TRAPPER WRESTLING READY FOR APODACA DUALS

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

After two weekends off from competition the Northwest College wrestling team is set to get back on the mat this weekend, now rested and prepared for the Apodaca Duals on Friday and Saturday.

"We had two weekends off which is unusual, we should have only had one, but we had two and that's fine. We've been training, we don't have injuries — we're in good shape, so we feel good about moving into the weekend," coach Jim Zeigler said.

The weekend will begin with a ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday honoring the memory of Brooks Apodaca, a team captain of the Trappers in the 1997-98 season who tragically passed away in the spring of 1998.

During that ceremony, one Trapper from this year's team will be named the Apodaca Award winner.

In attendance at the awards ceremony will be former and current Trappers, alongside Western Wyoming coach Art Castillo, a former Trapper and teammate of Apodaca's.

"Art was Brook's teammate so this means a lot to him, and I know that he shares it with his team," Zeigler said. "I know it means a lot to him, and so I appreciate that we do it together every year. We stand out there and give the award together. I just appreciate it."

Following the ceremony, the Trappers will take to the mat in Cabre Gym for the first time since Nov. 8, matching up with Northeastern Junior College for the second time this
season. 

In the first contest, the Trappers won 31-19 in Sterling, Colorado.

"I expect that they'll be tough," Zeigler said.

Zeigler said he is hopeful the team can find a way to use the emotion of the evening to perform at their best.

"Every year we do that award and we go back in the locker room, we try to gather. I've just got to figure out a way to try to channel it," Zeigler said. "Hopefully we'll channel that emotion into competing at our very best, which is what Brooks Apodaca represented."

At noon Saturday the Trappers will match up with top-ranked Western Wyoming for the third time this season after two tough losses in the first two meetings.

Zeigler said the team is continuing to train and take it one day at a time through the week.

"We concentrate on the day, concentrate on the task in front of us that day. We don't look too far ahead," he said.