Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 2011)
6 The Clackamas Print Wednesday. Feb. 23. 2011 ins wins regional championshi| By Robert Morrison Sports Editor Thè Clackamas Commuity College wrestling team is ranked No. 1 among junior colleges heading into nationals Clackamas, welcome home your 2010-2011 Region 18 Champions. The Clackamas Community College wrestling team is coming off an impressive win at region- als to qualify 10 wrestlers for the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association’s National Championship. The team goes into the nationals ranked No. 1 among junior colleges and with three wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their weight class: Terrence Williams, Tyrell Fortune and Derek Mestrovich. Last year the team had eight wrestlers make nationals. “I think it’s the perfect chance for us to win nationals. Having 10 guys and one person in every weight class, obvious ly we have a chance to get the max amount of points possible. It makes me feel really good,” said Fortune. He will have a bye his first round and will face 285 lb. wrestler Josh Hodge in The Clackamas Community College wrestling team poses for a tory in Coos Bay on Feb. 13. his first actual match. “Last year, we only had eight wrestlers and we still did good. This year we will have two more wrestlers giving us points, giving us a good chance to win,” said 174 lb. wrestler Williams. Williams will also have a bye in his first round. Williams will watch Marciano Ali and Shawn Seppala wrestle for the chance to face him. as a few having a bye ai first match. The team | stay energized and hopefi pick up wins in their ma This is the cream of the c junior colleges. Each wrestler has the idea of what they need tc win and what the team nt do to win the championsl “(I need to) stay det to the weight cut, stay fo don’t let the nerves get keep a clear mind an< focused,” said Mestrovi think it’s going to be h 97. I think we will placed I think it’s going to be hl 33 and 57. There are al places where our No. I will hopefully get to the] and win it, but we nee] few guys ranked No. 7,1 or No. 12 to win those n to win Nationals.” Mestrovich will sil watch James Bennet] Bernie Dupuy wrestling] first round to see who v| up facing him in the I round. All of Clackamas’ I other wrestlers will be| photo after their regonal vic tling in the first round, 'll 1 ranked wrestlers will fl wrestle four times to fl For Clackamas to win, the championship and the wl team will need all of its play ranked farther down will! ers to score points to be able to win five matches. The \j] bring the championship home National Championship! to CCC. Some wrestlers will be held Feb. 25 and 26 si wrestle fewer matches as well at 10 a.m. in Spokane, Baseball is back with a whole new outlook on the ga By John Howard The Clackamas Print Returning for what is now his 21st season coach ing baseball at Clackamas Community College, Head Coach Robin Robinson has a lot of knowledge about the game to impart to his play ers. “We’ve been known for the fact that we always have very good catching. Our shortstops have been all-league ... many times here,” said Robinson. “But for me personally, it’s more than just baseball. I want kids to get a degree; I want them to make a better life for themselves and their families. “I talk and teach a lot about responsibility, and I think that’s huge. College educa tion is a lot about responsi bility and time management, and those are the two things that, as a coach, we talk about that all the time,” he said. Robinson’s philosophy seems to be paying off. The Cougar baseball team always does extremely well academ ically, and Robinson claims that he does it because his players need to have some thing to lean on when base ball has run out. “Baseball will end for a lot of these guys in three to five years, and what did they gain to make a better life for them and their families?” said Robinson. Freshman pitcher David Rassmussen understands the special position that he and his teammates are in as ath letes. “You’ve got to work a nine- to-five job sometime, so I’m just going to enjoy this while I can,” said Rassmussen with a chuckle. “It’s not an oppor tunity that most people get, so I might as well ride it out and see where it goes.” Rassmussen said that his most pleasant surprise was how much the team could get done in a short amount of time when they were focused on the plan that they had in place and mentioned that the All photos by John Howard Cladcd The Clackamas Community College baseball team comes back with a stronger grip on d ball. sophomores on the team were a big help in learning the ropes. I think we can make it, No X doubt about it. We’ve got a lot of talent. Roman Lorentz CCC pitcher Player Derek Atkinson (outfielder) throws a baseball to another CCC player in Randall Hall’s gym. “When it comes time to get something done they buckle down and keep you in line to make sure you get done what needs to get done to make the team better,” Rasmussen said Rassmussen’s sophomore teammate Roman Lorentz remembers being in that same position. “Last year, I was kind of the quiet guy,” said Lorentz. “This year it’s just turned out that I have to take a leader ship role and make sure that all the freshmen are on the same page that I am, so come game time, they’re ready to perform to the best of their ability.” Lorentz expressed confi dence in the team’s capability to win a berth in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges tourna ment, which he said was his goal for the season. He cited the team’s young potential as a challenge but not one they can’t overcome. “I think we can make it. No doubt about it. We’ve got a lot of talent,” said Lorentz. “When we work hard, i really good team.” With the season leis two weeks away, the pl and coaches alike arl focused than ever. Tht been working out and nra ing together since fall] ting up early every mo| to work on pitching, lit catching and fieldingja seems that nobody has 1 for a moment. I “We wake up at 6:3 come play baseball til I the morning,” said Irish outfielder Derek Atlil “That’s hard for some pel because that’s not what] want to do, but these! want to be out here. Wfl We just want to be out hell peting.” '■ The season begins! the Cougars on Marcia Clackamas will play first home game onf Mi 29 against Southwest! Ore| Community College.!
