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Wednesday, Nov. 14,2012
5
Wrestlers: Cougars pounce on Highline
Continued from Page 1
“I feel like they have been
working pretty hard, but we
haven’t pushed them too hard
yet,” said Rhoden. “We have Very
high expectations here as a pro
gram as a result o f finishing in the
top eight in the nation every single
season our staff has been here at
Clackamas.”
Rhoden believes that his
coaching staff is a key part o f
the Cougars success over die past
seven seasons.
“Coach Vigorito is the bal
ance we need, and he redirects us,
keeps us on task and helps provide
a calming influence to the staff,”
said Rhoden. “I really believe that
Clackamas wrestling has one o f
the best overall coaching staffs in
the country, across all levels.”
The starters for each weight
class have been selected, but may
be subject to change as the sea
son progresses. Before the sea
son started, there have been some
problems w ith minor injuries
amongst the group. A few wres
tlers won’t be able to participate
until later in the season. The look
out, however, is still hopeful.
“We expect our guys to carry
the banner o f teams past and
o f this institution onto the mat
every single competition,” said
Rhoden. “We have a proud his
tory o f success and we expect to
continue that, starting Saturday.”
This year the competition
schedule will allow Cougar wres
tlers the opportunity to travel
all over Oregon. They will also
get to see parts o f Washington,
Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and
finally cap off with the NCWAA
N ational
C ham pionships
in
Iowa. Cougar wrestling is vying
Richard Black III, a Jreshmcm frójn Stockton, Calif., puts the hurt on Highline’s Ben Tynan on his way to a first round pin in 4:19 at the 197 pound weight
class. The Cougars won all buf one match Saturday in a commanding 45-4 victory over Highline at Randall Gym.
for a third straight Region 18
Championship, w hich would
be a fir.st in school , history.
o f every wrestler that competed.
“We got a bunch o f falls, and
some bonus point wins, which
is good,” said Rhoden. He was
not disappointed at all in the one
match that the Cougars lost.
“We knew that lad was tough,”
said Rhoden. “The kid he wrestled
from Highline is an All-American
from last year who is currently
ranked sixth in the country. We
thought we could wear him out,
but unfortunately we didn’t wres
tle mistake free.”
A few Clackamas wrestlers
were getting used to dropping
pounds in an attempt to wrestle at
a lower weight class.
“That was my first time cutting
Clackamas 45, Highline 4
The
C ougars
dom inated
Highline in the first match o f the
season, losing only one match on
the way to a convincing 45 to 4
victory. Clackamas head coach
Josh Rhoden was glad tq finally
get a real-match under their belt.
“It was good to see our guys go
out and get that first one in,” said
Rhoden. “They’ve been grinding
and beating on each other for a
couple months. It’s good for these
guys to get their feet wet; we have
a lot o f new guys.”
Rhoden liked what he saw out
down to weight, from 200 to make
174,” said sophomore Trent Noon
o f Oakdale, Calif. “It was a really
hard weight cut. I was a little slow,
so I just stayed back and made
sure I got the win.”
Freshman Richard Black, from
Stockton, Calif., also is adjusting
to a new weight class.
“Cutting weight was hard, try
ing to get used to a new weight
class that I didn’t wrestle at in
high school,” said Black. “I felt I
wrestled a little sloppy. I know I’ll
get better as the season goes on
and I get used to the weight class.”
Black was succinct and to the
point in talking about why the
Cougars have been successful.
“We’ve got a good team, we
work real hard, and we are a fam
ily,” said Black. “We’re all getting
used to college and everything,
working hard trying to be the best,
trying to be No. 1.”
Rhoden talked about several
ways that the public can follow the
Cougar wrestling team throughout
the season as they travel all over
the Pacific Northwest.
“People can follow us online
through our team Facebook page
or the CCC athletics page,” said
Rhoden.
Joshua Dillen and Andrew
Millbrooke o f the Clackamas
Print contributed to this report.
Cougar XC 4th at NWAACC Championships
Andrew Millbrooke
Sports Editor
The Clackamas Community
College men’s and women’s cross
country teams ran well to grab
fourth place trophies in Saturday’s
NWAACC Championships at
Plantes Ferry Park in Spokane,
Wash.
“The men and women both
took fourth,” satid head coach Jarret
Mantalas. “Everything went about
as well as possible.”
Lane’s Elias Gedyon claimed
the men’s individual title with a
25:08 clocking for 8,000-meters,
finishing 13 seconds ahead o f
teammate Jacob Berkner (25:21).
Spokane’s Jessica Mildes ran away
with the women’s individual title,
winning the 5,000-meter race in
17:59 to finish 40 seconds ahead
o f second place finisher, Marren
Haneberg (18:39) o f team cham
pion Everett.
Everett dominated the women’s
competition, placing five runners
in the top seven spots to win the
NWAACC championship with a
meet low 21 points. Spokane (38)
took home the men’s team title
with a close win over Lane (48) and
Everett (51). Clackamas finished a
distant fourth with 89 points.
“Other guys had pretty good
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races,” said Mantalas. “We ran
well, but just got beat.”
As he has all season, freshman
Badane Sultessa led the Cougar
men with a fourth place finish in
a lifetime personal best time o f
25:25 for 8,000-meters. Mantalas
was pleased with the performances
out o f the men and he singled out
a few individuals for stepping up
with lifetime personal bests.
“Badane ran a pretty good
race,” said Mantalas. “Guys got
away from him, but he.closed real
ly hard and made a good effort o f it,
just getting nipped for third.”
Tony Gil-Juarez was the sec
ond runner for CCC finishing in
14th place in 26:02. Jon Obeso
(19th in 26:29), Zach Hibbs (25th
in 26:54), and Austin Peila (27th
in 26:55) completed the scoring for
Clackamas’ men.
“Zach ran out o f his mind,” said
Mantalas. “He’s been our number
six or seven guy all year and today
he was our number four with a
season personal best.” Gil-Juarez
and Peila both set personal bests for
8,000-meters.
Mark Medgin (34th in 27:37)
and John Doyle (46th in 28:00)
were the final Clackamas runners
across the line.
The Cougar women surprised
a few people with a fourth place
showing. The women were led by
the outstanding sophomore duo of
Grace Viuhkola and Cia Bywater.
Viuhkola (12th in 19:50) and
Bywater (13th in 19:51) finished
right next to each other near the top
o f the pack in the 5,000-meter race
to lead the Cougars.
“Cia and Grace ran really solid,
about as good a race us expected,”
said Mantalas. “We are all very
excited to be fourth.” Randi Chance
(31st in 22:01), Zaira Sanchez
(36th in 22:47) and Tiffany Forbito
(40th in 23:24) were the final scor
ing runners for Clackamas.
“Our women were fourth,
which is outstanding for the posi
tion w e’re in,” said Mantalas. “We
brought two track girls with us.
Tiffany ran out o f her mind, finish
ing very well and Zaira ran about a
minute and a half PR on the season,
which helped us tremendously.”
Another track athlete, freshman
Morgan Grubb, provided some
depth for the Cougars, finishing
47th in 25:19.
Team Results:
M en - Spokane 38, Lane 48,
Everett 51, Clackamas 89, Treasure
Valley 141, Green River 174, Clark
228, Highline 253, Mt. Hood 264,
Olympic 276, SW Oregon 293,
Skagit Valley 300.
W omen - Everett 21, Spokane
58, Treasure Valley 72, Clackamas
132, Mt. Hood 147, SW Oregon
152, Lane 162, Olympic 212.
No. 274 freshman Badane Sultessa leads teammates No. 272 Austin Peila
and Jon Obeso earlier this season. Sultessa was the Cougars’ top runner
in every meet this season, placing fourth at the NWAACC Championships.
WEDNESDAY 11/14
THURSDAY-11/15
FRIDAY11/16
M0NDAY11/19
TUESDAY 11/20
• Horse Racing:
• College
Basketball: OSU
• CCC Men’s
Basketball: vs.
• CCC Women’s
Soccer: NWAACC
• CCC Men’s
Basketball: vs.
• Randall Fitness
Center: Monday
Beavers at Alabama,
In New York at
4 p.m. on ESPN2
Northwest Indian
College at 7 p.m. in
Randall Gym
semifinals vs.
Spokane CC at
Starfire Stadium,
Tukwila, Wash.
Bellevue at 2 p.m. in
Randall Gym
- 8:30-10 a.m. and
1-6 p.m.
• Randall Fitness
Center: 12-8 p.m.
live racing from
Portland Meadows,
1 p.m. Wed., Sat.,
Sun.
• Randall Fitness
Center: 8:30-10
a.m. and 1-8 p.m.
• NBA: Houston at
Portland, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY-11/17
• CCC Wrestling:
Best of the West
Open in Ashland
SUNDAY-11/18
• CCC Wrestling:
Best of the West
Open in Ashland,
9 a.m.
on Tuesday and
Thursday