2022-2023 Northwest College Wrestling News

Northwest Trapper athletes pose with their awards after their end of year banquet on May 2. From left: Anna Knight, Brash Emery, Juan Pablo Camargo, Elsa Clark, Darla Hernandez and Aziz Fayzullaev. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY SETH ROMSA
TRAPPERS HONORED WITH YEAR END AWARDS

May 11, 2023

Northwest College hosted its Trapper Athletic Awards Ceremony on May 2, honoring the various programs at Northwest after a successful year.

Aziz Fayzullaev battled his way to a national title at 174 pounds, becoming the first Trapper to win a national title in five years. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY STEVE MOSELEY
TRAPPERS RETURN TO THE PEAK

March 09, 2023

After a couple years of rebuilding, the Northwest College wrestling program proved it still belongs at the top of the NJCAA wrestling conversation. NWC battled through a season unlike any other to bring home a national champion, four All-Americans and finished 10th as a team at the NJCAA National Tournament this past weekend in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Brady Lowry (left) heads to the national tournament at 149 pounds as a returning All-American from the 2020 season. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
NWC WRESTLING HEADS TO NATIONALS

March 02, 2023

Northwest College wrestling set out on the road for the NJCAA National Tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa, taking six wrestlers with high goals to the final tournament of the year this Friday and Saturday.

The Trapper wrestlers hold their runner-up trophy at the Plains District Championships on Saturday. From left, Jim Zeigler, Gus Harrison, Brady Lowry, Bobur Berdiyorov, Aziz Fayzullaev, Josh Womack, Ryker Blackburn, Kendell Cummings, Cody Todd, Chris Cooley, Cody Pinkerton and Orrin Jackson. PHOTO COURTESY SHANNON PINKERTON
SIX TRAPPERS ADVANCE TO NATIONALS

February 23, 2023

The Northwest College wrestling team took another important step in the rebuilding of its program over the weekend in Sterling, Colorado, finishing second as a team at the Plains District Championships on Saturday and qualifying six individuals to the NJCAA National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Aziz Fayzullaev and the rest of the Trapper wrestling team head to Colorado to the Rocky Mountain Regionals on Saturday with a chance to make the national tournament in two weeks. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
TRAPPERS HEAD TO QUALIFIERS IN COLORADO

February 16, 2023

After three weeks off following the Apodaca Duals, the Northwest College wrestling team is set to head off to Sterling, Colorado, to take part in the Rocky Mountain Regionals this weekend.

The Apodaca Award is presented to Ryker Blackburn, flanked by former Trapper coaches and award winners during the Apodaca Duals on Friday night. From left: George Laughlin, Brady Lowry, Art Costello, Blackburn, Jim Zeigler, Travis Carter, Bobby Robins and Steve Knopp. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
TRAPPERS BATTLE DURING APODACAS

February 02, 2023

Top talent from across the nation made its way to Powell on Friday and Saturday to take part in the 24th annual Apodaca Duals — where Ryker Blackburn was named the Apodaca Award winner, the No. 7-ranked Trappers battled with top 15 teams and Brady Lowry made his long-anticipated return to the mat.

Kendell Cummings (right) and Brady Lowry have both been recovering from a bear attack in October, with Lowry set to return for the Trappers this weekend at the Apodaca Duals. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY SETH ROMSA
LOWRY RETURNS FOR APODACAS

January 26, 2023

Northwest will return home for the final time this season, hosting the Apodaca Duals for the first time in two years after the event was canceled last year due to COVID-19.

Ryker Blackburn pins down his opponent during a dual with MSU-Northern on Jan. 10. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
NWC FINISHES 4-2 AT NATIONAL DUALS

January 19, 2023

Making its way to Miami, Oklahoma, the No. 7-ranked Northwest College wrestling team came up against top competition at the NJCAA National Duals on Friday and Saturday — finishing 4-2 at the premier event.

Bobur Berdiyorov holds down his opponent during a dual with Montana State University-Northern on Tuesday. Berdiyorov is the top-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds in NJCAA. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
NORTHWEST COLLEGE WRESTLING RUNS OUT OF GAS

January 12, 2023

The first dual back from Christmas break proved too difficult, as the No. 7-ranked Northwest College wrestling team ran out of gas and dropped a dual to NAIA Montana State University-Northern 32-19 on Tuesday night.

Aziz Fayzullaev (left) battles with Western Wyoming’s Christian Smoot during the Joe Mickelson Memorial Wrestling Open in November. Fayzullaev defeated Smoot in a No. 1 vs No. 2 matchup on Friday in a dual in Rock Springs. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
NWC WRESTLING DROPS TOP-10 MATCHUP

December 15, 2022

One final match before the winter break brought an intriguing top-10 matchup for the No. 9-ranked Northwest College wrestling team, which dropped a tough contest against No. 2-ranked Western Wyoming 33-14 in Rock Springs.

Avery McSpadden holds down his opponent during the Joe Mickelson Memorial Wrestling Open in November. The Trappers head on the road for a top-10 showdown on Friday in Rock Springs. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
TRAPPERS WIN MONTANA DUALS TWO PLACE AT BATTLE OF THE ROCKIES

December 08, 2022

After heading into the weekend expecting to drop a pair of duals in Great Falls due to injuries and illness, the No. 9-ranked Northwest College wrestling team pushed through for a pair of dual wins 36-18 over No. 15 Snow College and 34-23 over Dickinson State on Friday.

NWC WRESTLERS HEAD TO MONTANA
NWC WRESTLERS HEAD TO MONTANA

December 01, 2022

Northwest College wrestling coach Jim Zeigler is putting the health of his wrestlers above the team record.

NORTHWEST TRAPPER WRESTLING SPLITS ROAD DUALS
NORTHWEST TRAPPER WRESTLING SPLITS ROAD DUALS

November 25, 2022

Northwest wrestling went back on the road this past week, heading to Sterling, Colorado, where the No. 17-ranked Trappers split a pair of duals — losing to NCAA Division II school Chadron State 31-18 before defeating hosts No. 11-ranked Northeastern Junior College 30-20.

Cody Pinkerton (right) battles during the Joe Mickelson Memorial Wrestling Open on Nov. 5. The Trappers went on the road and took down No. 4-ranked Northwest Kansas Tech on Nov. 10 in Rock Springs. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
WRESTLING TAKES DOWN NO. 4

November 17, 2022

Starting its season on the road for the next two months the No. 17-ranked Trapper wrestling team made its way to Rock Springs to take on No. 4-ranked Northwest Kansas Tech and walked away with a 28-21 victory.

Bobur Birdiyorov takes down his opponent from Montana State-Northern en route to a title at 141 pounds at the Joe Mickelson Memorial Wrestling open in Powell. TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
TWO NWC WRESTLERS WIN HOME OPENER

November 10, 2022

Northwest College hosted the Joe Mickelson Memorial Wrestling open on Saturday to open its season — with Bobur Birdiyorov and Aziz Fayzullaev claiming championships in their respective classes.

NWC WRESTLING CONTINUES TO BUILD IN 2022
NWC WRESTLING CONTINUES TO BUILD IN 2022

November 03, 2022

Heading into the 2022-23 wrestling season, Northwest wrestling is hoping to continue rebuilding as a program after a couple of years decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.