COVOLO RECEIVES APODACA REWARD

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Northwest College sophomore 141-pounder Zachary Covolo was the latest recipient of the Apodaca Award on Friday night, joining an exclusive group of Trapper wrestlers honoring the late memory of former Trapper Christopher Brooks Apodaca.
Apodaca was a team captain and national qualifier for the Trappers in the 1997-98 season, and was part of a team that was fifth in the nation. He tragically passed away in the spring of 1998 and the Apodaca Award and Duals are celebrated each year to honor his memory.
"Getting the Apodaca meant a lot to me. My best friend Jack [Lounsbury] won it last year. My brother (Batista) wrestled here 10-15 years ago, so I know how much of a big deal it is," Covolo said. "I was pretty surprised I was the winner of it. I knew within the first three words, because he was saying Wyoming recipient, and I'm the only Wyoming kid that is a sophomore … As soon as I heard that … I kind of teared up a little bit just because it meant a lot to me."
Coach Jim Zeigler said that while Covolo shows leadership through his actions on the mat, it was Covolo's actions off the mat that helped give the wrestler from Rawlins the award.
"It doesn't always go to that guy that's the dominant guy … It goes to a guy that has qualities that I saw in Brooks. Work ethic, a variety of things. It's evolved through the years. I realized that the qualities that I saw in Brooks are not matched by many so it kind of becomes who has unique qualities of their own," Zeigler said. "What you get with Zachary is, he brings the team together as a group. He makes them a family … He's the one that likes everybody. He's the one that gets everybody to get together for fun things."
The coach noted Covolo has connections all over the state, from Casper to Rawlins, Gillette to Powell, due to growing up in Wyoming.
"One thing I know for sure about Zachary is he will always come back here," Zeigler said.
Covolo said it's important for him to come into the room with energy every day, especially after learning with Lounsbury last year as the leader of the group and ensuring everyone in the wrestling room is having fun and trying to get better.
"I feel like the biggest thing is just trying to show up and give energy every day, day in and day out. It's important especially with a small team like this, it's hard to keep the energy up every single day and go hard, but I always come in and try to just be happy, have a smile on my face and be ready to go and have as much fun as I can," Covolo said. "So I bring that leadership of just working hard and making sure everyone's having fun and trying to get better as well." 
Zeigler said that quality of ensuring everyone on the team is seen as a family was important in picking Covolo for the award, as he felt the importance of the strength of the Apodaca family resonated well with Covolo, with Covolo noting the close knit nature of the Trappers this year.
"You never see this wrestling team not together. We eat every meal together. If there's something that needs to be done, we're always together," Covolo said. "We are really close-knit. So I feel like the biggest part of that off the mat stuff is just making sure everyone is feeling good, is happy and is satisfied with what we're doing. I feel like the biggest thing with all of it is just making sure that the whole team is still together and loved, and no matter what we're going through we're still together."
Covolo has made the transition from 133 pounds to 141 pounds this season, allowing him to focus more on his wrestling this year as opposed to trying to cut weight and maintain a lighter frame.
"It's been a great change. I don't have to cut as much weight, so every day I get to go into that wrestling room thinking about wrestling, not losing weight, so the amount of improvement I've made this year has been crazy," Covolo said. "But like I've said, the most important thing to me right now is having fun and just taking it day-by-day. Not every day is easy obviously with wrestling, but it's been tremendous improvement because of moving up and having fun and just making new habits and stuff has been great … I think it's been a great year for us, and me personally. I think come March, it's going to be the best time."
Covolo said that his goal come the end of the season is to be standing towards the top of the podium, after he went 5-2 last year at nationals and came up just short of an All-American spot at 133 pounds, losing in the blood rounds.
"It was a heartbreaker (last year) … It's something else this year, I'm enjoying it, and I can go into a match and no matter how hard the match is, I'm gonna come off smiling," Covolo said.
While those personal goals remain for him this season, Covolo reflected on the Apodaca Award and what it means to become the 27th recipient of the award.
"The amount of tradition this award has brought … It's been huge," he said. "I feel like it's not something I'll ever take for granted, and I'll remember it for the rest of my life."