The Clackamas print., February 13, 2008, Page 5, Image 5

Clackamas Print
Sports 9
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008
LEFT:
Sophomore
John Bates defeat­
ed his opponent
on Saturday, mak­
ing him the 2007-
2008 Heavyweight
Champion for Region
18. He also held the
same title in the
2006-2007 season.
LEFT BELOW: Derick
Bartiemay struggles
to escape the hold
of his opponent.
Bartiemay was a
2006-2007 All-Amer­
ican team member.
He is a sophomore,
and wrestles in the
141 weight catego-
AU photos by Kayla Berge Clackamas Print
their
Hearts
qn the
Aiat
The Cougars went into the regional tournament with
confidence, but minor mistakes held them back.
“I’m a little let down,” Rhoden said. “I had high hopes
going into it. We had already beat North Idaho in a dual
meet for the first time at Clackamas; we had never done
that before. We had the potential to win regionals or at
least get second. It’s not what we wanted it to be, but
Andrea Simpson
that’s OK, too.”
, Sports Editor
Earlier in the season, Clackamas had already faced
their main opponent, North Idaho, the team
that ended up being their only competition
illey, North Idaho, Pima CC and
in the finals.
uthwestern Oregon CC.
“We played North Idaho in every final,”
“We had the
Although the Cougars fell short of
Rhoden said. “Four of the six matches had
potential to
sir expectations, they still managed
already been played in the season, and we
placeithird - 114 points behind North
win regionals
had beaten them, so we thought that we were
aho College of Coeur d’Alene - with
sitting good.
or at least get
2 and a half points. Southwestern
“They just came out fired-up and fed off
second.
It
’
s
egon [CC barely beat Clackamas with
of that. There was nothing we could do,
7 points.
which is the worst feeling in the world. But
not what we
The Cougars are also sending eight of
I think we just need to work on technique.
wanted
it
to
be,
sir athletes on to nationals.
There were a few minor mistakes that will
Head I Coach Josh Rhoden said after
but that’s OK,
be easy to fix before nationals.”
e meet, “We had six in the champion-
Next for the Cougars is the national com­
too,
”
ip finals and two in the consolation
petition, and the team is already working on
lais. We have eight going to nationals,
the slip-ups they made on Saturday.
d that’s really good. We also have the
“I think what happened at regionals ...
Josh Rhoden
ampion heavyweight [John Bates].”
I think it keeps us hungry for nationals,”
Head Wrestling Coach
The other team members attending the
Rhoden said. “I know it is sitting sour in
tional competition in Rochester, Minn.,
their stomachs because they are down here
e Vance Beeson, Deriek Bartiemay,
working really hard.”
ike Beeson, Stephan Gonzales, Kris
The team will be traveling to the national
encer, Richard Jensen and newly added alternate competition on Feb. 22-23.
andon Jackson.
he Wrestling team competed in the
UCAA Region 18 Championships
n Saturday Feb. 9
BOVE: Derick Bartiemay works hard to control his opponent in his match on Saturday. Bartiemay lost but still
ualified for the national competition in Rochester, Minn.
2007-2008
Also at the tournament,
Rhoden received the prestigious
Coach of the Year award.
“It is very deserved,” said
Athletic Director Jim Jackson.
“He worked very hard at
restrengthening Clackamas, and
it showed in our dual meets. Josh
was disappointed at the placing
at regionals, but those .umgs
happen.
“That’s the funny thing about
wrestling; anything can hap­
pen, and it does. He just needs '
to keep strengthening what he’s
doing. People forget that he has
only been coaching here for two
years, and he has done a lot in
those two years.”
Rhoden had mixed feelings
about receiving the award.
“Initially - I’ll be honest it
was bittersweet. I was disap­
pointed after finals, but it is a
great honor. And really, it is a
coaching staff of the year award.
I have great assistant coaches
that give it their all - 1 am just
the face with the name.”
BELOW: Head Wrestling Coach
Josh Rhoden concentrates on
the match on the mat. This is
Rhoden’s second year as coach.
■