NWC WRESTLING QUALIFIES NINE

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Nine wrestlers have qualified for the NJCAA National Championships for the Northwest College wrestling team following a strong performance at the Plains District Championships in Rock Springs on Saturday.
"I knew we'd get anywhere from six to 10 in, and nine is pretty dang good. I'm happy with that," coach Jim Zeigler said.
Leading the way for the Trappers was Austin Richens at heavyweight, who went undefeated and took the top spot in the region.
Richens advanced from the quarterfinal after a medical forfeit, and got a pin of Northeastern Junior College's Ryan Escamilla in the semifinal in 1 minute, 31 seconds.
In the final, Richens earned another first period pin in 2:14 over Southeast Community College's Ira Jenkins to claim the top spot.
"Austin looked great," Zeigler said. 
Zachary Covolo was another wrestler to reach the final for the Trappers at 141 pounds, winning his quarterfinal match via pin in 5:33 before an 8-1 decision in the semifinal.
In the championship bout, Covolo fell via a 1-0 decision to Western Wyoming's Dmitri Alarcon to finish second.
"Zachary wrestled really well, the clock ran out on him," Zeigler said. "Dmitri was national runner up last year, he lost in the finals in overtime. So he's a good kid … He [Covolo] just keeps narrowing it each time. He's starting to look like the better wrestler between the two of them."
Dustin Rhoades was another finalist at 174 pounds, receiving a bye in the quarterfinal round before earning a 4-2 decision in the semifinal to reach the final.
In the championship he came up just short in a 5-3 decision to Southeast's Dylan Scott.
In the true second match Rhoades was unable to hold onto his position as he fell in a 7-3 decision to finish third.
"He wrestled really well. I know he got beat in the challenge, but both of those are really good kids. I think he put himself in the mix," Zeigler said.
Asad Fayzullaev was the final Trapper finalist at 184 pounds, winning his first two matches by pin to reach the final.
He fell to Western Wyoming's Banks Love in a 5-2 sudden victory.
"Asad was a little too cautious. He's not opening up early and the clock is beating him," Zeigler said. "He needs to open up earlier … You wrestle a guy enough times, if you're that evenly matched, you're gonna lose one somewhere. I'd rather lose it this (last) week."
In the true second place match Fayzullaev earned a 12-4 major decision to hold his second place.
Dylan Sorensen placed third  at 125 pounds, losing in the semifinal via pin after receiving a bye in the quarterfinal. 
He rebounded with an 8-5 decision in the consolation semifinals before a sudden victory in the third place match 5-2.
He challenged for second place, but was unable to get the win in an 11-8 loss.
Colby Ducatt was another third place finisher at 157 pounds, receiving a bye in the quarterfinals before losing via a 13-2 major decision in the semifinals.
He rebounded with a 16-1 tech fall in the consolation semifinals and a 12-2 major decision in the third place match.
Ducatt challenged for second place, but fell via a narrow 3-1 decision to finish third.
"Colby had one really good match in his third place match, but didn't open up in his challenge match. Just inconsistencies with him. He is capable," Zeigler said. "That's what we struggle with with the freshmen, is consistency, confidence levels and that really bugs me … You have got to compete with passion and you've got to believe in yourself. That's two things that are absolutely necessary to win and/or to develop."
Race Moxley was the final third place finisher for the Trappers at 197 pounds, receiving a bye before losing in the semifinals via pin.
He earned a pin in the consolation semifinals before earning a 17-3 major decision in the third place match.
Since he lost to the second placed wrestler, he was unable to challenge for second place.
The final two qualifiers were wild card selections in Devin Grossman at 149 pounds, going 2-2, while Porter Olson was also 2-2 at 165 pounds and selected as a wild card.
Ryan Nutt was the final Trapper wrestler at 133 pounds, going 1-2 and finishing fourth while not being selected as a wild card.
Zeigler said he feels the freshmen need to continue improving heading into the national tournament, and is hoping they can show that growth in what little time they have left.
"I pointed out the difference to the coaching staff of our actions in the corner with the sophomores versus our actions in the corner with the freshmen. It seems like with the freshmen we have to yell obvious things at them that they're not doing. We have to repeat ourselves again and again. Keep wrestling, keep wrestling. Because they get themselves in situations and just kind of quit," Zeigler said. "The difference with the sophomores is they wrestle through every position, every situation, they continue to wrestle. So that's been aggravating to me. It's a sign that they don't have maturity or confidence in themselves in those situations.
"So that's something we are going to have to develop in those guys. I don't know that we can do it in a week-and-a-half if we haven't done it all year, but we can certainly make them aware of it."
He said end of the year practices will focus on fine tuning and preparing the team mentally for the national tournament next weekend on Friday and Saturday in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
"Fine tuning, things that are good for them mentally. They're in good shape, their conditioning is not going to get any better between now and then," Zeigler said. "It's about getting their minds right, getting their
focus dialed in, getting their passion for what they're doing. Elevating their enthusiasm and their passion for what they're about to go into."
Tournament brackets are to be released this Friday; catch a preview of those matchups for the national tournament in next Thursday's Powell Tribune.