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Team Sweeps MSU-Northern
By RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
The fourth-ranked Northwest College Trappers split a pair of wrestling duals in Montana last week, defeating Montana State University-Northern on Thursday. On Saturday, the team fell by a 29-9 count to the University of Great Falls.
"Overall, it was a very good trip for us," said Trapper head coach Jim Zeigler. "I thought we wrestled very well against Northern. The team is starting to look a lot better. We're finally wrestling close to full strength for the first time all season."
Hopefully fans will get their first opportunity to witness the full-strength version of the Northwest College Trappers this weekend when the team hosts the Apodaca Duals. In Montana, they still had to settle for close.
The Trappers made the decision to hold 197-pound wrestler Mak Jones from competition against both MSU-Northern and Great Falls. Landon Harris, the team's top 285-pound grappler, remained home as well. Both are expected to return to action this weekend.
Against Northern, the Trappers captured wins in five of the seven contested matches as Northwest College improved on an earlier 27-15 dual win over the Lights.
Jesse Hillhouse (125), Bobby Robins (149), Zach Oppenheimer (165) and Nick Petersen (174) each won by decision. The Trappers picked up a win by fall at 141 pounds as McCade Ford dismissed his opponent in the waning seconds of the first period.
Northwest also picked up wins by forfeit at 133 pounds (Saul Guerrero) and 157 pounds (Briston Brenton).
Against Great Falls, the Trappers' only victories came as Guerrero pressed Kyle Middlemist to the mat for a win by fall and at 141 pounds where Ford scored a narrow 5-4 victory.
Four other matches saw the Trappers lose by three or fewer points as Great Falls found a way to win the close ones. Phil Grout (125) dropped a 10-8 decision. Brenton as a 10-9 loser at 157. Petersen came out on the short side at 174 pounds and Sergio Pedroza, wrestling in Harris' place at 285, fell by a 5-3 final count.
"Phil and Briston each wrestled very strong," said Zeigler. "Even though we didn't get points at those weights, I was pleased with the way both of those guys wrestled on the mat. Great Falls is an extremely experienced team this season."
Robins also won by decision for the Trappers at 149. Great Falls' other points came via major decision wins at 165 and 184 pounds. The host school also took advantage of the Trappers' vacant 197-pound weight class to score a forfeit win.
Northwest College hosts the Apodaca Duals this Friday and Saturday. Wrestling action starts at 5 p.m., Friday, with the Lander and Powell High School junior varsity teams dualing, followed by the high school varsity teams and the start of junior college action at 6 p.m.
Northwest College grapplers take the mat for the first time at 8 p.m. that evening for a showdown with top-ranked Iowa Central. The Trappers face No. 3 North Idaho and No. 7 Highline on Saturday afternoon.