Wrestlers pin OSU deal
BY DOUG FRY
After years of endless training, ^¿11 of the
hard work has paid off for two Clackamas
Community College wrestlers. Freshmen
Kurt Mode and Colt Doyle both signed
with the Division I Oregon State Beavers
to continue their collegiate w restling
careers next season.
Both Mode and Doyle expressed how
signing w ith Oregon State is a great
opportunity.
“.It’s been a goal of mine since I started
getting serious about w restling,” said
Mode. “ I was at my first Oregon State dual
when I was like six or seven, so it’s a huge
deal. It’s where I’ve wanted to go forever.
I’ve dreamed about it since I was little.”
Doyle has always had his eyes set on
w restlihgat the Division I level.
“ Growing up, wrestling was always the
way to get stuff done,” Said Doyle. “ I’ve
always wanted to get wrestling to pay
for going to school, being a DI athlete; I
just didn’t know how. Growing up, that
was just like such a far goal. It means
graduating with no debt. It means a lot,
but at the same time everyone doesn’t
think it means a lo t?’
Division I wrestling will be a whole new
scene, but Mode still plans to be the best
on the mat^
“ I’ve always set my eyes on an [NCAA]
Division I title ,” said Mode. “ I’ m one
year slower than I expected, but it’ s still
my goal.”
Doyle also realizes what the next level
entails.
“ Obviously at the next level there’ s
tougher guys, tougher opponents, tougher
workouts, tougher mindset,” said Doyle.
“ But your job as a wrestler is to get a
degree, then kick everyone’s ass. That’s
just a realistic standpoint o f what a
wrestler does.”
Eleventh year head coach Josh Rhoden
is used to seeing talent leave Clackamas
early, but he knows it means his staff is
doing what they need to.
“ W e’re heading the direction that
we expected to ,” said Rhoden. “ It’ s
som ething that we’ve dealt with over
the last five years. In Kurt’s case, you’re
losing someone after only having them
for one year. Him, Colt and Chris Garcia
(another guy who signed w ith Fresno
State already) as well. It’ s just kind of
showing the upward trajectory where
we’re hoping to continue to be.”
When measuring the success of himself
and his coaching staff, Rhoden does not
want to look at results, but rather the
future of his wrestlers post-Clackamas.
“ Our hope is always that winning is
going to be a byproduct of what we do,”
said Rhoden. “ What I mean by that is yes
it does matter, it’ s athletics, it’s college
athletics, it definitely does matter; but
the focus for us is trying to get better
every day, every week, every month and
if we can stick with that we’re going to
keep doing w ell.” .
The wrestlers have had a lot of help
along the way as they’ve gotten to where
they are today.
“ D efinitely my fam ily;” said Doyle
about those that have contributed to his
success. “ My brother beating me up when
I was little just to make me tougher now,
my dad working overtime to get us money
to go to camps, my mom making dinner
(stupid meals that my dad wanted us to
eat to be on weight), God giving me the
opportunity to wrestle and be decently
talented at it—enough for me to get my
scholarship is pretty amazing.
“ My coaches, Rhoden, high school
coaches, teammates. It’s everyone that
you don’t think about that adds up a small
portion and makes you who you are.”
Mode, who jum ped around in high
school, also had a lot of support that led
to being signed with the Beavers.
“ Everyone in my com m unity,” said
Mode. “ I went to three different high
schools and everyone has been super
supportive’ My coaches...Rhoden has
helped a lot this year.”
The wrestlers plan on taking care of
business at Clackamas with similar goals
this season: they both want to win their
own individual national titles-along with
adding another team title to Clackamas
Community College’s record.
photo by Doug Fry
Top right: Kurt Mode (left) and Colt Doyle sport their new OSU gear.
Below: Fans gather at Gill Coliseum at Oregon State on Sunday, Nov. 20, for a dual meet against University of Michigan. Both Mode and Doyle will wrestle here at OSU
next season.
'Gatkam as Print NOVEMBER 30,2016 thedackarnasprintcorn Î