The Clackamas print., January 25, 2017, Page 9, Image 9

Wrestler acclimates to Northwest
BY TOM BOGGESS
W hen Ralph Tovar’ s w restling team w as jerked
out from under him , he decided to take a break
from his goals and he eventually left Grand Canyon
University. Tovar had two buddies that started at
Clackamas right out of high school. Tovar decided to
relocate to this area. He was staying with his friends
about 10 blocks from campus, so he decided to try
out a class or two at the college. One thing led to
another, and Tovar began wrestling for the Cougars.
TCP: Where are you from originally?
Ralph Tovar: I was born in Visalia, California, and
went to high school in San Diego. When I graduated
I was ranked sixth in my weight class for senior. I
had a couple of offers. ButGCU was just starting out
with a new program, and I thought it wouldn’t be
too tough, but the coach was pretty tough.
TCP: What was it like for you w hen you found
out your wrestling program was dropped by GCU?
Tovar: It w as a giant shock to me and all the
wrestlers. When something you have been doing
since you were five years old is suddenly pulled out
from under you, well I didn’t know what to do. We
were all taken aback at what happened, and all the
wrestlers on the team really had no idea where to
go or what to do about it.
TCP: How did you end up w restlin g here at
Clackamas?
Tovar: It was crazy actually. A lot of things aligned.
I was having a tough time at GCU, and I was thinking
about taking a step down for a year to try and get
m y w its about again. My two buddies, Colt and
Andrew, were both wrestlers. We all went to the
same high school and they were already going here
to CCC. I talked to them after.doing a couple of other
recruiting trips, so I just came and stayed with my
buddies. When I came here to CCC they were still
in a semester, so I got in on a class late and took
two online classes. I called my mom and canceled
m y flight and just took a little vacation.
TCP: What has been the hardest thing for you to
adjust to since you came to Oregon and joined us
here at CCC?
Tovar: Well yes, like today it started snowing; and
being used to San Diego and then Phoenix where
weather is not really a factor, I really didn’t pack
the right clothes after living where I have been. All
my jackets are dirty, too.
TCP: W hat, if any, kind o f problem s has this
relocation caused for you?
Tovar: Coming from the sixth biggest city in the
U.S. and living where I did, and then leaving to come
here has been a giant change of pace for me., I am
used to the big city living.
TCP: When you finish here do you have any goals
set for yourself?
Tovar: I don’ t want to spoil or waste any of the
gifts I’ve been given, so wrestling will definitely stay
in the picture. I want to keep my options flexible
but with a goal in mind. Right now I think I would
like to be a teacher, so I want to get my degree and
wrestle for a four-year college.
Tovar
Cougars pin historic finish
BY TRAVIS DAVID V WHITTAKER AND KRISTEN WOHLERS
On Jan. 4-5, Clackamas Community College’ s
wrestling team traveled to Fort Wayne, Indiana
for the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships
and brought home their fourth consecutive dual
meet crown after crushing the No.. 1 nationally
ranked Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 23-9 •
With the win, Clackamas won its fifth overall
crown since 2011.
Clackamas came into the tournament ranked
sixth overall in the country for NJCAA division.
Other results and big w ins for the Cougars
in clu d e d d e fe a tin g i8 th - r a n k e d B arton
Community College 35-14. Also, in the quarter-
fin a l round, C lackam as d isp atch ed No. 3
nationally ranked Iowa W estern Com m unity
C ollege 35-9. And in the sem ifin al round,
Clackamas defeated No. 2 nationally ranked Iowa
Central Community College.
The team went on to finish their regular season
undefeated after a 38-4 win over North Idaho
College on Saturday, Jan. 21; The team achieved
an overall Dual Meet record of 16-0 and the record
for the most wins in a season, surpassing the
1989 team who went I5“ i “ l-
This is the first undefeated wrestling team in
the 48-year history of the sport at the college.
The team was scheduled to wrestle once more
at the Pacific University Dual on Feb. 1, but that
has been canceled.
The team w ill now begin their postseason,
ranked No. 2 in the nation. They will compete in
the West Region Championships on Sunday, Feb.
12, at Southwestern Oregon Community College
in Coos Bay, Oregon. The NJCAA Nationals take
place on Feb. 24-25 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
photos courtesy of Clackamas Athletics
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