Your future, our focus
The Northwest College wrestlers were tripped up last week at Montana State University-Northern in Havre.
“The kids wrestled OK, not great,” coach Jim Zeigler said of his Trappers. “We won three and were competitive in a couple others.”
The dual, won 34-11 by the four-year Lights program, began at 165 pounds when Nakoda Siegel took a 6-3 decision over Trapper Jate Frost. Chase Short, the Lights’ 174-pounder, then retired Trapper Porter Fox by major decision (13-4).
Don’t be fooled by the “MD” behind the score, however.
“Man, did he wrestle well” against “a good kid” from MSU-N, Zeigler said of Fox. The NWC sophomore from Kamas, Utah, “is really drawing attention” from four-year schools, Zeigler said, including the Lights’ coaching staff. They appreciate Fox for “how hard he wrestles,” explained Zeigler, who said his 174-pound Trapper “just wears” out the opponent. Even when he loses, Fox’s opponents are shelled out by the end.
Tyson Carter struck a blow for Northwest at 184 when he took a 12-5 decision over Carl Hansen of MSU-N.
However, the next four matches went to the Lights. Isaac Bartel earned a major decision (8-0) at 197 over Majid Muratov, Rylan Moldenhauer pinned T.J. Frazier in 1:24 in the heavyweight bout, Rob Pair won by technical fall (18-0) over Devyn Mosteller and Landon Bailey pinned Trapper William Fish in 2:05.
Van Bray broke MSU-N’s streak and earned a win for the Trappers with a 5-2 decision at 141 — and Brayden Lowry kept NWC’s mini run going when he pinned Lane Paulson of the Lights in 1:14.
Northwest was open at 157 pounds.
Team scores in meets versus four-year programs are to gain quality experience under fire, Zeigler explained. The numbers are largely meaningless because of the difference in program size and resources.
“What I paid most attention to on this trip was our preparation,” he said, such as managing weight, team dynamics, support for each other, desire and discipline.
“In all those areas I give the team an A,” Zeigler said in looking back on the long road trip to Havre.
“They competed hard and got all the things right,” the Trapper coach said, adding that “the level of maturity is starting to reveal itself” through daily preparation.
“They are helpful to each other; they listen to the coach … those are indicators your team is moving in the right direction,” Zeigler said.