Cottonwood High Wrestlers Fielding Small But Strong Team
Feb 13, 2015 05:54PM ● By Catherine Garrett
The nine-member Cottonwood High wrestling squad includes Jacob Knapp, TJ Wilson, Krew Williams, Thomas Ollis, Jackson Bruce, Styles Smith, Alex Rodriguez, Bayrum Alimov and Tolic Boardman. New head coach Trent Weibel is also pictured.
The Cottonwood High wrestling team began the year with more than 20 wrestlers, but that number is now just nine in its first year under new head coach Trent Weibel.
“It’s very, very tough to have such a small team,” assistant coach Tom Ollis said. “It’s typical to start with a lot of wrestlers initially, but as they see the commitment and work that is required for this sport, many drop off. There is simply no halfway in wrestling.”
Despite the numbers, the Colts have been led this season by team captains Jacob Knapp and Thomas Ollis. Knapp, a senior, has won three titles at meets this year in the 126-pound weight division with two other top-five finishes while Ollis, who is a junior, has two wins by pin while placing in the top three at three other meets in the 132-pound weight class.
Knapp won the Granite District Tournament Nov. 26 to begin the year, with Ollis placing third. At the Layton Tournament Dec. 5-6, Knapp came in fifth. Knapp claimed the title at the Glen Kawa Tournament Dec. 13 with Ollis coming in third.
Knapp won by decision at West Dec. 16 and then placed third at the Viewmont Tournament that weekend.
Ollis pinned his opponents to win at Taylorsville Jan. 8 and then at Granger Jan. 15.
At the Uintah Tournament of Champions Jan. 9-10, Ollis reached the semifinals while Knapp got through to the quarterfinals.
Weibel joined the program after volunteering and assisting on the coaching staff for the past 11 years at Taylorsville High. He was a three-sport athlete at Juan Diego Catholic High School from 1999-2002 and began wrestling when he was cut from the school’s basketball team his junior year.
“I believe wrestling is the best sport out there,” he said. “It’s you versus one other person; man versus man.”
Weibel is thrilled to be at Cottonwood, saying he was “meant to be here.”
Also on the Colts squad this season are TJ Wilson (113 pounds), who won a match at the state tournament last year, along with Tolic Boardman (106 pounds), Krew Williams (113 pounds), Bayrom Alimov (120 pounds), Alex Rodriguez (126 pounds), Jackson Bruce (138 pounds) and Styles Smith (170 pounds).
Weibel is assisted by Ryan Moore and Tom Ollis on the coaching staff.
Cottonwood will compete in the Divisional Tournament at Alta Feb. 5-6. The 5A state tournament is scheduled for Feb. 13-14 at the Maverick Center.
