Your future, our focus
The Northwest College men’s wrestling team was tagged with a preseason ranking in the first grappling poll of the year. The Trappers are the No. 11 team in the rankings according to the season’s first poll.
Northwest received 36 points in the first poll of the year, half a point behind No. 10 Neosho County and within five points of the No. 8 position.
Five members of the Trappers’ lineup are ranked within their individual weight classes this season, headlined by sophomore Miles Nixon, the top-ranked 184-pounder in the country. This marks the third consecutive year the Trappers have opened the season with a wrestler ranked at No. 1 in the country.
Also appearing in the individual rankings are Cody Vichi (No. 7 at 125), Colby Kloetzer (No. 8 at 149), Caleb Cotter (No. 10 at 197) and Colton Thornton (No. 12 at 157). Of that group, all but Thornton are in their first season of eligibility with the Trappers.
Northwest College opens wrestling season tonight (Thursday) with a dual at Western Wyoming, ranked 14th in the preseason poll. The Trappers head to Laramie on Saturday for the Cowboy Open.
The first home action for Northwest College wrestling this season comes Nov. 10 when the Trappers host the NWC Open tournament. The team also hosts Western Wyoming on Dec. 4 in its only other pre-Christmas home date.
The complete preseason poll:
1. North Idaho
2. Labette
3. Clackamas
4. Harper
5. Iowa Western
6. Iowa Central
7. Colby
8. (tie) Thaddeus Stevens and Muskegon
10. Neosho County
11. NORTHWEST
12. Niagara County
13. Nassau
14. Western Wyoming
15. Gloucester County
16. Rochester,
17. Ridgewater
18. Pratt
19. Mercyhurst North
20. Springfield Tech.
Receiving votes: Ellsworth, Spartanburg Methodist, Lincoln, Highline, North Iowa Area, Middlesex County, Iowa Lakes, Waubonsee and Northwest Kansas Tech.