THE C L A C K A M A S P R IN T
| JA N , 2 8 / 2015
|
V O L , 48 ISSUE 10
7
Top ranked Cougars
fall for first time
Story and photo by Katie Archer
CCC wrestler Chris Garcia, bottom, faces off with Southern Oregon Universitys Tanner Canaday on Saturday, Jan. 24, in an inter-association exhibition.
he agony o f defeat This week brings a
new lesson for the Cougars as they pick
up their first two losses of the season.
Prior to Saturdays dual against
second-ranked N orth Idaho College and NAIA, sec
ond-ranked Southern Oregon University, the num ber
one ranked Cougars were 13-0.
Clackamas wrestlers faced off with two teams Sat
urday, Jan. 24, for a dual held in the Randall Gym.
The dual came down to a dramatic sudden death
finish in the heavy weight match. Clackamas Com m u
nity College’s John Morin, nationally ranked sixth, bat
tled N orth Idaho’s Taylor Komoely, nationally ranked
first
M orin h ad to win his m atch for CCC to win the
d u al Cougar country was loud and their excitement
was felt by Morin.
“I was jacked pum ped with everyone yelling,” said
M orin. Just like the excitem ent Cougar fans’ disbelief
hung in the air w hen CCC received its first loss.
L>own by two, the dual m eet came down to me,”
said Morin. “I was disappointed w hen I lost”
There wasn’t tim e for the Cougars to think about
the loss, as the Southern Oregon dual was approaching
quiddy.
“It was a hard transition especially after that dose
one,” said head coach Josh Rhoden.
After losing his first match, 7-4, in the N orth Ida
ho dual, Robbie Rizzolino bounced back and destroyed
Southern Oregon’s Frantis Llorente 15-0 in the 141
weight match.
Rizzolino, ranked fifth nationally, said, “I felt m ore
warm ed up in the second match. Felt okay in the first
match. Recouped for the second m atch to finish strong.”
The 174-weight m atch brought an interesting twist
to the dram a unfolding in Randall Hall.
Both CCC’s Dylan Reel and Southern Oregon’s
Brock Gutches are ranked No. 1 in their respective as
sociations.
Reel and Gutches also knew each other from wres
tling activities last summer.
“I have a great deal of respect for him,” said ReeL
Gutches walked away with the w in and a scratch,
which the two guys joked about after the d u al M inor
split second mistakes were the difference in the match,
and Reel knows he is able to identify those mistakes.
Regardless of a tough weekend, the Cougars still
have their confidence and heads held high.
“Keep improving when it matters most, at the end
of the year/ Rizzolino said. “Hopefully, we’ll finish
strong and be ready for nationals.”
Two starters were out due to injuries and resting
for the end of the year. This did give the Cougars u n
wanted forfeits during the dual.
Coach Rhoden said, “Still just practicing for Febru
ary and the National Championships.”
N orth Idaho will likely be an opponent seen at
Regionals and Nationals. M orin said, i get closer and
closer every tim e I wrestle. Next tim e should be better/
O n Thursday, Jan. 29, the Cougars will be at War
ner Pacific in Portland at 7 p.m. The Cougars will pre
pare and attack the West Region Championships in
Coeur dAlene, Idaho, on Feb. 13 and the NJCAA Na- "
tional Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, on Feb. 27
and 28.
W ith the dual behind them, Reel said, “I want to
thank our guys for really fighting in adversity. It says a
lot about our team.”