TRAPPER WRESTLING HEADS TO NATIONALS IN IOWA

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Following a weekend off, the Northwest College wrestling team is on the road for the NJCAA National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa, taking nine wrestlers to compete at the national tournament on Friday and Saturday.
"I think we're well organized, and ready to go," coach Jim Zeigler said.
The Trappers will have two wrestlers ranked No. 2 heading into the tournament: Asad Fayzullaev at 184 pounds and Austin Richens at 285 pounds.
Fayzullaev will face Ethan Nicholas from Northeastern Oklahoma after a Round of 64 bye, while Richens takes on Garrett Gayle from Camden County, New Jersey.
The next highest ranked wrestler for the Trappers is Zachary Covolo at 141 pounds, who will be the No. 6 seed and wrestle Sebastian Rodriguez of Colby Community College, Kansas in the Round of 64.
Colby Ducatt is the No. 12 seed at 157 pounds, and will face Nicholas Fischer of Ellsworth Community College, Iowa in the Round of 32 after an initial bye.
Dustin Rhoades is the final ranked Trapper at 174 pounds, and will face Trenton Mansfield of Southwestern Michigan in the Round of 32.
Dylan Sorensen will receive a first round bye at 125 pounds, taking on the winner of No. 5 Truth Vesey from Harper College, Illinois and Haji Saccoh of Rowan Gloucester College, New Jersey.
Devin Grossman will compete at 149 pounds, receiving a bye before taking on Josiah Wickard of Snow College, Utah.
Porter Olson will receive a bye at 165 pounds before taking on No. 11 Riley Brewer from Andrew College, Georgia in the Round of 64.
Northwest's final competitor will be Race Moxley at 197 pounds, who will have a first round bye before taking on the winner of No. 3 Andrew Marquez from Indian Hills Community College, Iowa and Adan Salazar of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
"We do our homework in terms of knowing who we're going to compete against, and making sure the kids are informed," Zeigler said. "If they have a particular concern, they come to me and want to make a particular plan. But more importantly, we try to focus on ourselves more than the opponent. I feel like our biggest opponent is us. We have to prepare ourselves and not worry about the other guy."
He said he believes the team is ready, having done much of the preparation work before the district qualifiers two weeks ago, with the team getting mentally prepared and healthy.
"We're just worried about going there and making sure we do our very best, and we'll measure the outcome afterwards," Zeigler said.       

NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dylan Sorensen (125) — Round of 64 bye, will face winner of No. 5 Truth Vesey (Harper) and Haji Saccoh (Rowan Gloucester) in Round of 32
No. 6 Zachary Covolo (141) — Round of 64 vs. Sebastian Rodriguez (Colby)
Devin Grossman (149) — Round of 64 bye, Round of 32 vs. No. 16 Josiah Wickard (Snow)
No. 12 Colby Ducatt (157) — Round of 64 bye, Round of 32 vs. Nicholas Fischer (Ellsworth)
Porter Olson (165) — Round of 64 vs. No. 11 Riley Brewer (Andrew)
No. 15 Dustin Rhoades (174) — Round of 64 bye, Round of 32 vs. Trenton Mansfield (Southwestern Michigan)
No. 2 Asad Fayzullaev (184) — Round of 64 bye, Round of 32 vs. Ethan Nicholas (Northeastern Oklahoma)
Race Moxley (197) — Round of 64 bye, will face winner of No. 3 Andrew Marquez (Indian Hills) and Adan Salazar (Lackawanna)
No. 2 Austin Richens (285) — Round of 64 bye, Round of 32 vs. Garrett Gayle (Camden County)