By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

OREGON CITY, Ore.–  After all the blood, sweat and tears.  After months of hard work on-and-off the mat to get to this point, it’s finally the big week for the Clackamas Community College Wrestling Team.

It’s time for the NJCAA National Tournament!

As they leave for Iowa at 7am Wednesday morning with ten athletes ready for battle and to continue their streak of eighth-place or better at the National Tournament, the two-week lay-off in between the Regional Tournament and now the National Tournament has helped this young squad for the big dance.

“The team is looking good,” said Cougar Head Coach Josh Rhoden.  “(They’re) healthy, rested and prepared for what we have in store.  Our mind set is the same as it has been to simply focus on the task at hand.

“The last two weeks of training have been useful in a number of ways: to help us stay sharp, get healthier and a bit of rest this week leading into the Championship after last week of hard training.”

Though young and hungry, guys who’ve been at this tournament, like a Brandon Johnson, John Morin and Chris Garcia, have been sharing stories from their experiences to give the newbies about this stage with valuable information as they prepare for battle.

On top of that, said Rhoden, the luxury of having some of the programs Alums along with his personal experiences as coach from what they’ve witness on top of the current wave of Clackamas Grapplers, have gave a fountain of information for the youngins who are attending their first National Tournament.

“This info is valuable for guys who will be there for the first time,” said Rhoden.  “That said, we have had them in tough environments and events all year long and this is no different in any way.  Simply put its more wrestling matches and we are really good at wrestling.  (It’s) time to go be great!”

As for their streak, which stands at nine-in-a-row of Top Eight finishes, ten-in-a-row with finishes in the Top 10 following their second-place finish in the National Tournament in 2015, expectations and the goals for this year are high to say the least.

To win it.

With all it with all the blood, sweat and tears they’ve shed to this point and Rhoden and assistant coach Rich Vigorito believe that this group has what it takes to win the programs third-ever National Championship and second in the Rhoden Era and nab it against the Nation’s toughest competition at the Community College-level.

“I firmly believe we have to set our goals high and aim for a Championship because we have trained, sacrificed and lived with that goal in mind,” said Rhoden.  “This team is one of the best groups of guys myself and Coach Vigorito have had and they really deserve to be National Champions based on the work they have done.  It is now our job and theirs to go out and take what is ours.”

THE TEN WRESTLERS GOING TO NATIONALS FOR CLACKAMAS:

WT         Wrestler                              Regional Finish

125         Devaughn Sapien             (1^st)

133         Michael Knoblauch          ( 3rd )

141         Zech Bresser                      (2nd )

149         Chris Garcia                        ( 2nd )

157         John Leal                             (1st )

165         Brendan Harkey               ( 3rd )

174         Tommy Brewster             ( 1st )

184         Haszell West                      (1st )

197         John Morin                         ( 1st )

285         Brandon Johnson             ( 2nd )

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81