TRAPPERS EXCEL AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

The Northwest College wrestling team continued its climb back to the top of the NJCAA national championship standings with a strong weekend on the mat, finishing seventh as a team and bringing back four All-Americans, including a finalist, after a busy two days in Council Bluffs, Iowa.    

ALL-AMERICANS
Leading the charge for the Trappers was Asad Fayzullaev at 165 pounds. He started the weekend with a dominant 15-0 tech fall over Jaheim Mills from Andrew College.

He followed that with three successive decisions to reach the championship bout, winning 10-8 over Gabe Lake from North Idaho, 7-1 over Paul Kadlec from Joliet Junior College and 7-6 over Emmanuel Celestin from North Iowa Area Community College in the semifinals.

"His composure on the mat, his focus, he was very relaxed in his approach," coach Jim Zeigler said. "He was so business-like and Aziz came to watch the tournament, and having his brother there made a huge difference … He gets to the tournament and his brother, and an uncle from Philadelphia came to watch. I think being surrounded by family, coaches, teammates, I think it all came together for him and he wrestled the best he's wrestled all year."

In the championship bout Fayzullaev matched up with Melton Powe from Pratt College, and earned an early lead when he got an escape in the second. Powe answered with an escape of his own in the third to tie the match 1-1 and head into overtime.

Powe ended up getting the win with a takedown in overtime for the sudden victory, but Zeigler said there is nothing for Fayzullaev to hang his head about.

"Nothing to be upset about all weekend, he was great," Zeigler said.

The Trappers also had two third place finishers, as Austin Richens (197) and Jett Swain (285) each battled back from quarterfinals losses.

Richens started the weekend with a pin and tech fall, before a difficult quarterfinal loss via a 15-4 major decision.

"Austin's only lost two matches all year," Zeigler said. "Something happened there where he didn't eat like he normally eats, and he ran out of energy really quickly in the match. He's in fantastic shape, so it's a nutritional thing with him. I think we've got to have his nutrition balanced all the time. He just had zero energy in that match."

Richens bounced back in the consolation bracket with dominant performances, pinning three straight opponents before earning a 14-4 major decision win in the third place match.

"Just an awesome performance, scored a ton of points. Dominated his third place match against a guy that we thought might be our finals match," Zeigler said.

Swain followed a similar path to Richens, winning his first three matches via pin to reach the quarterfinals before a late takedown by North Idaho's Ray Griffin led to a 5-4 loss and dropped him into the consolation bracket.

"Jett had a similar setback," Zeigler said. "He had a two-point lead and all he needed to do was just circle and avoid any kind of problems there. But it's just not in his nature to circle and go away."

Swain rebounded with three straight decisions, and finished the third place match by avenging his earlier loss and defeating Griffin in a 5-2 decision.

"That's a nice win. North Idaho has got a strong program, so if you beat them that's good," Zeigler said.

The final All-American for the Trappers was Kaiden Rubash at 141 pounds, who won his first match before a round of 16 loss, fighting his way back through the consolation rounds to finish sixth overall.

He won four straight matches in the consolation bracket before a loss in the consolation semifinals which dropped him to the fifth place match, where he lost a 15-11 decision to finish sixth.

"I don't even have the words for it. It was so incredible the way he wrestled," Zeigler said. "He wrestled like a guy on a mission. He saved his very best for the end, in the process he beat some of the best teams out there … He just let it all go. He put it all out there for the first time. He didn't appear to have any nerves. He didn't make errors. He was just focused, did a great job."     

STRONG TEAM PERFORMANCE
In addition to four All-Americans, each of the other Trapper wrestlers won at least two matches.

At 133 pounds, Zachary Covolo lost his opening match before winning four straight matches prior to his second loss just a couple bouts short of guaranteeing a top eight place.

At 149 pounds, Jack Lounsbury also lost his first match before winning two straight  before his second loss to finish 2-2 on the weekend.

Treyson Davila slotted in at 157 pounds, losing his first match before winning three straight in the consolation rounds before his second loss to finish 3-2.

"The energy of the entire team was amazing," Zeigler said. "We were so well prepared. I feel like the last three weeks of the season, we just were completely focused and on the same page."

Jesse Thornton earned two wins at 174 pounds following an opening round loss before suffering his second defeat to finish 2-2.

Robby Ortega also earned two wins at 184 pounds after an opening round loss to finish 2-2.

"This team became the closest unit, and that's a credit to coach (Chris) Cooley, coach (Orrin) Jackson, all the guys. Everybody was so dialed in on this trip through the course of the tournament. I think our program is well organized, well supported by our institution and we've got smart kids, we've got good kids and it showed."

Overall the Trappers earned 103 points, 20 more than last season and just one point out of sixth place, as Northwest continues to climb back up the mountain at the national championships.

"Six and seven are right there," Zeigler said. "I think we really rose to the moment."

Indian Hills won its first title as a program with 182 points.    

STRONG YEAR, CONTINUED GROWTH
Over the past three seasons the Trappers have placed inside the top 10 at the national tournament, finishing higher each year.

"It's been a steady climb, and we are improving. As a coaching staff, we are on the same page," Zeigler said. "We are getting better each year. This is the third year with coach Cooley, first year with Orrin, but it's also Orrin's third year with the program. Even though it's his first year coaching I just feel like we have a system in place. We know what we're doing. The kids believe in it. They were a unit. I think we're going to do nothing but keep climbing … and hopefully we'll have the resources and personnel to get to the top again."

In addition to being strong on the mat, the Trappers were strong off the mat, as the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced the 2025 NJCAA Men's Scholar All-American Awards on Tuesday.

Those named were Covolo, Fayzullaev, Jackie Meador, Ortega, Dustin Rhoades, Richens, Swain and Thornton. Athletes named to the list were either a national placer with a 3.0 GPA or higher, a national qualifier with a 3.25 GPA or higher or competed in 15 matches in the season with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

The success of this season was built on a strong foundation that began back in August, which led to continued growth by each of the Trappers.

"What is today? Wednesday? I'm still grinning from ear to ear. Throughout the day I continued to just reflect on everything from August until now that we did as a team, and how we faced those challenges, how each of those young men rose to the occasion," Zeigler said. "The things that went into it, the amount of growth and development that I saw in each of these guys as young men, as people, as students, as athletes, just the growth that I saw from August until now. The dedication, how much of themselves they gave to this, coaches and athletes together, and to see that kind of result is extremely rewarding. It reminds me why I'm so passionate about coaching and doing what we do. When you see those kinds of results, you can't help but be passionate about it."        

NJCAA National Championships
Concil Bluffs, Iowa

Weight in ()
Team scores (Top 10) — 1. Indian Hills 182, 2. Clackamas 141.5, 3. Western Wyoming 137.5, 4. Fort Hays Tech 125.5, 5. Iowa Central 116.5, 6. Southeast Nebraska 104, 7. Northwest 103, 8. North Idaho 96, 9. Pratt 75.5, 10. Rochester 68

Zachary Covolo (133) — John Kenney (Fort Hays Tech) def. Covolo via 5-3 decision; Covolo def. Salvatore Randazzo (Union) via 19-3 tech fall; Covolo def. Alejandro Rodriguez (Niacc) via 15-0 tech fall; Covolo def. Michael Catanzaro (Niagara) via pin, 4:43; Covolo def. Cam Kiser (Cowley) via 6-3 decision; Zach Marrero (Western Wyoming) def. Covolo via 7-0 decision

Kaiden Rubash (Sixth at 141) — Rubash def. Toryion Stallings (Northeastern Oklahoma) via pin, 6:22; Colby Klinger (Southwestern Michigan) def. Rubash via 19-7 major decision; Rubash def. Clint Gilbert (Andrew) via 20-4 tech fall; Rubash def. Ethan Boulton (North Idaho) via 14-1 major decision; Rubash def. Gabe Ferreira (Iowa Western) via pin, 4:53; Rubash def. Matthew Roche (Iowa Central) via 12-7 decision; Colby Klinger (Southwestern Michigan) def. Rubash via 17-2 tech fall; Evan Rodriguez (Cowley) def. Rubash via 15-11 decision

Jack Lounsbury (149) — Wylie Stone (Snow) def. Lounsbury via pin, :14; Lounsbury def. Jacob Gillson (Muskegon) via 15-0 tech fall; Lounsbury def. Karsten Jensen (Southwest Oregon) via 15-0 tech fall; William Penn (Iowa Lakes) def. Lounsbury via 15-0 tech fall

Treyson Davila (157) — Dillon Spaulding (Bismarck State) def. Davila via 6-4 decision; Davila def. Connor Ondek (Lackawanna) via pin, 2:15; Davila def. Josiah Wickard (Snow) via 13-10 decision; Davila def. Chance Davis (Iowa Central) via pin, 5:55; Johnny Thomas (Pratt) def. Davila via 16-0 tech fall

Asad Fayzullaev (Second at 165) — Fayzullaev def. Jaheim Mills (Andrew) via 15-0 tech fall; Fayzullaev def. Gabe Lake (North Idaho) via 10-8 decision; Fayzullaev def. Paul Kadlec (Joliet) via 7-1 decision; Fayzullaev def. Emmanuel Celestin (Niacc) via 7-6 decision; Melton Powe (Pratt) def. Fayzullaev via 4-1 sudden victory

Jesse Thornton (174) — Mac Chambers (Cloud County) def. Thornton via 17-4 major decision; Thornton def. Trevor Streeter (Muskegon) via 15-2 major decision; Thornton def. Cody Brott (Ridgewater) via 6-3 decision; Sam Rock (Minnesota West) def. Thornton via 5-3 decision

Robby Ortega (184) — Noah Foster (Nassau) def. Ortega via 4-1 decision; Ortega def. Shawn Pawlowski (Sussex County) via 12-7 decision; Ortega def. Jase Grundy (Mott) via medical forfeit; Kaleb Cooper (Otero) def. Ortega via 11-7 decision

Austin Richens (Third at 197) — Richens def. Christian Preston (Andrew) via pin, 1:13; Richens def. Macray Klohs via 15-0 tech fall; Ghee Rachal (Triton) def. Richens via 15-4 major decision; Richens def. Isaiah Horan (Bismarck State) via pin, 2:09; Richens def. Nate Ronan (Clackamas) via pin, 1:12; Richens def. Ali Adel (Harper) via pin, 2:12; Richens def. Matthew Marcum (Labette) via 14-4 major decision

Jett Swain (Third at 285) — Swain def. Christopher Broderick (Camden County) via pin, 1:44; Swain def. Luis Martinez (Henry Ford) via pin, 2:43; Swain def. Umair Ahmad (Iowa Central) via DQ, 3:49; Ray Griffin (North Idaho) def. Swain via 5-4 decision; Swain def. Jude Beers (Northeastern Oklahoma) via 4-1 decision; Swain def. Cito Tuttle (Rochester) via 2-1 decision; Swain def. Ryan Boersma (Triton) via 4-3 decision; Swain def. Ray Griffin (North Idaho) via 5-2 decision