Your future, our focus
Wrestlers Host Open Saturday
By Randal Horobik
Tribune Sports Editor
Approximately 150 wrestlers representing three NCAA Division I schools, a pair of ranked NAIA programs and three junior colleges will descend upon Northwest College this Saturday for the Northwest College Open tournament. The event serves as the kickoff for the 2009-2010 season.
"It's an open tournament, so that means it is open to all college- age participants," explains Jim Zeigler, head coach of the NWC wrestling team and director for this weekend's tournament. "No team scores are kept. Schools are able to enter multiple kids in each weight class if they wish. In some ways, it is like a glorified workout."
Roughly 25 members of the Northwest College roster are among those planning to compete. Not all will necessarily be wearing the Trappers' colors, however.
"Because it is an open tournament, redshirt kids are able to compete as well," Zeigler explained. "Those kids have
to pay their own entry fees and travel expenses and they have to coach themselves at the meet, but they're able to participate and gain the experience."
At least some of the Trappers' team members will exercise the option to wrestle unattached this weekend to keep open the option of redshirting the 2009-2010 season and retaining the year of eligibility.
Wrestlers from other schools will also make use of the open format. Among the schools planning to attend are the University of Wyoming, which is sending a dozen grapplers, as well as NCAA schools Northern Colorado and Utah Valley. From the NAIA ranks, the University of Great Falls, which opened the year at No. 4 in the NAIA preseason wrestling poll, and No. 12 Montana State University-Northern will both attend in force. Western Wyoming and Northern Idaho will join the Trappers in representing the ranks of the NJCAA in the event.
"For us, our focus isn't going to be on winning so much," said Zeigler. "Obviously, we hope to get W's, but the main goal of this weekend for our team is to introduce the kids to collegiate wrestling. It's a chance to get rid of the butterflies and to get them competing and set them up for down the road when it really matters, because it takes time to learn the intensity necessary to win at this level. We'll be quicker to pull a kid if he starts getting sore or something. In some ways, it's like a preseason football game."
First-round action starts at 9 a.m. in Cabre Gym. Action will take place all day on four mats. Zeigler expects the semifinal rounds to begin "sometime between 3 and 4 p.m." The tournament should conclude by 6 p.m.
"This is a great chance for our guys to get in shape and for the coaching staff to identify things that we need to work on and improve on in practice," said Zeigler. "It is also a great chance for the community to come in and see our kids early in the year."