Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
powelltribune.photoshelter.com
Injuries have depleted an already small roster for the Trapper wrestling team as they continue to navigate their way through the early part of their season. A recent break in the schedule gave the team some time to recuperate and practice.
“We handled the off week by working hard,” said Trapper wrestling coach Jim Zeigler.
The team has been cautious by not sparring hard, according to Zeigler, but has been focusing hard on lifting, cardio and contact drills in a controlled manner.
Ryker Blackburn has passed his concussion protocol test and has returned to practice with the team, and Traycee Norman has also been cleared of his ankle injury in order to practice.
However, Gus Harrison has not yet been cleared of his knee injury to return to the mat for the first time this year.
According to Zeigler, the leadership of the team has been spread around, but he has noticed that Blackburn has been one of the leaders to speak for the team.
“He is probably the strongest personality we have and the one that people tend to look to,” Zeigler said.
Another emerging leader for the Trapper team has been Ivan Lee, who has been one of the better communicators for the team and someone other athletes have turned to for information.
Zeigler said the Trapper wrestlers have focused on the togetherness of the team at this point in the season, including going out as a team for breakfast on Saturday.
On top of being able to go out together as a team, Zeigler said he and the team were reminded how much the community appreciates the team when an anonymous community member paid their bill.
On top of hitting the mat hard during practice, the team was able to hit the study hall hard and continue focusing on their studies heading into the Thanksgiving break.
After returning from the break, NWC will head to Great Falls, Montana, on Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 4.
Zeigler hopes to use this last push before the winter break to help the wrestlers work hard on both their mat performance and their studies, earning the best grade they can before heading into the second half of the season.