This article originally ran at www.theclackamasprint.com. Too see the original, click here.
David Beasley, Sports Editor
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Volume 47, Issue 9
Sports
Staying true to form, the Cougar wrestling team has dominated much of their competition this season. Clackamas won the Cliff Keen National Duals earlier this month. Last Sunday, CCC hosted the Clackamas Open Wrestling Tournament. Schools from all over the North West attended the event and Clackamas saw seven of its team members place in the top three.
The previous Saturday featured an important meet at Clackamas between No. 4 ranked CCC and No. 1 ranked North Idaho. Clackamas came out on top. In front of a large and excited home crowd Clackamas avenged their loss from December to the top team in the nation 27-14.
First to hit the mat was Clackamas’ 125 lbs. Stevan Knoblauch who won against Jared Miller with a fall. Knoblauch placed first in the 125 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament. In the 133 lbs. division CJ Palmer also earned a victory for Clackamas Saturday via fall against Zach Mahaney.
The scoreboard read 12-0 in favor of Clackamas. The 141 lbs. division was up. Robert Rizzolino wrestled for Clackamas against Kit Major. Rizzolino won and placed first in the 141 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament. Daniel Leonard of CCC took second in that division as well Sunday.
The first three matches set a good pace for the team and fired up the crowd. The score was 17-0. At 149 lbs. Kenny Martin faced North Idaho’s Jeremy Golding. Golding won. Martin placed second in the 149 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament.
With the visiting team finally on the scoreboard at 17-4, the 157 lbs. division brought out Clackamas’ Eleazar DeLuca to face Nico Moreno. North Idaho’s coach accused DeLuca of a choke.
“The coach tried to argue that it was a choke hold, but it was completely legal,” said DeLuca.
Moreno showed some fast escapes, but DeLuca answered with a solid takedown. DeLuca won the match 9-7 avenging his loss from December in Idaho.
“I felt like I controlled it,” said DeLuca. “I would have liked to have been more offensive, my main objective is to be in control in matches.”
DeLuca has had a very successful season so far.
“It’s been pretty good, we won Nationals last week,” said DeLuca. “Every week we just build a little more and keep progressing.”
Commanding a strong lead 20-4 Clackamas next sent 165 lbs. Kyle Bateman to wrestle Tyler Mclean. Mclean had a very good two point takedown in the first round. Bateman utilized excellent control in second round and wouldn’t let Mclean up. Bateman had Mclean’s left arm tied up behind his back. Bateman scored with a relentless two point takedown in round 3.
Tied, the match went to overtime sudden victory. Mclean won the competitive match with a two point takedown. Bateman placed second in the 165 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament.
The Cougars were still in the lead with 20-7. At 174 lbs. Tyler White of Clackamas was pitted against Derrick Booth. White grabbed booth’s leg but Booth reversed the disadvantage and took a two point takedown. White managed an excellent reversal after being tied-up on the mat. Booth won 4-2. White pushed Booth in face at end and the ref called unsportsmanlike conduct for pushing in the face after whistle. The officials took two points from Clackamas making it 19-10.
Clackamas still held the advantage however. The Cougars sent 184 lbs. Adrian Salas to battle Johnathan Dennis. Salas won in dominating fashion 17-2 and placed second in the 184 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament.
Staying well ahead of their opponents at 24-10 the Cougars set up 197 lbs. Ihoghama Odigizuwa to compete against the number one wrestler in the division VJ Giulio. Odigizuwa had a good two point takedown despite Giulio trying to flip out of it. Odigizuwa also executed a great escape. The crowd was very excited, Guilio landed a takedown. Odigizuwa took an impressive win 8-4.
“Last time we wrestled there was a lot of mistakes I made,” said Odigizuwa. “But coach helped me work on those. The hard work in the wrestling room and my conditioning helped.”
Odigizuwa placed first in the 197 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament and has proven to be a force to reckon with this season.
“It’s been alright, I won some and lost some,” said Odigizuwa. “Been working really hard in the wrestling room.”
A solid 27-10 lead was an assured team victory for the Cougars, but one match remained; 285 lbs. Brandon Johnson of Clackamas against Taylor Kurnoely. Kurnoely won. Clackamas was victorious as the team finished 27-14.
Head coach Josh Rhoden was pleased with the outcome of the meet.
“The kids wrestled great,” said Rhoden. “The number one team in the country came in and we had a good crowd. North Idaho beat us last time. We actually should have won a few more matches.”
The win solidifies Clackamas as one of the top contenders in the NJCAA and puts them at 9-3 for the season. The next home meet will be this Friday Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. against Southwest Oregon.
The previous Saturday featured an important meet at Clackamas between No. 4 ranked CCC and No. 1 ranked North Idaho. Clackamas came out on top. In front of a large and excited home crowd Clackamas avenged their loss from December to the top team in the nation 27-14.
First to hit the mat was Clackamas’ 125 lbs. Stevan Knoblauch who won against Jared Miller with a fall. Knoblauch placed first in the 125 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament. In the 133 lbs. division CJ Palmer also earned a victory for Clackamas Saturday via fall against Zach Mahaney.
The scoreboard read 12-0 in favor of Clackamas. The 141 lbs. division was up. Robert Rizzolino wrestled for Clackamas against Kit Major. Rizzolino won and placed first in the 141 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament. Daniel Leonard of CCC took second in that division as well Sunday.
The first three matches set a good pace for the team and fired up the crowd. The score was 17-0. At 149 lbs. Kenny Martin faced North Idaho’s Jeremy Golding. Golding won. Martin placed second in the 149 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament.
With the visiting team finally on the scoreboard at 17-4, the 157 lbs. division brought out Clackamas’ Eleazar DeLuca to face Nico Moreno. North Idaho’s coach accused DeLuca of a choke.
“The coach tried to argue that it was a choke hold, but it was completely legal,” said DeLuca.
Moreno showed some fast escapes, but DeLuca answered with a solid takedown. DeLuca won the match 9-7 avenging his loss from December in Idaho.
“I felt like I controlled it,” said DeLuca. “I would have liked to have been more offensive, my main objective is to be in control in matches.”
DeLuca has had a very successful season so far.
“It’s been pretty good, we won Nationals last week,” said DeLuca. “Every week we just build a little more and keep progressing.”
Commanding a strong lead 20-4 Clackamas next sent 165 lbs. Kyle Bateman to wrestle Tyler Mclean. Mclean had a very good two point takedown in the first round. Bateman utilized excellent control in second round and wouldn’t let Mclean up. Bateman had Mclean’s left arm tied up behind his back. Bateman scored with a relentless two point takedown in round 3.
Tied, the match went to overtime sudden victory. Mclean won the competitive match with a two point takedown. Bateman placed second in the 165 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament.
The Cougars were still in the lead with 20-7. At 174 lbs. Tyler White of Clackamas was pitted against Derrick Booth. White grabbed booth’s leg but Booth reversed the disadvantage and took a two point takedown. White managed an excellent reversal after being tied-up on the mat. Booth won 4-2. White pushed Booth in face at end and the ref called unsportsmanlike conduct for pushing in the face after whistle. The officials took two points from Clackamas making it 19-10.
Clackamas still held the advantage however. The Cougars sent 184 lbs. Adrian Salas to battle Johnathan Dennis. Salas won in dominating fashion 17-2 and placed second in the 184 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament.
Staying well ahead of their opponents at 24-10 the Cougars set up 197 lbs. Ihoghama Odigizuwa to compete against the number one wrestler in the division VJ Giulio. Odigizuwa had a good two point takedown despite Giulio trying to flip out of it. Odigizuwa also executed a great escape. The crowd was very excited, Guilio landed a takedown. Odigizuwa took an impressive win 8-4.
“Last time we wrestled there was a lot of mistakes I made,” said Odigizuwa. “But coach helped me work on those. The hard work in the wrestling room and my conditioning helped.”
Odigizuwa placed first in the 197 lbs. division the next day at the Clackamas Open Tournament and has proven to be a force to reckon with this season.
“It’s been alright, I won some and lost some,” said Odigizuwa. “Been working really hard in the wrestling room.”
A solid 27-10 lead was an assured team victory for the Cougars, but one match remained; 285 lbs. Brandon Johnson of Clackamas against Taylor Kurnoely. Kurnoely won. Clackamas was victorious as the team finished 27-14.
Head coach Josh Rhoden was pleased with the outcome of the meet.
“The kids wrestled great,” said Rhoden. “The number one team in the country came in and we had a good crowd. North Idaho beat us last time. We actually should have won a few more matches.”
The win solidifies Clackamas as one of the top contenders in the NJCAA and puts them at 9-3 for the season. The next home meet will be this Friday Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. against Southwest Oregon.
