Your future, our focus
Outlook promising for 2009-2010
Zeigler Expecting Solid Group of Returning Wrestlers
BY DAVID DICKEY
Tribune Sports Editor
When the recent Northwest College wrestling season came to a close in February, it did so in fine form. The Trappers, who had six wrestlers compete in the slate-ending NJCAA National Championships, capped the year with four wrestlers earning the distinction of being labeled All-Americans. Of those, three were freshmen.
That alone, according to Jim Zeigler, NWC wrestling coach and athletic director, could be a sign of good things to come for the Trappers when the 2009-10 season comes around.
"We have a good core group coming back," Zeigler said. "We had a young team during this recent season, and all of those guys will be sophomores during the next school year. Having so many guys back will give us a lot of leadership, and that helps the incoming wrestlers learn faster. We've got some needs that need to be met as far as recruiting, but I think we've got a chance to have a pretty good team next year. We'll just have to see how it goes, but I feel good about it."
Part of the optimism Zeigler expressed stemmed from the fact that heavyweight Landon Harris will be among the returning wrestlers. Harris' freshman campaign included a 34-3 record and almost saw him claim the heavyweight title during the national championship event in Rochester, Minn., last month.
Harris opened the tournament by pinning his first three opponents and followed with a 7-0 decision over Nassau's Brandon Williamson in the semifinals. In the title bout against Clackamas' Tyrell Fortune, a wrestler he had lost to during the regular season, Harris was in control during the late stages. The score was tied at 2-2, but the NWC freshman had 1:50 in riding time, which was going to give him an extra point and the win barring any scoring by Fortune.
But as time wound down in the match, Fortune made a desperate attempt to salvage his season. Fortune's move paid off, and he registered a pin against Harris at the 5:49 mark. The loss ended an impressive national tournament effort by Harris, which included a victory over the previous season's title winner.
"I was just more than a minute away from being a national champion," Harris said. "It's not like I didn't do my best. I just got caught. That happens. But I'm not going to dwell on it because I can't change time. It's tough, but the way I look at it, I might as well move forward and learn from it.
"I got beat by a really good wrestler. If I had to lose, I'm glad it was against him. We had several chances to talk during the year, and there is a lot of mutual respect between us. The whole deal was a great learning experience."
Harris, who lives in Powell with his wife, Shauna, will garner plenty of attention from Division I programs during the offseason, according to Zeigler. However, Harris has other priorities at the top of his list. Following his high school career in Idaho, he signed with Oklahoma State's wrestling program. After a redshirt year, he opted to leave the Cowboys. As fate would have it, he landed in Powell, where he is now working toward gaining acceptance into NWC's nursing program. His wife has the same plan.
"This feels perfect for me," Harris said about being at NWC. "I can't imagine being in a different place."
If and when he is accepted into nursing school, Zeigler said Harris' schedule will be much different than the one he dealt with as a freshman. There is the reality that nursing school will cut into practices and even tournaments and dual meets. However, Zeigler said Harris is the type of wrestler who can overcome such a strenuous schedule and still attain his ultimate goal of being a national champion.
"I'm not worried about it," Zeigler said. "We'll do what we have to do. It's a situation I believe he can handle just because of how mature he is."
Also expected to return after solid freshman campaigns are 2009 All-Americans Saul Guerrero and McCade Ford. Guerrero, who wrestled at 133, placed seventh at the national tournament, and Ford finished eighth in the 141-pound weight class.
Guerrero, who posted a 23-7 record, said he went into the national championships with the main goal of becoming an All- American. With that goal now under his belt, he's expecting more from himself next season. Namely, he wants to cap his Trapper career with a national championship. Guerrero also is ready to assume the leadership role that usually comes with attaining such an honor.
"I'm ready for it," Guerrero said of being one of the team's leaders. "I'm ready to get the job done, and I think the experience I gained during my freshman year will help a lot. For me to reach my goal, I know I'm going to need to train harder. That's one thing I learned, especially after going to the national championships."
Because of his academic standing and success on the mat this past season, Zeigler said Guerrero will have the option to move on to a four-year school. For now, however, Guerrero said he's expecting to be back in Powell for the 2009-10 season.
"Saul is a savvy, crafty wrestler," Zeigler said. "He also knows exactly what's going on at all times on the mat. Because of that, he sometimes doesn't wrestle as aggressively as we'd like to see. He changed that at the national championships. He used more offensive attacks, and it was good to see that. He saw that he could wrestle hard for longer than he thought. If he continues to do that, he'll be even better."
Ford, like Guerrero, also is expecting to be a leader next season and improve on his placement in the national tournament. He also believes that he can bring more to the mat next season by being more focused.
"My main goal is to finish first next season," said Ford, who was 24-15. "For that to happen, I've got to have better focus. (At the national championships), I went into the first day and wrestled like it was a do-or-die situation. On the second day, I wasn't as focused. I think I can do a lot better next time as far as that's concerned."
Though they didn't place at nationals, Trapper freshmen Briston Brenton and Mak Jones appear poised to make significant strides in 2009-10.
"Briston really showed great focus in the final three weeks," Zeigler added. "Because of that, he wrestled really well toward the end. He's still got room to get better mechanically, and I think he'll do even better now that he has gained a year's worth of experience."
Jones, of Powell, also had a solid season at 197. He finished with a mark of 16-14, and Zeigler noted that a number of Jones' losses were in close bouts. Jones has tremendous strength. But instead of relying on just that, Jones steadily became a more effective wrestler as far as his technique.
"Mak made so many huge jumps throughout the year," Zeigler said. "As the season went along, he made fewer and fewer mistakes. He still did some things that cost him in close matches, but he's willing to learn and he works hard. I think he'll make another big jump next year, and he's got a chance to have a very good year."
Among the freshmen eligible to return in 2009-10 are Eddie Whiting (125), Corey Woodruff (157/165) and Tyrell Wright (174). Departing will be sophomores Anthony Varnell (149) and Luis Carranza (133). Varnell, who underwent major knee surgery last summer, came back from his injury to post a 16-8 record. He also earned the distinction of being a two-time All-American with his sixth-place finish at the national championships. Zeigler said Varnell will be missed but his work ethic will be carried on by the freshmen who looked to him for leadership during the recently concluded season.
"What Anthony accomplished after having a total reconstruction of his knee is a testament to how hard he works," Zeigler said. "It was amazing to see him overcome that and finish the year on such a strong note."
Zeigler said his recruiting wish list for next season includes landing additional wrestlers at 125, 165, 174 and 184.
"We've got some spots to fill," Zeigler said. "We'll see how recruiting goes and go from there. If we can get some good guys in here to go along with our returners, we've got a chance to have a really good season."