toplay football," said Schneider.
"The reason for that was that I
felt wrestling at that time was
really secondary to football and
and besides I felt I wasn't that
good a wrestler."
Geister and
Schneider
-the team
motivators
By Ann Breyne
and Randy Frank
of The Print
Ron
Geister
and Rocky
Schneider have many things in
common. They are both wrest
lers, both have winning records,
and both plan to continue wrest
ling throughout college.
"Both Ron and Rocky are
very dedicated.
They really
hold the team together," Head
Coach Rich Taylor said. "The
team looks to them for direc
tion.
Schneider has been a big part
of the College's wrestling and
football programs since coming
to Clackamas as a freshman from
Churchill High School in 1977.
On a team that won the
State title, took third in Reg
ional and participated in the
National Tournament, Schneider
won the individual 167 pound
class in the State tournament
and took third in Regionals,
while compiling a 22-10 record.
This season Schneider has a
17-11-1 record in a season that
has thus far been disappoint
ing to him.
"I started wrestling in the
seventh grade because I was al
ways fighting. A P.E. teacher
told me to try the wrestling mat
as a means for releasing my
aggressiveness, so I did," Sch
neider said.
Following his graduation from
Clackamas, Schneider hopes to
continue playing football and
wrestling at a four-year school.
He has received offers from
Mesa College in Arizona, Paci
fic University, Southern Oregon
College and Oregon College of
Education. The only problem is
that Schneider is planning a sum
mer marriage and his finances
may not be there.
"My marriage may be a pro
blem,
but I suspect that it
shouldn't be a big enough pro
blem that I can't go on and at
least play football," said Schnei
der.
"I wouldn't mind going on
and continuing with my wrest
ling but I really hate mixing the
two sports because wrestling is
However a broken wrist side
lined him until his sophomore
year when the varsity team and
'some relative success told him
to go on.
Schneider showed signs of
things to come during his senior
year as he compiled a 20-6
record with 3rd in freestyle and
4th in Greco Roman at the
state tournament.
Following graduation, Schnei
der got in contact with Clacka
mas Community College and Tim
Hundley about the possibility of
playing football.
About this time Schneider al
so heard from his high school
wrestling coach and heard that
Clackamas also had a real good
wrestling program.
"I came to Clackamas with
one thing in mind and that was
home Clackamas trailed at the
half 35-33 but came on strong
in the final twenty minutes for
an 87-77 victory.
Preston Martin had his second
strong game as he scored 18
points, on 9 of 14 from the
field, and grabbed 22 rebounds.
The wins put Clackamas into
sole posession of third place with
a 6-6 record. But they trail first
place Central Oregon and Lane by
five games as they have 11-1
marks.
Clackamas faces a couple of
weekend clashes, hosting Cheme-
keta Friday and visiting Judson
Baptist Saturday.
Chemeketa will try and avenge
a 97-62 whipping that the Coug
ars gave the Chiefs earlier this
year.
In the Cougars' previous meet
ing with Judson Baptist, Clack
amas won going away, 85-62. Jud
son Baptist is led by forward
Tom Kahle, who is one of the top
ten scorers in the nation with an
average of nearly 27 points a
game.
Geister, who boasts a 22-4-2
record is not a stereotype wrest
ler.
Instead of being aggres
sive he is shy, at least off the
mat.
Geister is using wrestling as a
means to further his education,
not vice versa.
He plans to
wrestle all through college but
not after he graduates.
Rocky Schneider
such an emotional sport that
when you mix the two sports
your academics will suffer."
"Wrestling is enjoyable be
cause there are a lot of nice
people who get involved with
wrestling and can share a com
mon love for the sport," Schnei
der said.
there is more quality a
nique."
Winning takes as har|
exemplified by the tea
hour workouts everyday
ter additionaly runs I
four miles a day on h scj
"I don't lift weigh»
explains, "because wren
ly does a good job toning]
ling teaches discipline]
ditioning. "But," he ema
"I am not a wrestling ad|
"It's bad to say but
you're wrestling it com
"I feel that wrestling has help
ed me to be aware of physical
'I feel that wrestling has
helped me to be aware of
physical fitness and I will
continue conditioning e-
ven after I'm through with
competition ...'
fitness and I will continue con
ditioning even after I'm through
with competition," Geister said.
"I don't think I could have
wrestled at a four year college
right out of high school," Geister
said. "I'm hoping for a scholar
ship for next year though. That's
what I'm working for."
Success came early as he took
first in his district and he looked
forward to improving his skills
for the following season.
Hoopsters move
into third spot
The Clackamas Community
College Mens basketball team
moved into third place in league
standings this past week with
victories over Blue Mountain
Community College and Linn-
Benton Community College.
In the game against
Blue
Mountain in Pendleton on Feb.2,
Clackamas trailed 66-60 with
seven minutes to play before
rallying to win 83-75.
The Cougar rally began when
Blue Mountains attempts to stall
fell apart at Clackamas defen
sive pressure. They committed
several costly turnovers
and
Clackamas was able to capitalize
for a 73-72 lead with three min
utes to play.
Preston Martin enjoyed his
best game of thé season as the
sophomore center from Rex Put
nam High School connected on
13 of 20 shots for 30 points and
15 rebounds.
Dan Slick added 24 and Tom
Tirrill added 7 assists to help
with the victory.
In the -game against Linn-
Benton on Friday, Feb 4 at
Page 10
"But when I got here I de
cided to give the team a try and
I've enjoyed it ever since."
"Also when you get a wrest
ler with a good attitude it makes
more enjoyable because beating
them makes you feel that you
have accomplished something."
Because his dad is a wrest
ling coach Geister became in
volved with wrestling at an early
age.
"I became interested in
wrestling when I was about seven
but didn't start competing until
I was 11," Geister said.
"My first year in high school
I felt like I had to wrestle. But
I enjoyed it so I had no trouble
sticking with it," Geister said.
"College wrestling is a lot
different from
high
school
You're on your own. The coach
isn't there to tell you when to
run or whatever. I like it better
this way."
Geister also cites other dif
ferences
in college and high
school wrestling. In high school
there was more dependence on
strength, not moves. In college
Ron Geister!
and school is second.-|
just no time becaifl
tournaments every week]
meets on the add day|1
said.
Geister hopes fori]
ship to Chico State in a
This year Chico State tid
land State University an
Sacramento in wresffl
hopes to help them Wl
next year.
"I know Rocky bet]
Ron. He's the kind ofj|
will work as hard as]
he'll wrestle at any m
want,"Taylor said, 1
Ron is the same wai
lacks a little confident
were to realize his potel
go a long way," Taylq
If he did have that con]
nobody could beat him.'']
"It is a credit to H
lers that they're willing tc
fice which makes them jus
improving." Taylor said,]