TRAPPPERS EIGHTH AT NATIONALS

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

The Northwest College wrestling team took a productive trip to the NJCAA National Championships and returned with three All-Americans, as Zachary Covolo and Asad Fayzullaev both finished third at 141 and 184 pounds, while Austin Richens claimed the individual title at 285 pounds.
Richens, a two-time All-American, had a dominant weekend for the Trappers, cruising in his first four matches.
He earned pins in 44 seconds and 1:11 in the rounds of 32 and 16, respectively, before earning a pin in 6:12 in the quarterfinals.
"He's such a great athlete, he's mentally tough. He's smart, just a great competitor," coach Jim Zeigler said of Richens, who moved from 197 to 285 pounds this season. "Moving up in weight class is something that he volunteered to do. We always want our guys getting bigger, stronger and more athletic. He buys into that."
Richens dominated with a pin in 3:35 in the semifinals before taking on Southeast Nebraska's Ira Jenkins in the title bout.
The first points came in the second period, as Richens chose bottom and got a reversal, but Jenkins earned an escape as it was 2-1 heading to the third.
Jenkins chose down and earned another escape, as the pair headed to overtime.
Richens got the win on a takedown, earning the 5-2 sudden victory.
"It's a little nerve wracking when you go into that sudden victory. Austin's a lot better than the kid, but the other kid, he wouldn't make contact," Zeigler said. "The first real hard contact that they made, where they got into any kind of real hard wrestling situation was in overtime when the kid made a shot. As soon as he did and they were locked up, Austin took him straight to his back. That's what he's done to him four times this year."
For his efforts Richens was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
"Apparently he made quite the impression on everybody. He was very outstanding. It's a really deep and tough heavyweight field. I think it's remarkable what he's accomplished this year," Zeigler said.
The second All-American was Covolo, who fought through the 141-weight bracket to a third place finish.
Covolo won via an 18-2 tech fall in his first match, before a pin in 3:47 and a 12-5 decision advanced him to the quarterfinals. 
He then earned a 4-1 sudden victory to reach the semifinals, where he dropped a difficult 6-5 decision to Evan Rodriguez of Cowley College in Kansas.
Covolo rebounded with a pin in 3:59 in the consolation semifinals before a 5-4 decision in the third place match to earn him All-American honors.
Fayzullaev earned All-American honors for a second year in a row, starting with an 8-0 major decision to reach the Round of 16.
He continued with a pin in 3:53 before a 5-4 decision in the quarterfinals.He dropped a tough 10-9 decision in the semifinals to Western Wyoming's Banks Love, before rebounding with a 10-1 major decision and a 2-0 decision to finish third.
"All three (Richens, Covolo and Fayzullaev), their dedication, their focus and their competitiveness is so representative of exactly what we want from our guys. In the classroom, socially, athletically they have excelled, and to watch that process unfold, to watch those guys mature and grow right in front of you, is the greatest joy in coaching," Zeigler said.
The Trappers had four additional wrestlers earn wins in the tournament, as Dylan Sorensen finished 3-2 at 125 pounds; Colby Ducatt went 2-2 at 157 pounds and fell in the blood rounds; Dustin Rhoades went 2-2 at 174 pounds and Devin Grossman went 1-2 at 149 pounds.
Porter Olson was unable to find a win at 165 pounds and Race Moxley went winless at 197 pounds.
"Colby put on a great performance and advanced to the quarterfinals," Zeigler said. "These are things that help build kids for their future. We've been saying all along, it's great to beat all the people you're supposed to beat. But man, when you step up and beat someone that has beaten you before, or is seeded considerably higher … That's something Colby was able to do."
As a team the Trappers finished eighth with 84 points, while Indian Hills won its second straight title with 201.5 points.
"It's less points than last year, but its respectable. It was a different tournament this year," Zeigler said. "Three guys placed in the top three for medals … That's a great finish."}
The Trappers will say goodbye to the three All-Americans in addition to Rhoades as sophomores from the national qualifying team, as they concluded a fourth straight year with a top 10 finish in the national tournament.