Cougars take down the competition
CLACKAMAS REMAINS UNDEFEATED AS SEASON WINDS DOWN
BY JAR ED PREBLE
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
It’ s been a long wrestling season for the Cougars.
W ith over h alf the season already wrapped up,
they head into the final three meets of the season.
Their hard work and sportsmanship has not gone
unrewarded, as Clackam as Com m unity College
w restling currently stands w ith a record o f 13-
0-0. They have a fantastic win streak that meets
the expectations of all who know what the team ’ s
really about, though these last few meets as well
as the championships will determine if the team
can stay focused and finish strong in order to top
their 17-0-0 season from last year.
Head coach Josh Rhoden said he is happy with the
season thus far, and believes that with the right
amount of hard'work the team can finish strong
at nationals.
“We gotta do everything the right way and live
our lives the right way for 30 days and give ourselves
the best chance we can,” ^said Rhoden. “ I think
they’re good enough to do really w ell.”
W ith a team as explosive as CCC it ’ s hard to
discern those that perform w ell w hen everyone
exceeds the mark, though according to Rhoden
it’ s Isaiah Diggs that has really stepped up to the
plate this season.
“ He hasn’ t lost a junior college com petition,”
said Rhoden. “ He’ s been a rock for us and he just?
quietly does his thing. That’ s:probably w h y he
stands out. He’ s not in anyw ay inferior to anyone
on our team, he’ s just quiet. He does everything
you ask him and it’ s showing up for him big tim e.”
Diggs believes working the weaker areas rather
than th estron g ones helped him perform better
this year.
“ I’ m working on finishing singles,” said Diggs.
“Trying to finish more than just shooting a double,
‘cause everyone knows I’ m gonna shoot a double,
so I’m just trying to be more versatile on my feet,
which m eans working with the coaches on my top
and bottom game as often as I can. ”
Diggs said he finds it rather difficult to pick out
the best of the bunch, understandably so.
“ I’ve alw ays been th e type o f person to say
everyone stands out you know, we all have our
unique styles, w e’re all different and that’ s what
makes us so good,” said Diggs. “ It’ s hard to pick
out just one person.”
Diggs believes it’ ll fa ll not just on him , but
everyone bn the team including those not starting.
Diggs specifically believes the key to success will
be remaining focused throughout the season.
“ On paper we have the talent to w in ,” Diggs
said. “ It’ s what I’ve been saying all year. It’s just
going to come down to if everyone steps up and
does their job.”
Gage Harrah; 197-pound starter, is also satisfied
with.his team ’ s performance and said a great deal
of it can be accredited to their conditioning as well
The Cougars w ill go to th e W est Region
Championships on Feb. 11, and then will be onto
the National Junior College Athletic Asscociation
Championships from Feb. 23-24.
photos by Jonathon Sanchez
‘We gotta do everything the right
way and live our lives the right
way for SO days..."
- Josh Rhoden, Head Coach
as their volume of practices.-
“ Our team overall really focuses on conditioning,
said Harrah. “ Putting in those two-a-day workouts
in the morning and in the afternoon helps a lot.
We’ve really come together as a team. Just being in
the room together everyday and grinding everyday
together has really helped u s.” B
Jasiah Williams grappled his opponent in the
Clackamas Open Jan. 21.
Isaiah Diggs scrambled to score a takedown in the Clackamas Open on Jan. 21.
Clackamas Print
theclackam asprint.net
---------------------------------------------- ---
January 31, 2018