NWC,:53
165: No. 2 Zach Pagnotta, SWOCC, DEC, Briston Brenton, NWC, 9-2
174: Anibal Vazquez SWOCC, FALL, Tyrell Wright, NWC, 2:59
184: Tim Hester, SWOCC, Forfeit, NWC
197: Mak Jones, NWC, Forfeit, SWOCC
285: No. 3 Landon Harris, NWC, Forfeit, SWOCC
No. 13 Northwest 22, No. 10 Clackamas 21
Weight Winner Win Type Losing Wrester Score
125: Eddie Whiting, NWC, MD, Gilbert Lopez, CCC, 10-2
133: Saul Guerrero, NWC, INJDEF, George Mendez, CCC
141: Kyle Wirkuty, CCC, INJDEF, Mc- Cade Ford, NWC
149: No. 6 Anthony Varnell, NWC, DEC, Anthony Weerheim, CCC, 8-7
157: Briston Brenton, NWC, DEC, Jace Lewis, CCC, 10-4
165: Kris Spencer, CCC, DEC, Corey Woodruff, NWC 5-2
174: No. 6 Josh Miller, CCC, MD, Tyrell Wright, NWC, 12-4
184: No. 6 Caleb Kociemba, CCC, FRFT, Forfeit, NWC
197: Mak Jones, NWC, FALL, Brett Sanchez, CCC 3:51
285: No. 2 Tyrell Fortune, CCC, DEC, No. 3 Landon Harris, NWC, 8-4
*Clackamas forfeited 1 team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
No. 2 North Idaho College 30, No. 13 Northwest College 15
Weight Winner Win Type Losing Wrester Score
125: Trevor Powell, NIC, DEC, Eddie Whiting, NWC 4-3
133: No. 2 Lester Brown, NIC, DEC, Luis Carranza, NWC, 6-2
141: No. 5 Tim McGoldrick, NIC, DEC, McCade Ford, NWC, 9-3
149: David Hayes, NIC, Forfeit, NWC
157: Corey Woodruff, NWC, FALL, No. 7 Jeremy Bommarito, NIC, 1:57
165: Briston Brenton, NWC, DEC, DJ May, NIC, 1-0
174: No. 5 Celic Bell, NIC, FALL, Tyrell Wright, NWC, 2:20
184: No. 2 Kamron Jackson, NIC, Forfeit, NWC
197: No. 2 Rudi Burtschi, NIC, DEC, Mak Jones, NWC, 14-7
285: No. 3 Landon Harris, NWC, FALL, Spencer Sharp, NIC, 1:49
No. 13 Northwest 19, No. 5 Labette 19
NWC wins by criteria -- most matches won
Weight Winner Win Type Losing Wrester Score
125: No. 7 Collin Hase, LAB, DEC, Eddie Whiting, NWC, 9-3
133: Saul Guerrero, NWC, DEC, Philip Henes, LAB, 6-5
141: McCade Ford, NWC, DEC, Derek Ward, LAB, 8-6
149: No. 6 Anthony Varnell, NWC, DEC, No. 8 Michael Brady, LAB, 4-2
157: Briston Brenton, NWC, MD, Raufeon Stots, LAB, 9-0
165: No. 5 Aaron Hynick, LAB, INJDEF, Corey Woodruff, NWC
174: Allen Rutherford, LAB, MD, Tyrell Wright, NWC, 12-3
184: No. 3 David Benson, LAB, Forfeit, NWC
197: Mak Jones, NWC, DEC, No. 5 Derek Thompson, LAB, 6-5
285: No. 3 Landon Harris, NWC, DEC, No. 6 Ben Hohensee, LAB, 6-0