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Coach Zeigler Shuffles Weight Classes To Maximize Potential
A trio of Trapper freshmen will be settling into new spots in the lineup when the Northwest College wrestling team takes on University of Great Falls in a home dual Wednesday night.
The changes come after Cameron Braden’s eye-opening performance at the National Duals in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Jan. 8.
Braden pinned Neosho’s Zachary Pitts in 4:54 of Northwest’s second dual.
“Cameron Braden has just been wrestling fantastic,” NWC head coach Jim Zeigler said.
The freshman’s insertion into the lineup at 157 pounds has moved a couple wrestlers to different weight classes, where Zeigler thinks they can be more effective.
Justin Polkowske moved from 157 to 165, and Andrew VonRein moved from 165 to 174.
“It’s going to be an adjustment period because they’re working on getting bigger and lifting, which I think in the long run helps you in wrestling,” Zeigler said. “It goes against the grain of old thinking. But really it’s the new way of thinking, moving guys up — bigger, stronger, faster.”
VonRein’s quickness could play better against larger opponents.
“His skill set is designed to wrestle bigger guys. He’s very athletic as a 174-pounder,” Zeigler said.
Zeigler said it’s all about maximizing a wrestler’s strengths to a weight class.
The Trappers will get a chance to test the waters of their new weight class at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Cabre Gym.
Northwest dropped both of its duals in Indiana — 35-10 to the nation’s top-ranked Northeastern Oklahoma, and 30-18 to Neosho County, a team unranked but receiving votes. Zeigler was satisfied with the team’s effort against Northeastern Oklahoma.
“Our kids wrestled real hard against them, they did a good job,” Zeigler said.
The Trappers went 3-7 against the Golden Norsemen, and 3-5 in live matches (not including forfeits).
NWC sophomore Eduardo Penha won 10-2 at 133 pounds, Matthew Schmidt won 7-6 at 141 and John-David Henderson won 9-8 at 149 pounds.
Henderson split his two bouts in Indiana, but Zeigler said the redshirt sophomore is proving to be one of the nation’s top wrestlers at 149 pounds.
“When we go into the Apodaca’s (Apodaca Duals at Northwest College on Jan. 29 and 30) he’s going to face the No. 1 and 2 guys in the country, get a crack at them and I think he’s as good as either one of them,” Zeigler said.
A narrower margin of defeat against Neosho did not indicate a better performance.
“Then we came back and wrestled Neosho in the consolations, and the guys did not wrestle well in that dual at all,” Zeigler said. “It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon, we had been in the gym since 6 (a.m). Which isn’t an excuse because the other team’s dealing with the exact same thing. They seemed to have lost their luster, and I think that’s a lack of maturity on their part.”
Northwest went 4-6 against the Panthers, and 3-4 in non-forfeited matches.
Penha won by forfeit, Schmidt won 3-2, Braden won by pin and freshman Heber Shepherd won 12-6 at 184 pounds.
“There’s no question, we should have won that dual. We lost two very close matches that we should have won,” Zeigler said.
A chance for redemption was removed when Northwest’s next scheduled opponent, Triton College (Triton, Illinois) left the competition before its dual with the Trappers later that evening.
“Everybody’s guaranteed three matches and we’re the only team in the whole place that didn’t get three, out of 85 teams,” Zeigler said. “And we probably traveled the second-furthest, to Clackamas (Oregon City, Oregon).”
Unfortunately, the sour taste could be the last one the Trappers get at the National Duals.
“It was a huge disappointment, and I doubt very seriously that we’ll attend it again,” Zeigler said.
Zeigler said he doesn’t want to take the experience of the National Duals away from his wrestlers, but after being shortchanged competition this year, he wants to ensure he gets the most out of the wrestling program’s funds.
“It’s a great opportunity for our kids, but I just feel like the uncertainty of it is not worth the money that we spend to travel to Indiana,” Zeigler said. “A lot of that is done on fundraising money. Typically our budget is not built to travel that kind of distance. When we spend the extra money it’s generally fundraising money, and it’s important that we make the most of it.”
Northwest travels to Rock Springs to take on No. 12 Western Wyoming at 7 p.m. on Friday.