Nixon lost just nine matches after freshman season

With departed national champion Nick Petersen gone from the roster in 2011-2012, Northwest College wrestling coach Jim Zeigler knew he had a fairly significant hole to fill on the Trappers’ roster. What better way to do that than to bring in a recruit that owns a major decision victory against the outgoing champion?

Evanston standout Miles Nixon agreed to a letter of intent with Northwest College. After serving a two-year mission in Indonesia following his 2009 graduation, Nixon will enter school later this month as a true freshman in terms of eligibility.

“We’re pretty excited about having him,” Zeigler said. “He faced Nick when the two of them were seniors in high school and absolutely dominated the match. It ended 12-0. Nick didn’t score a point on him.”

Neither did many other wrestlers. Nixon lost just once as a senior, finishing with a 51-1 overall record that year. Some considered him Wyoming’s top wrestling prospect that year.

Nixon was twice named the outstanding wrestler for Evanston High School. He wrapped up his four-year prep career with a record of 156-25 on the mat. Just nine of those losses came after a 30-16 freshman campaign.

“He’ll be filling some big shoes for us, but we think he’s capable of filling them,” Zeigler said, noting Nixon will probably be eyed for the Trappers’ 184-pound roster slot. “We’re tremendously excited.”

Nixon’s letter of intent was one of three commitments received in the latter stages of the summer by the Trapper wrestling program. Northwest has also signed Ryker Vandertoolen from Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah, and Brandon Matlock out of Spokane, Wash.

Matlock was a Washington state runner-up at 119 pounds for University High this past winter.