Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 2009)
6 Clackamas Print Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 Men’s Wrestling shows what it takes to be No. 1_ in N I Larissa Flgley I { The Clackamas Print The main door of the wrestling gym reads, “BE A CHAMPION TODAY!” Those are the words that this year’s team has taken to heart and to the mat. “Wrestling rocks,” says team member Josh Miller, who is currently ranked fourth in his weight class in the nation. The team as a whole has ranked third in the nation, the highest ranking since 1989 when the Cougars were runners up. In the press-release dated Feb. 4, head Coach Josh Rhoden had this to say, “If we can even be in the same sentence as the 1989 and 1971 teams, then we are on the right track here.” The 1971 team that Rhoden refers to was the last time the Clackamas wrestling team were national champions. Thursdays practice starts off with a rock-infused warm-up session as the team listens to AC/DC classics such as “Immigrant Song,” as they run around their cramped, matted room. Some team members show off with some back handsprings, and it is easy to see how thrilled they are after last week’s meet in North Wyoming. With both Regional and National matches com ing up in just a couple weeks, Rhoden, as well as the whole team, has high hopes. Currently, the Cougars have seven wrestlers that are nationally ranked in their respective weight divisions. Tyrell Fortune, a tank of a young man and fresh man, currently has the highest rank in his weight class of 285 pounds. He is second in the nation, just behind Nassau wrestler Brandon Williamson. He hopes that by the end of the Regional on Feb. 14, his team will have at least one representative in every weight class. The whole team, in fact, has confidence that this will happen, and they hope that their efforts will be rewarded by the Champion title. Other than Fortune, Kyle Wirkuty (141), Josh Miller (174), and Caleb Kociemba (184) afe all ranked fourth in their weight classes. Anthony Weerheim Megan Shaw Clack» Nick Dumolt-157/165 goes for the take down against 184 pound TJ Calloway during practice at Randal earlier this week. The college wrestling team is ranked third in the NJCAA Division 18. (149) is fifth in his class, while George Mendez(133) is eighth and Kris Spencer (165) is ninth in their respective classes. So what is the key to such a successful season? Most of the teammates credit the close, family-like team that they have. Even the coaches participate in the practices. Their T-shirts read “We Will Win,” their shorts read “Intensity,” and you can feel their drive in the air, as you watch them wrestle each other. “You can’t make fun of us,” says Fortune laugh before he pairs up and begins the intern of “live” matches. And indeed, you can’t watch them withoi awestruck. The amount of force behind eve grab and the strength that it takes to pin wrestler down is amazing to watch. Nationals will be held in Minnesota this 27 and 28 of this month, wrestler down is a watch. r—r Megan Shaw ¿lackamas Print Coach Josh Rhoden gives feedback to the # 2 ranked NJCAA Division 18 Tyrell Fortune. The 285 pound Fortune is ranked num ber two in the nation in his weight class. Anthony Weerhein-141/1441b Wrestles against 141 pound Kyle Wirkuty during practice at Hall. Kyle Wirkuty is currently ranked fourth in his weight class in the NJCAA. Larissa Figley CM Jed Bellefeville, left, andxTrevor Williams, right, do some practice sprints getting ready for Track and Feild starting at the end of Winter term 2009. CCC’s first track and field event will be Feb. 14 at the college. The team will be split into Red Team and Blue Team. League competition start onfj at the Pacific Luteran University Invitational. Both men’s and women's were ranked fourth at the 2008 NWAACC Track and Field Meet.
