TRAPPER WRESTLING FALLS TO WESTERN WYOMING

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Taking on one of the top teams in the country on Friday in front of the home crowd for the first time, the Northwest College wrestling team kept it close with visiting Western Wyoming Community College, with the visitors coming out on top 30-24.
"I feel like our guys wrestled hard. It was nice (to be at home)," coach Jim Zeigler said. "It'll be nice next weekend for the Apodacas. It's a big deal for us."
Both teams started out with forfeits, as Northwest got the forfeit win at 125 pounds and Western got the forfeit win at 133 as it started 6-6 before the first bout.
Zachary Covolo put the Trappers in a good position at 141, leading throughout his match and earning a pin at the 4:36 mark in the second period to give Northwest a 12-6 advantage.
"Starting with Zachary helps us … We start with a sophomore, with experience. Starting off with a pin was big for us," Zeigler said.
Western responded, getting a pin of Devin Grossman at 149 pounds to tie the match 12-12.
The visitors took the lead at 157 pounds, as a close affair gave the Mustangs the lead 15-12 after a 4-2 decision over Northwest's Colby Ducatt.
Zeigler said, "157 was a big swing match and we're 1-1 now (against him). Their kid has been ranked as high as second, I don't know what he's at now. They keep fiddling around at that weight class. He's a really good kid, I think Colby is there and he can beat the guy, we just got beat that night."
Western continued its string of wins, as Porter Olson was pinned at 165 pounds in 2:19, and Dustin Rhoades lost another close decision 11-7 at 174 pounds.
Western forfeited at 184 pounds to make it 24-18, as Zeigler hopes they will see that matchup eventually between two top three wrestlers in the country.
"That's a match that we'd like to see. Guys that were one and two, now they're two and three because they lost to the same guy, but their guy wasn't well, and I don't blame them for not wanting to wrestle if he's not at his best. But it's disappointing for the home crowd not to see Asad [Fayzullaev] wrestle," Zeigler said. 
The Mustangs sealed the match with a pin of Race Moxley at 197 pounds in 4:57.
Austin Richens earned the win for Northwest in the final match of the night, getting a quick pin in 1:02 at 285 pounds.
"I thought Austin was awesome. That's the kid that wrestled a fairly close match in Oklahoma, and we just changed how we wrestled him this time," Zeigler said. "Instead of fooling around and trying to feel him out and figure out what to do, he just went and attacked him, took him right down and pinned him. I'd like to see him do that every time."
Northwest heads on the road to take on a trio of teams in Utah this weekend, starting with a dual at 6 p.m. today (Thursday) against Colorado Northwestern Community College in Vernal.
That will be a homecoming for two Trappers, as Rhoades and Richens both came to Northwest from Vernal.
Unfortunately, Colorado Northwestern has two open weights, both of which are the two weights for Richens and Rhoades. Zeigler said they will look at moving Rhoades to 184 to get him a match, but it will be more difficult to get Richens a match.
"That means we'll have to forfeit 174 but I don't care. I want to get a match for the hometown kid," Zeigler said.
Northwest then heads to Richfield to take on Snow College and Trinidad State College. Northwest defeated Snow at the NJCAA National/Coaches duals, but has yet to see Colorado Northwestern or Trinidad this season.
Zeigler has his sights set high for his team this weekend, having a full lineup once again with Ryan Nutt returning for Northwest at 133 pounds.
"I'd like to dominate. Honestly, I'd like to go on this trip and not lose a single match. I think that's where we should be at this point," Zeigler said. "We should wrestle those three teams and not lose a single match. But it rarely works out that way."
The Trappers return home next weekend, to host the Apodaca Duals on Friday and Saturday.