This article originally ran at www.theclackamasprint.com. Too see the original, click here.
David Beasley, Associate Sports Editor
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
Volume 46, Issue 13
Sports
A heat wave originating in Oregon City will blast east this week as the Cougar wrestling team prowls toward another NJCAA championship title shot. The NJCAA National wrestling tournament takes place Feb. 22 and 23 at Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center in Des Moines, Iowa. It will be the biggest challenge of the year for eight outstanding Clackamas team members.
“It’s been an up and down year for the team, but that’s not a good indicator for nationals,” said head coach Josh Rhoden. “I like all our spots in the brackets.” The Cougars won the 2011 NJCAA title and finished fourth last season.
“At Wyoming we went two and three as a team,” said heavyweight Jacob Mitchell about last month’s Western Wyoming Duels.
“Last practice is highlight of the season,” said Mitchell, in between rounds in the mat room last week. The fearless Cougar looks forward to the upcoming national competition with optimistic enthusiasm for himself and teammates.
“I’m going to take first and I think we can as team,” said Mitchell. “Me, C.J. and Trent, I think will be national champs and a lot of people could place higher or win it.” Fueling the team fire this season has been Steve “The Heater” Conn in the 184 pound division.
“Steve was on the heater and just kept winning,” said Mitchell of his teammate’s performance. Conn won in dramatic fashion at Pacific University in Forest Grove last month.
“The match versus Pacific, I was losing 8 to 2 and I pinned the guy. The whole team went nuts after I pinned the guy, it was nice to celebrate as a team,” said Conn. “This is my first time going to nationals in the lineup. I’m hoping to go All- American. I’m just going to take it one match at a time.”
Rhoden is impressed with Conn’s work ethic and improvement. “Steve Conn has come on really strong as of late, he figured out how to get wins and be successful,” said Rhoden. “We could easily have eight All-Americans this year.”
Speaking of All-American wrestlers, Trent Noon, the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 174 pounds will descend on the competition Friday. Noon sets a good example for the team and team chemistry seems to be in good supply at Clackamas.
“During wrestling season it’s just school and practice,” said Noon. “Everyone on the team is really close.”
Wrapping up an impressive personal wrestling season, Noon looks forward to nationals with high hopes.
“My only losses this season were to one junior college guy and the others were Division I wrestlers,” said Noon. “I learned and gained a lot as a wrestler. I plan on taking it one match at a time. Everyone has to beat me, I don’t have to beat them.” He sees victory in the cards for the team as well.
“We’ll get the win as long as everyone keeps their heads down and gets to it,” said Noon.
On Friday the weigh-ins start at 7:30 a.m. and the first matches begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Saturday the weigh-ins start at 9:30 a.m., with competition starting at 10:30 a.m. and going until awards and final presentations later in the evening. The Cougars will have an action packed weekend and are sure to stand out among the other teams at the competition.
The full team this weekend with weight classes includes: Sage Ornelas at 125, C.J. Palmer at 133, Beau Roberts at 149, A.J. Ballard at 157, Trent Noon at 174, Steve Conn at 184, Jacob Laden at 197 and Jacob Mitchell at 285. The stacked squad will be a force to reckon with this weekend as they are fired up for victory. A video feed will be available the day of the event at www. njcaatv.org.
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