NWC places 11th in team standingsSix Northwest College wrestlers went head to head with the best in the nation at last week's NJCAA National Championships in Rochester, Minn., and four Trappers walked away with All-America honors. Because of the Trappers' solid showing in the 50th edition of the national event, the squad finished 11th in the overall standings at the conclusion of Saturday's final bouts. The team title was claimed by Iowa Central Community College. For the Tritons, the national title was their fourth in a row.“Three of our four All-Americans are freshmen,” said NWC head coach and athletic director Jim Zeigler. “We got great efforts from all of our guys, and I'm so proud of them.”Landon Harris, a freshman heavyweight from Rexburg, Idaho, led the way for the Trappers with his second-place finish. Harris opened the tournament with four straight victories, but he was pinned by Clackamas Community College standout Tyrell Fortune at the two-minute mark of the championship bout. Zeigler said Harris had an outstanding tournament effort, and he also credited the freshman for keeping his loss in the finals in perspective.“Landon was fabulous throughout the tournament,” Zeigler said. “He was doing really well in the title bout, but he got in a position where he got thrown to his back and it was over. What really impressed me was how he handled the loss. It's tough to get that far and lose in the finals, but Landon took it in stride. He got up and a smile came across his face. The two shook hands, and Landon patted him on the back. After that, he went over to the side, took a knee and put his head down for a second. He said, ‘I had it. I had it. Oh, well, I'll get it next time, Coach.'“Landon does such a great job of keeping things in perspective. He's a fierce competitor, but when he loses, he doesn't carry it around. That's just so impressive to see, especially from a young man who is only 20 or 21 years old.”Zeigler added that Harris and Fortune talked after the match, and the veteran coach said it was apparent both wrestlers had a great deal of respect for each other.“It was a fantastic match, and it was great to see those two interact after it was over,” Zeigler said. “Everyone was so impressed with how good of a match it was. It was non-stop action from start to finish. And it was good for the sport to see the respect those two showed for each other after it was over.”NWC's second-best placer was Anthony Varnell. The sophomore from Spokane, Wash., finished sixth at 149 after posting a 3-2 record. “Anthony was disappointed, but I'm real proud of him,” Zeigler said. “What a lot of people don't realize is that Anthony had a full reconstruction of his knee last June. For him to come back from that to become an All-American is a great accomplishment. He had a great career here, and I can't say enough about what he meant to our team.”Saul Guerrero, from Ft. Lupton, Colo., capped his first season as a Trapper by finishing seventh in the 133-pound weight class at last week's tournament. Guerrero concluded the event with a 4-2 record.“Saul wrestled really well,” Zeigler said. “He had a great freshman season, and to finish seventh and leave the tournament as an All-American is quite an accomplishment.”NWC's fourth All-American at the tournament was freshman McCade Ford of Payson, Utah. He went 3-2 and finished eighth overall in the 141-pound weight class.“He's another freshman who had a great year,” Zeigler said.Trappers who came up short of placing were freshmen Briston Brenton of Casper and Mak Jones of Powell. Brenton made it to the round of 12, Zeigler said, and came close to being in a position to place in the 157-pound weight class. Jones went 0-2 at 197, but Zeigler said he's expecting a great deal from the former Panther next season.“Mak wrestled some tough, close matches,” Zeigler said. “He's on his way to good things. His style and aggression on the mat are what I like to see. He's still green, but he's got a promising future in front of him. He's a fantastic young man, and I wish I could mold a dozen guys just like him.”The prestigious honors weren't reserved for the wrestlers last week at the tournament. Zeigler also picked up a major award Saturday when he was officially recognized for being voted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame.This year is Zeigler's 16th at the helm of the Trappers. Prior to this year's tournament, he led NWC to 14 straight top-10 finishes at the NJCAA National Tournament, a mark that is unmatched by any other two-year college. His 2004 squad claimed the national title. His Trapper squads also have won nine national team trophies (top six) and the 2002 All-Academic Championship. During his tenure at Northwest, Zeigler has produced 71 individual All-Americans and nine national champions. He was voted the NJCAA West Central Zone Coach of the year three times and named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year in 2004. He earned the prestigious NJCAA Wrestling Man of the Year award in 2007.“It's a moment I'll always cherish,” Zeigler said. “It was nice to be recognized, and I was honored to have so many people come up and congratulate me. It's very humbling to be nominated by your peers for an honor like this.”According to Harry McGinnis, chair of the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame, Zeigler was a first-ballot inductee. NJCAA National Championships Final Team Standings1. Iowa Central, 161.5 points, Div. I 2. Nassau, 91.5, Div. III 3. North Idaho, 89.5, Div. I 4. Clackamas, 87, Div. I 5. Colby, 74.5, Div. I 6. Labette, 74, Div. I 7. Iowa Lakes, 67, Div. I 8. NIACC, 63, Div. I 9. Ellsworth, 59.5, Div. I 10. Lincoln, 55.5, Div. I 11. Northwest Wyoming, 54, Div. I 12. Rochester, 52, Div. III 13. Niagara, 51, Div. I 14. Neosho, 35.5, Div. I 15. Middlesex, 34, Div. III

NWC places 11th in team standings

Six Northwest College wrestlers went head to head with the best in the nation at last week's NJCAA National Championships in Rochester, Minn., and four Trappers walked away with All-America honors.

Because of the Trappers' solid showing in the 50th edition of the national event, the squad finished 11th in the overall standings at the conclusion of Saturday's final bouts. The team title was claimed by Iowa Central Community College. For the Tritons, the national title was their fourth in a row.

“Three of our four All-Americans are freshmen,” said NWC head coach and athletic director Jim Zeigler. “We got great efforts from all of our guys, and I'm so proud of them.”

Landon Harris, a freshman heavyweight from Rexburg, Idaho, led the way for the Trappers with his second-place finish. Harris opened the tournament with four straight victories, but he was pinned by Clackamas Community College standout Tyrell Fortune at the two-minute mark of the championship bout.

Zeigler said Harris had an outstanding tournament effort, and he also credited the freshman for keeping his loss in the finals in perspective.

“Landon was fabulous throughout the tournament,” Zeigler said. “He was doing really well in the title bout, but he got in a position where he got thrown to his back and it was over. What really impressed me was how he handled the loss. It's tough to get that far and lose in the finals, but Landon took it in stride. He got up and a smile came across his face. The two shook hands, and Landon patted him on the back. After that, he went over to the side, took a knee and put his head down for a second. He said, ‘I had it. I had it. Oh, well, I'll get it next time, Coach.'

“Landon does such a great job of keeping things in perspective. He's a fierce competitor, but when he loses, he doesn't carry it around. That's just so impressive to see, especially from a young man who is only 20 or 21 years old.”

Zeigler added that Harris and Fortune talked after the match, and the veteran coach said it was apparent both wrestlers had a great deal of respect for each other.

“It was a fantastic match, and it was great to see those two interact after it was over,” Zeigler said. “Everyone was so impressed with how good of a match it was. It was non-stop action from start to finish. And it was good for the sport to see the respect those two showed for each other after it was over.”

NWC's second-best placer was Anthony Varnell. The sophomore from Spokane, Wash., finished sixth at 149 after posting a 3-2 record.

“Anthony was disappointed, but I'm real proud of him,” Zeigler said. “What a lot of people don't realize is that Anthony had a full reconstruction of his knee last June. For him to come back from that to become an All-American is a great accomplishment. He had a great career here, and I can't say enough about what he meant to our team.”

Saul Guerrero, from Ft. Lupton, Colo., capped his first season as a Trapper by finishing seventh in the 133-pound weight class at last week's tournament. Guerrero concluded the event with a 4-2 record.

“Saul wrestled really well,” Zeigler said. “He had a great freshman season, and to finish seventh and leave the tournament as an All-American is quite an accomplishment.”

NWC's fourth All-American at the tournament was freshman McCade Ford of Payson, Utah. He went 3-2 and finished eighth overall in the 141-pound weight class.

“He's another freshman who had a great year,” Zeigler said.

Trappers who came up short of placing were freshmen Briston Brenton of Casper and Mak Jones of Powell.

Brenton made it to the round of 12, Zeigler said, and came close to being in a position to place in the 157-pound weight class. Jones went 0-2 at 197, but Zeigler said he's expecting a great deal from the former Panther next season.

“Mak wrestled some tough, close matches,” Zeigler said. “He's on his way to good things. His style and aggression on the mat are what I like to see. He's still green, but he's got a promising future in front of him. He's a fantastic young man, and I wish I could mold a dozen guys just like him.”

The prestigious honors weren't reserved for the wrestlers last week at the tournament. Zeigler also picked up a major award Saturday when he was officially recognized for being voted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame.

This year is Zeigler's 16th at the helm of the Trappers. Prior to this year's tournament, he led NWC to 14 straight top-10 finishes at the NJCAA National Tournament, a mark that is unmatched by any other two-year college. His 2004 squad claimed the national title. His Trapper squads also have won nine national team trophies (top six) and the 2002 All-Academic Championship.

During his tenure at Northwest, Zeigler has produced 71 individual All-Americans and nine national champions.

He was voted the NJCAA West Central Zone Coach of the year three times and named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year in 2004. He earned the prestigious NJCAA Wrestling Man of the Year award in 2007.

“It's a moment I'll always cherish,” Zeigler said. “It was nice to be recognized, and I was honored to have so many people come up and congratulate me. It's very humbling to be nominated by your peers for an honor like this.”

According to Harry McGinnis, chair of the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame, Zeigler was a first-ballot inductee.

NJCAA National Championships Final Team Standings

1. Iowa Central, 161.5 points, Div. I

2. Nassau, 91.5, Div. III

3. North Idaho, 89.5, Div. I

4. Clackamas, 87, Div. I

5. Colby, 74.5, Div. I

6. Labette, 74, Div. I

7. Iowa Lakes, 67, Div. I

8. NIACC, 63, Div. I

9. Ellsworth, 59.5, Div. I

10. Lincoln, 55.5, Div. I

11. Northwest Wyoming, 54, Div. I

12. Rochester, 52, Div. III

13. Niagara, 51, Div. I

14. Neosho, 35.5, Div. I

15. Middlesex, 34, Div. III