Airey Bros Radio Episode 411: 2025–26 NJCAA Wrestling Season Preview Roundtable | Western Wyoming, Indian Hills, Iowa Central & Clackamas - Airey Bros.'s Radio

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Airy Bros. Radio be there or b
Square because it's all killer, no.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Filler, ladies and gentlemen, Howdy and aloha. We are here,
You are there, and you are now rocking with the best.
Thanks for tuning into another live episode aery Rose Radio. Tonight,
we're going belly to Belly for the ABR twenty twenty
five twenty twenty six NJCAA wrestling season preview, highlighting the

(00:30):
top junior college wrestling programs in the nation. Before we
get rolling, y'all know the drill. This is a value
for value show, So if you're getting any value at
anything we're doing over here, please give us a little
value back. Check out that link by us a coffee,
make sure you hammer that like button. End are subscribed
on YouTube, drop a comment, every view, review and share
helps us grow and get back to the sports we love.

(00:53):
Follow us on Instagram at aerb Brose Radio. As always,
this episode is fueled by Black Sheep Endurance for all
your own tra marathon and nutrition coaching needs, and as always,
we're here to shine a light on the coaches, programs
and athletes we wish we had access to growing up
as we were going through the recruiting process. If you're
a wrestler looking for the next level fit, this episode

(01:14):
is for you. All right, ladies and gentlemen, we are
rocking and rolling here tonight. We got a great lineup
with some of the top coaches in the NJCAA. It's
joining us at seven o'clock. We'll kick things off with
the number five ranked Clackamus Cougars and head coach Brett
Sanchez coming off the national runner up finish and another
powerhouse Region eighteen title run. At seven to twenty, the

(01:36):
number three ranked Iowa Central Tritons with head coach Luke Moffatt,
a seven time national championship program, continuing to reload with
elite returners and top level recruits. At seven point forty,
the number one ranked defending national champions Indian Hills led
by coach head coach Cole Spree, is joining us fresh

(01:57):
office set in the NJCAA all time points record in
twenty twenty five, and to close it out at eight o'clock.
At eight o'clock, the number two ranked Western Wyoming Mustangs
with coach head coach Art Castillo, multi time national champion program,
returning for another loaded roster. All right, let's get rocking

(02:18):
and rolling.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
How you doing tonight, sir.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
I'm doing good, doing good. How are you guys doing?

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Doing great? We're doing great. Excited to chat with you,
and way back when we had josh on a while
back before he departed to go to the Beavers, but
we know a little bit about the program and we've
been following along. Jimmy and I are both junior college
All Americans myself and cross country Jimmy and wrestling, so
we love we love the junior college experience and what

(02:46):
it does for athletes, and we're excited to chat with
you this evening.

Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yeah, so you guys are Juco products. I'm a Juco
product as well. So that's it, my catty, you guys.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
So coach, how's the season treating you guys?

Speaker 4 (02:58):
So far? So right now, everything's going pretty well. We
you know, we've had two weeks of competition. November first
was opening weekend for US. We went to the to
the Mountaineer Weekend at Eastern Oregon University where we had
duels on Saturday and open on Sunday. And then this
last weekend, we we dueled our conference opponent, Southwest Oregon

(03:19):
Community College on Saturday and then at my clock on Sunday. So, uh,
we put our guys a little bit through a ringer
with back to back competitions. Uh, you know, weigh ins
on the past two weekends. This weekend we have a
really big matchup against Southern Oregon University. They're currently ranked
like six in the country right now in an EYI. Uh,
they recruited really well and have a good team coming back.

(03:42):
So we were only giving these guys a Saturday duel
and then let their boys recover a little bit before
we got to quarterline next weekend.

Speaker 3 (03:51):
What's the what's the difference with this year's team?

Speaker 4 (03:55):
I would say this year so far, like everybody's been
bought in from top to bottom, you know, and really
early on too. I would say the last couple of years,
I think, you know, a lot of the you know,
especially junior colleges, other programs they go through with the
people individuals kind of you know, I think they haven't

(04:16):
figured it out figured out a little bit, and then
it always takes like somebody humbling them a little bit
at a tournament for them to you know, come up
to you as a coach like, hey, coach, what am
I going to do to be better?

Speaker 1 (04:27):
You know?

Speaker 4 (04:28):
And and it's like, hey, we've been we've been telling you,
you know, fast couple of months now, you know. So
I would say right now, I mean we we start
off on a really good foot with our first team
meeting early September, and uh yeah, just the buy in,
the culture, it's been firing off and all cylinders really
well right now. So yeah, I can't complain right now, honestly.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
Coach, here are the key guys that who we need
to know about this season.

Speaker 4 (04:57):
So let's let's say like national turning all American wise.
You know, we have Reggie Raiz. He made the Semis
for US in twenty twenty four, finished fifth place. We
had him red shirt last year, and he's coming back
this year as.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
A year three guy, ready to go, ready to make
some noise.

Speaker 4 (05:15):
I think they kind of have a ranked number two
in the country right now, but he's doing a good
job being a year three guy. And we also have
Henry Dillingham. Henry Dillingham was a returning national finalist for
US last year a one hundred and fifty seven pounds
and he actually put on some good size right now,
So right now, we have him wrestling one seventy four,
you know, so those are like I would say, our

(05:36):
top two returning All Americans that we had, and we've
had some really good transfers and really good incoming freshmen
as well too. We had a transfer come to US.
I think we decided to red shirt with them this year.
But we had Jeremiah Zuniga. He's All American for North
Idaho twenty twenty four, So we're gonna have him red
shirt this year and kind of get his feet back

(05:58):
underneath them and try to make some noise next year.
But I'd say freshman wise, we had Parish for Paris.
Weis from California. He's a Buchanan kid. Took second the
state in California. You know, Flow had him ranked as
a top ten kid. He had a big time win
at the California state tournament. I would say Kelby Bernard.

(06:20):
He's a kid from Allen, Texas. A couple of times
n H State All American, three time state medalists. He's
doing really well for US right now. He'll be wrestling
one twenty five for US and another one. Damian Montoya,
another California kid from Buchanan High School, he's an inn
NHS All American as well too, in place at the
California State Tournament. Transfer Wise, we got Aaron Conception. He's

(06:44):
gonna wrestle one sixty five for US. He's originally from
Alaska and he wrestled at CSU Pueblo last year and
he transferred to US and he'll be wrestling one sixty
five for US. Like I said, and other than that,
we have a couple of incoming freshmens that are really
tough too, that we're really excited about. We have Luciano Lopez,

(07:05):
he'll be wrestling one to eighty four for US. He's
a couple of time Fargo All American, US Open All American,
a couple of time medalists here in state of Oregon.
And Elijah Josie he's another one from Maryland, you know,
National Prep All American, NH All American, and we have
him wrestling one ninety seven for US. And we have

(07:27):
another kid at heavyweight named Mark Marrin. He's from Clovis, California,
and wrestled at Clovis High School. Three time California State medalists,
two times Super thirty two medalists, Fargo All American.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
You know, so we graduated a lot of guys.

Speaker 4 (07:41):
We don't have a lot of returning All Americans like
we usually do, but we were really excited about the
incoming guys that we have right now and guys that
are coming back next that are coming back this year,
that red shirt for us last year.

Speaker 1 (07:53):
Looking to make some noise for.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
Us, Able to tap into your Clovis roots to get
that heavyweight.

Speaker 4 (07:59):
Yeah, and so yeah, we got a good connection over
there with the Clovis Clovis community. You know, myself, me
and a Clovis alumni and my associate head coach, avenue
Ver Merrow.

Speaker 1 (08:09):
He wrestled at Buchanan High School.

Speaker 4 (08:11):
You know. So there are the top dogs in California
right now, three miles away from my high school.

Speaker 3 (08:16):
You know.

Speaker 4 (08:16):
So we've been able to pull in some some Buchanan
kids the last few years over here.

Speaker 1 (08:21):
And yeah, I can't complain. Man, those guys can wrestle.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
What's the key to getting to the East coast? Guy?

Speaker 4 (08:29):
So I would say that happened in twenty and eleven.
So I wrestled here. I was Josh Roden's first California
recruit back in twenty nine, twenty eleven and twenty eleven,
we actually Coach Roder was able to get Cake and
Hanglovic from Pennsylvania. And you know, that's all it takes,

(08:50):
is just one individual from that one state to come
over to a program have a good experience, and then
you know, it just puts more attention to our program
from those states, and uh, you know, then we go
reach out to our resources over there from those states,
and you know, and it's all been a good experience
for a lot of people. So uh, it makes a
little easier for us no one with our tradition and

(09:12):
our history. But obviously, you know, myself and my coach staff,
we still got to sell it, you know, so they
gotta they gotta fill us out, and I think it's
a good fit for them, and we got to do
the same for us too, because we're very particular.

Speaker 1 (09:25):
On who we want to bring in over here.

Speaker 4 (09:27):
And uh yeah, man, I mean we can't complain with
with the California connection and the East Coast connections we've
been having over here. And it's fun because you know,
with junior college everything like that, you're still getting like
that four year experience and having kids from all around
the country. Uh, and in one wrestling room, you know.
So yeah, you know, there's no complaints over here with

(09:48):
our connection over there with the East Coast?

Speaker 2 (09:50):
Is there some some regional trash talking going on in
the room at all?

Speaker 1 (09:54):
Always? Man, always, that's a funny.

Speaker 4 (09:57):
Part, right, Like it could be about anything with you know,
just in California and general. Right, Like we we typically
have like close kids in here, Buchanan Kids, Gilroy Poway,
you know, those are usually the top programs in the state,
you know, So we're always you know, going back and
forth each each weekend pretty much. And then you know
with the California and the East Coast teams, like you know,

(10:20):
there's a little bit of rivalry, like Pennsylvania, we're the
toughest state. In California, we're always going to back ourselves
up to and just.

Speaker 1 (10:27):
Like we get a kick out of it. Man, it's
pretty funny.

Speaker 4 (10:30):
And just seeing the different cultures and the different slangs too,
like you know how some people say certain words that
are you know, pretty common, you know, So it's pretty
fun in here.

Speaker 5 (10:39):
Man.

Speaker 4 (10:40):
We try to have a good time and then these
guys are building relationships, so we're nice.

Speaker 3 (10:45):
Coach you mentioned you like to give the kids a
four year experience. And you also said that you have
a third year guy who's an All American and you
have a returning All American and then a transfer that's
an All American. How much does that help? Having those
guys who are a little bit more our season that
have been there for the freshmen they like look to them.

Speaker 1 (11:04):
In the room. It's huge.

Speaker 4 (11:06):
It's really huge, and it's it's huge for the guys,
and it's huge for us as coaches too, just having
those three year guys that's been through the gallet a
little bit and uh, you know, you know, talk about
the three year guy that's been here. They know our
coaching style, they know our expectation, our standards, and how
we want things ran and operated, you know. So it's
really nice when they do take that initiative and they

(11:28):
do take that role to speak up and help like
the incoming freshmen or even some of the transfers at times,
you know, because it could be different for some transfers
where they came from and how they operate, and maybe
that's why they left it because you know, it wasn't
it wasn't something that they thought it was going to
be like, you know, so it's it's really benefit to
have those three year guys in here that's been with us.

(11:49):
And then at the same time, you know, having somewhere
like air Conception, a really good kid went to a program,
didn't didn't feel right for him, but you know, just
bless to have another opportunity to do it over here
with us, and being around a group of guys that
are have the same mindset and the same goal and
the same ambition, and uh, you know, just having somebody

(12:10):
that's a really talented wrestler and walking and talking what
we're preaching. It's been really huge for our income and
freshmen to step in and just kind of and walk
the line, you know, And yeah, it's a huge benefit.

Speaker 1 (12:23):
It's it's it's been nice.

Speaker 3 (12:26):
You also mentioned that you guys don't just take anyone.
You're really looking for a certain fit. What is that
certain fit that you're looking for.

Speaker 4 (12:35):
For a lot of things, man, Well, first, you know,
we we want you to make the program come first.
You know, every anything that we have set practice times,
fundraising events, social gatherings, study halls like that's your first priority,
you know. And if they could do that, if they
could fit the mold with that, that's a big step

(12:56):
for us, you know. And and really, you know, when
you you decided to make the program come first, like
you're not doing this for you, You're doing it for
the brother next to you, and and you're doing it
for you know, the incoming freshmens that are that are
watching us as well too. So we really just want
those type of guys that are coachable and we want

(13:17):
them to you know, where this program on their sleeve.

Speaker 1 (13:20):
You know.

Speaker 4 (13:21):
We we have this little slang called COE and that's
clack miss wrestling over everything. And uh, you know, if
those guys are down to do that, and when they're
here on the recruiting trips, like we we go through
this whole PowerPoint with like how we want things, ran,
the standard, the expectation, and pretty much I tell them
right after the PowerPoint, if this is a problem for

(13:42):
you that you guys can't follow, then let me know.
There's no hard feelings and h but this is something
you guys that you can follow. Will continue with this
with this recruiting trip and uh, so far, you know,
everybody's been digging the Coe mantra. And yeah, you know,
so that's kind of we want those guys that make
the program come first to come over here and step in.

(14:02):
And usually if they do that, it's a good experience
for everybody.

Speaker 3 (14:06):
Rich we're in that.

Speaker 4 (14:09):
Hey, I usually don't tell anybody what that means. You
got to be in the circle. So you guys are
in the circle, all right, all right.

Speaker 2 (14:15):
All right? Coach, with the gentlemen that are red shirting,
is that a conversation that that you approach them or
does the athletes come to you with with that mindset.

Speaker 4 (14:26):
It's a little bit of both, I would say, you know,
we we it. I would say, yeah, it's a little
bit of both where we have guys that come in
here and they kind of have that expectation right off
the rip, you know, and and sometimes we're on the
same page with that as well too.

Speaker 1 (14:44):
But there's times.

Speaker 4 (14:45):
Where guys, one example, that want to do that, but
they're coming in here and they're looking really really good,
and uh where they could be a guy for us.
At the end, you know, we go, hey, you know,
this is what we're thinking, and uh, this is what
we think is best for you and for us. Again,
you know, we're trying to make the program. We're trying
to put the best ten guys out there. So there's
those conversations where, you know, sometimes you got to have

(15:07):
those talks, like, you know, we want you to go
for it, and there's those talks where we're kind of
stacked up in a couple of weight classes and we
really like this kid and we think he could be
somebody for us, and it'd be kind of silly for
us to have, you know, two or three, you know,
four guys going out at that weight class when we
could have one freshman red shirt and continue to develop

(15:29):
and just kind of have like a little, you know,
a little easier passageway to be the guy the fallowing year,
you know, And that's kind of a hard conversation because
sometimes those guys are like, well, Coach, I think I'm
ready right now, and I'm like, yeah, you are, you
know you are. But you know, we we have we
do have two three guys already that's upperclassman, and we
kind of like what they're doing. But at the same time,

(15:51):
you know, things could change, Like so we still take
these guys to the opens and see how they compete
and if they're if they're still in the show and
they're kind of doing their thing and competing better than
the guys that we have there in there right now,
then that's a different conversation that we're gonna have.

Speaker 1 (16:05):
You know, so we really kind of played by ear.

Speaker 4 (16:08):
We kind of have a good idea going into the season,
and then we kind of re evaluate, you know, how
preseason's going and how the opens are going a little
bit early November December, and then you know, right after
the first semester. Then if we got to make a change,
we'll make a change. If not, then we'll continue with
the game plan that we had set out since preseason and.

Speaker 2 (16:28):
With the one fifty seven pound or was he was
he a big guy to begin with or was that
a clackham his bulk jobs a.

Speaker 1 (16:35):
Little bit of both, a little bit of both.

Speaker 4 (16:38):
So yeah, we uh, we had a nutrition coach here
last last couple of years who really got our guys
buying in on being one grass fed and uh, you know,
so the last couple of years, our guys have been
really disciplined on being grass fed beef, gra grass fed
steakes and just organic with everything.

Speaker 6 (17:00):
You know.

Speaker 4 (17:00):
So we we trained year round, we practice, we weightlift
year round. So we've had like Henry Dillingham, like he uh,
you know, he had to cut a little bit to
get down to one fifty seven last year. I still
always tell him, like that's probably your weight class, you know,
if he move on to the next level. But he
did put on some good size. He got up to
like you know, the high eighties, you know, or low
nineties with just weightlifting and being grass fed, you know.

(17:23):
So uh, he's he's liking them one seventy four life
right now, just being able to feel good and uh,
you know, we'll see, we'll see how things go. We're
looking at possibly lett him go down to sixty five.
So Reno just because he you know, he thinks that's
the weight class and we do too. When he does
transfer to a next school, he just kind of want
to showcase what he's going to look like at that

(17:44):
weight class. Uh, to those four year schools when we
go compete with some good competition.

Speaker 2 (17:50):
So what artists some of the you mentioned, Reno, you
mentioned the duel with Southern Oregon. What are some of
the key dates we should keep an eye out for.

Speaker 4 (17:57):
Yeah, so, uh, Southern organ obviously, like said next week
and it's always a big one. We're gonna go to
Quarterlane to do our our North Idaho, our longtime rival.
You know, as you guys know in Northido is always competitive.
They're always in the mix as well too. It's always
good to have you know them in our conference because
it makes it fun.

Speaker 5 (18:16):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (18:16):
They're the only team we do a home to home
with every year, so we always get a we always
get you know, a good kick going over there. And
they do a really good job with their community, you know, uh,
selling out and and making it fun. You know that
their their community likes to get on our guys a
little bit.

Speaker 1 (18:34):
So our guys always.

Speaker 4 (18:35):
Enjoy going over there and trying to wrestle put on
a good show for that community and for our program.
And uh, you know obviously you know, like I said,
in the in the National Duels, that's always a big one,
or the n JCA Coaches Association Duels that's always held
like early mid January, and that's in Old Miami, Oklahoma,
you know. So that's a good time for us to

(18:56):
go see other n j c A programs that we
don't get to see throughout the year here in the
Way Coast. And that's always a good one man. And
there's a really good matches, really good battles that uh
you're you're you're you're grateful to see so you could
go back home reevaluate, uh, you know, clean some things up,
and really try to make a push right there in
February March to make a run at the postseason.

Speaker 3 (19:20):
Coach, I got one last one for you. You were
stepping into a heavy role. You guys were three time
national champs when Coach Roden left. Four time Sorry sorry, sorry.

Speaker 1 (19:30):
Good coach would have got upset if you said that.

Speaker 3 (19:33):
I'm upset that I forgot. What was that like for
you taking over that position, knowing how what kind of
role the team was on.

Speaker 1 (19:44):
Honestly, just a soup I was. I was very excited
for it.

Speaker 4 (19:47):
You know, if you guys didn't know, I was associate
head coach here with Coach Roden from twenty nineteen to
twenty twenty one, and obviously coach wrestling for him as
well too, So I got to.

Speaker 1 (19:58):
Be in here and see every thing.

Speaker 4 (20:00):
Uh you know, i'd ie and and just see how
he operated and how everything went on the business side
of it.

Speaker 1 (20:07):
You know.

Speaker 4 (20:07):
So when he decided to take that role at Oregon State, uh,
you know, I was the first choice to to take
over this program, and you know, It was immediate yes
for me, because one what this program meant for me
as a student athlete, and then coming here and coaching,
helping the helping the Cougars out win national titles and
just getting guys to a good experience and moving on

(20:29):
to four year schools.

Speaker 1 (20:32):
Yeah, it was it was you know, like you said,
it was a big role. And uh, you.

Speaker 4 (20:35):
Know, as I was getting hired, you know, there was
a lot of excitement, like I was gonna be able
to keep this thing going and and uh, you know,
win five wins, six, win seven, everything like that. And
uh and truthfully, yeah, man, we haven't gotten the job done.
And you know, and that's what kind of makes it
a little tougher, right because I feel like, you know,
a lot of expectation and a lot of standards, uh,

(20:56):
with me being hired was to keep that thing going,
and we've been super close. Year one was obviously tough
because of the new transition, but twenty twenty four we
came in forth after winning national duels, so we thought
we had a really good team to get the job done.
But as you guys kind of know, luck always has
to kind of go with it. You know, there's injuries,
things that are out of your control that kind of

(21:17):
can put some you know, stops to that. And then
last year with us being the runner ups, you know,
so we're trending in the right direction. But I've learned
a lot in this position where it's less I'm more
of the CFO, you know, instead of being on the
mat as much as possible and trying to handle everything

(21:37):
physically behind the scenes business wise. But I have a
really great coaching staff and we've been together for the
last three or four years now, you know, so I've
been putting a little bit more on them so I
could handle you know, the business side behind the scenes,
you know. And so I feel just very grateful with
the experience and the mentorship that I got with Coach

(22:00):
road In and just me kind of just learning, uh
at the same time day to day each year. And
I feel like we're really close and uh, you know,
I'm feeling I'm feeling my groove here in this head
coach position here at Clark.

Speaker 6 (22:13):
Coach.

Speaker 2 (22:13):
I got one last one for it's sort of wrestling
related sort of, uh, just n J C A and
then n nw A C. So we cover cross country
and track and field as well. Over here, and as
we're deep diving into all this stuff, we know that
Clackamis competes in the n j c A A, but uh,
the n w n w A C has a championship

(22:36):
for a cross country uh and that sort of stuff,
and we have the three C two A as well.
Is that just because there's not as many schools in
the Pacific Northwest that have wrestling? Is why you guys
are doing the n j c A.

Speaker 4 (22:52):
No, that's a that's a great question, you know, that's
a really good question. You know, we I think, you
know for because yeah, all our sports here on campus,
they're all in the n w ACA they call it
the in wax.

Speaker 1 (23:04):
And uh, you know, and we're the only one the
n j c A.

Speaker 4 (23:08):
And you know, I really wish I had an answer
for that because we do have you know, us Southwest
Oregon call we're all in the n j c A
with all the other ones still being in the in
wax from those institutions as well too.

Speaker 1 (23:23):
I think it's just more of.

Speaker 4 (23:24):
Like a like a financial uh thing for the institution
to feel good to be fully in j c A.
I kind of, you know, I would like for us
to all be in j c A because I don't know,
I just I just think it's a you know, better
opportunity to compete nationally.

Speaker 1 (23:41):
But uh, you know, these.

Speaker 4 (23:42):
Students over here are still getting opportunity and they're still
you know, getting an education, and uh they're still they're
still having a good experience competing is something that they love,
you know, and and still finding an opportunity to transfer
to for your institution if it's in j c A
or if it's in the in WAX you know. So yeah,
I really wish I had an answer for that, and

(24:05):
you know, maybe one day I will.

Speaker 2 (24:07):
Yeah, in no worries. I was just curious because, like
I said, we were covering cross country and you know,
I know, Lane Community College just had a good tradition
across country track and field, and I was wondering why
we didn't see them in JCA. And I started deep
diving and I was like, oh, I didn't even know
the n WAX even existed, But it seems like it's
kind of like the California system.

Speaker 4 (24:26):
Yeah, big time, I gotta find a good A quick
little story, we had a student athlete wrestling for US
and he became a multiple sport athlete for US. You know,
we we we you know, preseason, we're doing these two
mile twelve minute challenges where you got to run two
miles under twelve minutes, and we did, you know, these
four mile runs all the time. And we had an

(24:47):
individual who ran two miles in five minutes and fifty
seconds and and just like, excuse me, not five minutes
and ten seconds, you know, so, I mean, that's that's solid, right.
So and he ran a four mile in like twenty
eight minutes, twenty seven minutes, I can't remember. And I

(25:08):
just pretty much reached out to the track lacross country coach.
I was like, hey, I got a guy over here
who's you know, who could do something.

Speaker 1 (25:14):
Will you guys be interested?

Speaker 4 (25:15):
And you know, so he was able to go over
there and compete at the end wax for these guys
just this last weekend over and Spokane, and uh yeah,
it was like one of the top five.

Speaker 1 (25:25):
Runners for the team this year, you know.

Speaker 4 (25:27):
And I just thought it was cool, right, just like
something that we're doing pre season. He came in here
thinking he was you know, he's a full time wrestler
and now he's going to be a two sport athlete
here at clack him is, you know, and it's just
it's just really cool.

Speaker 1 (25:38):
It's really cool. I thought that was a cool little story.

Speaker 2 (25:40):
No, that's awesome and that definitely can increase marketability for
sure for a student athlete.

Speaker 1 (25:44):
That's big time.

Speaker 2 (25:45):
That's that's what Jimmy and I where we were. We
ran cross country and did wrestling and then I did
track in the spring as well. And you know, Jimmy
went the wrestling route in college. I went the running
route in college. So very cool to hear. I appreciate
you sharing that.

Speaker 3 (25:58):
Yeah, coach, thank you so much for your time everything
you said tonight, grass fed Steaks. Uh, We're in so
I can't wait to watch Cougars this year. And best
luck for the rest of the season.

Speaker 1 (26:12):
Thank you so much for having me, guys. I really
appreciate it.

Speaker 4 (26:15):
And uh yeah, I hope I can jump on with
you guys in the future.

Speaker 1 (26:18):
And remember Coe, you guys are in.

Speaker 2 (26:21):
A little bit coach, best of luck with the upcoming competitions.
Have a great Thanksgiving.

Speaker 1 (26:26):
Thank you you guys too.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
Take care all right, ladies and gentlemen. That was coach
Brett Sanchez from Clackamus Community College. Coach Luke Moffatt is
joining us from Iowa Central. We just had Dee Brown
on the other night, so we were excited to get
back to for Dodge.

Speaker 3 (26:40):
Thank you for joining us tonight, sir. It's a pleasure
to chat with you this season.

Speaker 6 (26:45):
Thank you you too.

Speaker 3 (26:47):
So coach, how is the season treating you so far?

Speaker 6 (26:52):
Good? We got a lot of a lot of guys
in the room that are hungry want to make their
you know, want to make their stamp on this year.

Speaker 5 (27:01):
And the.

Speaker 6 (27:04):
First tournament was pretty good. We uh, I think we
put twelve guys placing. He had four in the finals
and two champs, so that that was. I mean, it's
been good, I mean early, so I don't get too
worked up about early season.

Speaker 2 (27:25):
Did you uh got a little bit of snow this
past weekend.

Speaker 6 (27:30):
A little bit, just got to get the guys from
Arizona and uh, you know, from from Florida acclimated to Iowa.

Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah. Well, we were following along with coach d Brown
and the cross country Championships this past weekend, so we
uh we got to see all the runners enjoying the snowfall,
and uh, it was it was pretty tense. It reminded
me of my my junior college national championship experience in
nineteen ninety five, so it was very similar. So it
was fun to watch. But coach, what are some of

(27:59):
the key days? So we should be keenan on.

Speaker 6 (28:03):
I mean for us, I mean, I mean, each thing
is just a stepping stone to the national tournament. Like
I said, I don't I don't get too worked up
about duel meets or UH tournaments in the in the
beginning of the year. I just want to see progression
out of our guys and development and and uh, I

(28:24):
saw we we dueled last night. So we dueled Iowa Lakes.
I think n j c A rankings they were tenth
and and we I mean, I mean we beat we
won forty four. But I saw guys get tired. I
saw guys get behind early in the match and battle back,

(28:48):
you know, and get fall. For me, that's important. Now
I'm seeing, you know, a little bit of progression, and
that's kind of what we're looking at. I like seeing
guys battle some adversity in the match to see where
they're at. And I like seeing guys not do it,

(29:11):
you know, So if they don't do it, then now
I know, hey, there's something we got to work on.
If I see it, definitely praise them for that and
and build on that. But that's uh, it's just observing
first semester, second semester. It's guns out. We're going like

(29:33):
we're trying to win.

Speaker 5 (29:35):
Y'all.

Speaker 2 (29:36):
Have the duelist on the calendar for with Indian Hills
this year.

Speaker 6 (29:39):
Yeah, I think January twenty first, so it should be
that should be great.

Speaker 2 (29:45):
Is that a home or away?

Speaker 6 (29:47):
We're at home and it's it's a IPTV. I think
it's going to be there. So historically, you know, growing
up I vhs to every IPTV.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
We need to get those back in New Jersey.

Speaker 6 (30:04):
So I mean, for me, I'm like, heck, yeah, let's
do it. Let's do it. And now they're tough. I
mean we're tough. Well, I mean hopefully by then we
were tougher and and just uh give ourselves a chance.

Speaker 5 (30:23):
You know.

Speaker 3 (30:25):
Coach mentioned Indian Hills and being in the conference you're in.
Do you feel going into the conference tournament you guys
win that you're pretty much set for where you want
to be going into nationals.

Speaker 1 (30:36):
Uh No, No.

Speaker 6 (30:39):
I mean I don't give it. I don't I don't
care about a duel like, uh, I'm I'm I'm trying
to get my guys ready for the first weekend in March.
And I've had two time national champs that never want
a region So I mean, for me, it's like, there's
only one date that matters. Really the other days matter.

(31:01):
But if we don't win a regional title or if
we don't win in a duelmate, I'm in my guys,
You're tom You're you're gonna be a national champ. Like
that's it. I mean, I'm building them for the for
the main the main stage, not uh not not discrediting

(31:24):
you know, the things that come before it, but the
ultimate one is what you do at the you know,
at the national tournament.

Speaker 3 (31:31):
So yeah, could you've won seven titles at junior college level.
When people think of junior college wrestling, they think of
IOWA Central being there for as long as you've been
and being as dominant as you've been. Has anything changed
in your coaching in the time you've been there.

Speaker 6 (31:53):
No, I'd say the standard is there with what we're
trying to achieve. I would say the only thing that
changes is ways to go about getting there. You know,
if you had asked me twenty years ago. I coached
the guys twenty years ago a lot different than I

(32:14):
coach the guys now. And maybe maybe you know, I
don't think that's far off from what any other coach
would tell you. You can't stay the same. You have
to change, and you have to coach guys differently. You know,

(32:36):
each guy's different. You got one guy that will, you know,
run through a wall for you. You got another guy that
questions every decision he makes, and you have to build
confidence in that guy to to move forward and believe
he can do it.

Speaker 2 (32:55):
Because you have three returning all Americans correct.

Speaker 6 (32:59):
Uh three three of our own one transfer?

Speaker 2 (33:04):
Yeah, okay. Who who are the other key uh factors
that we should keep an eye on?

Speaker 6 (33:12):
I mean we got we've got a lot of good
young guys that are pretty tough, that are really really
uh ready to step in. I mean Drell Miller, we're
holding him out for a little bit for you know,
to get him ready. Chancery Dean Temu in the league,

(33:39):
Saint benanex prep guy. You know, we've got a lot
of new guys that are that are hungry, and we've
got some transfers that came in. But I think it's
this team, especially this year, they just don't care. I mean,
they's they're coming in working hard. It's kind of as
a coaching perspective of like kind of going back to

(34:03):
old school where guys just didn't care and worked hard.
You know.

Speaker 2 (34:09):
Coach, with the diversity of your roster of guys from
all over the country, is there a good healthy amount
of like regional or state trash talking.

Speaker 6 (34:21):
Maybe I don't pay attention to it. There probably is,
you know, there probably is, but I don't. I mean
for me personally, Like if a guy comes up like
talking about that stuff to me, I'm like, it doesn't matter.
I mean, we're I mean, are you gonna beat the

(34:41):
guy at the end of the year?

Speaker 4 (34:42):
You know?

Speaker 6 (34:43):
Is that that's the thing?

Speaker 3 (34:46):
Coach, You seem like you have a pretty good system
and being able to adjust for each individual athlete. Does
anything surprise you now? With what kids do.

Speaker 6 (34:58):
Well, I think they pick up on more things. You know,
and we don't coach a certain technique philosophy as far
as I've never been a big fan of that. Find
something in your wheelhouse that that works for you to
score points and master it, you know, get good, Like

(35:20):
you can be good at it, but master it, you know,
really really be good at it. Where coaches are coaching
their guys against what you do instead of coaching their
guys of what they should do to score points on you.
You know, it's just be really good at something. I mean,
if you're good on top, coaches are like coaching their

(35:41):
guys against you instead of coaching our guys out of
score you know. So my thing is, take what you're
good at, let's pour some sugar on it and make
it good.

Speaker 3 (35:50):
You know, great, great coach. What kind of student athlete
are you looking for? It? I was central.

Speaker 6 (35:59):
Somebody is not a fird. I mean, that's the biggest
thing is like guys come in, you know, somewhat afraid
of maybe working harder, committing to a lifestyle. And that's
a big part of it. You have to be willing
to commit to a lifestyle to be good at wrestling
or any sport if you want to be great. If

(36:21):
you're afraid of that, then I mean you can kind
of coax them into it, but you can't coach them
into deciding that lifestyle. They have to they have to
make their minds up to do that. You know, on
their own. So for me, it's uh yeah, I mean
I'm looking for people that are like heavily you know, driven,

(36:44):
like any other sport and and uh aren't afraid to
uh buy in.

Speaker 2 (36:50):
Coaches, the starting lineup solidified or you're still waiting for
some opens and some different things and maybe some wrestle
offs to solidify those spots.

Speaker 6 (37:02):
Yeah, it's it's it's it's uh, it's far out there,
far out I mean we're just in practice today. I
just got out of practice, and uh, you know, practice
is great, but I've had a guy that's been banged
up this year just got cleared and and he he

(37:26):
uh got after a guy today that I didn't I think,
you know, I didn't think it would happen, and uh
obviously you know that guy's hungry. He's he's been maybe
sidelined for a little bit, but he's uh looking to
claim that spot. There's competition, yeah, up and down the

(37:46):
lineup for sure.

Speaker 3 (37:49):
Couse, you talked about the first half of the season.
Not obviously you want to win, but you know it's
a long season and what matters is at the end
of the season. Can you just talk about that first
semester for kids coming in. How much of a builder
that is for freshmen in the system.

Speaker 6 (38:09):
Yeah, I got a buddy. He goes, Mofitt, what's your
dual record. I'm like, I don't care if my dual
record is Like, I don't even know my dual record.
I go these duel meets in the first semester, I mean,
we're this is an experiment, you know, experimental time. What

(38:30):
I care about first semester is I want to see
that guy that gets a lead early in the match
and is watching the clock late in the match and
doesn't wrestle that last minute. I want to see the
guy that it gets down by six and battles back.
I want to see There's so many scenarios that could

(38:51):
play out where I'm just looking for individual growth out
of all my guys. And I've had guys that were
I like wrote them off at the beginning of the
year that ended up being national champs at the end
of the year. You know, like several they weren't the

(39:12):
first string guys at the beginning of the year, but
by the end of the year they you know, they're
staying on top of the podium, and that I don't
think everybody gets that, but it's a lot of stoking
the fire, you know, seeing which kids are ready to
buy in more than others and building those guys up.

(39:33):
And even if they're not, uh, you know, blue chip recruits,
some of those guys can go a long ways.

Speaker 3 (39:44):
Winning the amount of national titles you have as a coach.
If you don't win a national championship, can you still
have a successful season.

Speaker 6 (39:55):
We've we've had guys that, you know, I always say,
go to the open tournaments. That's a free job interview,
you know, you know, go out and beat some of
these four year guys, and then all of a sudden
their coaches are calling us, Like they always ask the
same questions. You know, how are they you know, you know,
are they a good student? How good of a teammate?

(40:17):
Are they be like him? You know, I'm like, yeah, yeah,
they're good. Just happens to be. They got a national
champ or you know a guy, you know, national finalists
in front of them. I'm like, they're right where they
need to be. If I had one more year with them,
they'd win a national title.

Speaker 2 (40:35):
You have quite a few stories like that with gentlemen
that were you know, doing well at the opens, but
weren't weren't the guy that went on to have success
at a four year institution.

Speaker 6 (40:47):
Yeah, one hundred percent. We've we've always I kind of
tell the Phil Hawe story. Phil Hawes, Jersey guy, little
fairy New Jersey. He did all right, you know, he
will he won a national title, but uh, his first
year and he barely scored in the room. It was

(41:08):
hard on him, but he worked out training three times
a day. I'd be in my office at nine o'clock
at night. Lights are off in the hallway and my
door's cracked, and I'd see a shadow go by, and
I'd hear footsteps up in the wrestle room above the office,
and its Phil. He's up there, first third workout of
the day. He's going an hour stands in motion, you know,

(41:30):
and all in between rounds he's going, you know, max
and out push ups. Next year, Jared Platt from Penn
State transfers in. You know, Jared Platt Blair Academy was
like third in the country coming out of high school.
He transfers in Phil Hawes. Any other kid will be like, well,
I'm back up again for another year. Jared Platt ends

(41:54):
up you know, having some back issues is done for
the year. Phil Hawes steps in, he was owing two
at state tournament in New Jersey, steps in and uh
wins the national title and uh we we won the
team title that year, had broke the record at the
current time. And the next day he's like, coach, by

(42:16):
the time we get home, the gym I like to
work out in is gonna be closed after he want it?
So a kid like that, yeah, like some some guys
will be like, well, I'm not gonna get recruited, you
know this, or that. He didn't wait for his opportunity
to start training hard. He did it from day one.
We have a lot of guys like that, not quite

(42:37):
that extreme, but we have a lot of guys like
that that are looking for U schools to recruit them,
and and and and possible places that they could finish
their college education.

Speaker 3 (42:48):
So, coach, is there anything about the program or this
year's team that we haven't covered that you want our
audience to know?

Speaker 6 (42:57):
Oh, I mean, people ask me how we're gonna be
I said to ask me in January. You know it's
too early. There's junior college wrestling. There's a lot of
a lot of things. I think you know the team
that you know, you got to progress guys, and guys
have to do the right things. And it's not guaranteed.
We even though we got three number one ranked guys,

(43:20):
it's not guaranteed. They got to do the little things
day to day. I don't I don't think any I
don't know where Iowa Central is gonna be. But if
you ask me in January, I'll probably give you a better.

Speaker 2 (43:33):
Kind of view.

Speaker 3 (43:35):
All right, all right, could check out one last one
for you when we're waiting for coach Spree to get.

Speaker 2 (43:41):
In the room here.

Speaker 3 (43:43):
I don't know if you remember, but I took a
recruiting trip to Iowa Central. I was actually signed at
one point to go to Iowa Central in two thousand
and five. I wound up staying back east and then
wound up wrestling for Middlesex County College. But it's always
been great to watch you and what you've done with
the program since then. And we seen guys out of

(44:03):
National's reaping.

Speaker 6 (44:05):
Yeah, man, we we love New Jersey. We've had we've
always had a lot of Jersey guys come in and uh,
you know, it's a you know, like you know, it's
a lot different than I was in than Jersey. It's
a little more slow paced and older open field.

Speaker 3 (44:23):
Yeah it was. It was definitely a culture shark. We
went out there for the Open that you guys do
every year, and I remember my parents saying like, are
you sure about this? You sure about this? And at
the time, I was wrestling crazy. I'm like, they're the
best place to go, Like, what's there not to be
sure about?

Speaker 6 (44:41):
Yeah, we we Jersey story real quick, if if I
got time. Yeah, so we recruited David Greenwald.

Speaker 3 (44:48):
Oh I know Dave.

Speaker 6 (44:49):
So David Greenwald gets her, his dad calls me, He's like, hey, coach,
any chance David Carussell Burrows the first round of that Open,
and I was like, well, yeah, pretty sure it can
happen because we're making the brackets. So you wrestled Jordan
Burrow's first round, both true freshmen and Greenwall beat him.

(45:10):
First first tournament of the year for Burroughs and uh
and it was a rematch of the state finals match,
you know. So just kind of a little weird history there, but.

Speaker 3 (45:22):
Yeah, it did was tough. Yes, it was. I remember
now hindsight being twenty twenty, seeing all the future national
champs that wrestle there, all the future, all Americans that
wrestle their every division that wrestles there. Yeah, it was
pretty pretty impressive. And I will tell you my biggest

(45:43):
regret about going out there that weekend was even though
I was one hundred and twelve pounds there, I really
wish I would have wrestled in that tournament.

Speaker 6 (45:51):
It gets you in there, man.

Speaker 2 (45:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (45:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (45:54):
Coach Moffatt, thank you so much for your time. It
was good catching up with you, and best luck with
the rest of this season.

Speaker 6 (46:01):
Thank you, guys.

Speaker 2 (46:02):
Coach, have a great night. Good luck with the season
and the junior Thanksgiving.

Speaker 6 (46:06):
All right, thank you guys for what you're doing.

Speaker 2 (46:08):
Thank you appreciate it. All right, ladies and gentlemen, On
to coach Cole Spree from Indian Hills, the returning defending
national champions.

Speaker 3 (46:17):
We're excited to chat with you tonight. Catch up. How's
the season going so far?

Speaker 7 (46:24):
It's going pretty well. We've competed four times. We had
two duels, two conference duels, and then we had two
open tournaments.

Speaker 3 (46:33):
So how's it. How's the team, Wilkin, and how's that
everything with those duels and those two open tournaments turn
out so far.

Speaker 7 (46:44):
We're two and oh in the duel meets. We wrestled
Southeastern the first duel and then which is a brand
new program in Iowa, and then we just wrestled Ellsworth
last night, and then the two tournaments, we haven't been
able to get up everyone into the lineup. Still kind
of working through some things, but we wrestled tomorrow night

(47:06):
against North Idaho and we're hoping to have a few
more pieces in the lineup that we haven't seen maybe
early in the year.

Speaker 2 (47:14):
So man, y'all are running and gunning right from the gate.

Speaker 7 (47:16):
Huh Yeah. We go on like a little sprint at
the beginning, and then we're off after tomorrow. We don't
compete again until December third, so we'll just take some
time to sit back, reassess, and help some guys with
maybe samarias we need to improve on and finish up
the semester.

Speaker 2 (47:35):
Coach, you got two defending national champs. What's their mindset?

Speaker 1 (47:41):
I don't know.

Speaker 7 (47:42):
I mean, right now, just get better. I think that's
the thing that we preach to them. Just continue to
get better every day. And you know, as far as
like trying to defend something or anything like that. That's
not really our approach. It's just see how good we
can get and hopefully, you know, at the end of
the year they're in a position where they can do
something similar to what they did did last year.

Speaker 2 (48:03):
So, coach, what's what's unique right now about this year's
roster as you get ready to defend a national title?

Speaker 7 (48:14):
We're pretty much the opposite of last year. So last
year we were really really young and didn't have a
lot of experience versus this year, we have a lot
of experience back in the lineup, and so I don't know,
it's just different management of them, so just how we train,

(48:34):
how we go about things, and just what we're talking
about on a daily basis. But we still have some
young guys that were bringing along that we're going to
count on later. But yeah, just the demographic, you know,
as far as you know, age definitely as a switch.

Speaker 3 (48:50):
So having that experience in the lineup, does that make
your job easier as far as those guys kind of
taking on as an assistant coaches and pushing the younger
guys along.

Speaker 1 (49:04):
A little?

Speaker 7 (49:05):
But I think the biggest I think sometimes it makes
it makes it harder, you know, I just don't want
to allow them to ever become complacent just because they've
done it. They've accomplished something. We haven't accomplished everything, and
so just making them stay hungry all the time.

Speaker 3 (49:22):
So, could you guys feel any pressure with I believe
two in a row? Correct?

Speaker 5 (49:29):
Now?

Speaker 2 (49:30):
One?

Speaker 7 (49:30):
Women women have had five in a row. This was
our first one.

Speaker 3 (49:35):
So sorry, I gave you one without earning my bed.

Speaker 7 (49:40):
I would love to have to. But do you unfortunately
have one?

Speaker 3 (49:43):
So do you feel pressure or is it just a
new season? Last year was last year and we're here
to get another one.

Speaker 7 (49:52):
Uh not, really, we don't really. We haven't really talked
about it. I'm sure like the guys have talked about
it a little bit, but it's not something that we've
had like open discussion about, you know, as far as
like team coaches. We're just concerned with what we can control,
you know, we talked about that a lot, you know,
just doing what we can do to controlling what we

(50:14):
can control, you know, and that's just getting better every
day and having positive attitude. And no, you know, I
don't know, it's only November, so we haven't really I
don't know. I would hope that we can avoid thinking
that far down the line, you know, as far as March.
You know, I don't know. These guys do a pretty
good job of understanding, you know, just what it takes

(50:35):
to be successful, and you know, to be successful, you
got to take care of today, you know, and then tomorrow.
We got to take care of tomorrow, and then so
forth and so on.

Speaker 2 (50:44):
So coach, what new faces have impressed you so far
in the room.

Speaker 7 (50:52):
We've got some talented freshmen. May We got a little
twenty five pounder. He'll step on the map the first
time for US tomorrow. He competed and Open, but Charlie Dykes.
He's a transfer freshman out of Central Missouri. He won
the Grand View Open last year, and he dominated the

(51:14):
Milk and Open last weekend, and he's done great. Ali
Webb our little thirty three pounder out of Georgia, kind
of an unknown, a ton of talent. He won the
Simpson Open and then he got second last weekend, but
he beat a two time INNAI All American in the
Semis Jakari Clark. He beat a returning All American on

(51:35):
our team to get the starting spot right now at
forty nine. And then this last week and he actually
beat the kid that was the number one seed at
the NAI National Tournament from Campbellsville, a couple time All American.
So this early and in his career to have that
kind of success is pretty big. And there's a few others,
but yeah, those are definitely some guys that have really

(51:58):
stood out early.

Speaker 2 (51:59):
So got some good wrestlers coming out of Georgia nowadays,
don't they.

Speaker 7 (52:05):
Yeah, yeah, there's talent everywhere anymore. You know, you've seen
the club and then that's just the national scene is
I mean, people are traveling now so every sport.

Speaker 2 (52:15):
So a guy from Georgia he won to Fretwells guys.

Speaker 7 (52:19):
Now, he's actually out of a I think he trained
out of He's like close to the borders. So he
trained out of UTC University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. I'll say that.
I want to say it's like grindhouse or something. I'm
going to say the wrong club, but there was a
small club out of there. But he's just out of
a smaller area up in that northern part of Georgia.

Speaker 3 (52:39):
So, okay, speaking of that gentleman you mentioned, he wasn't
very well known coming into college. What's the key to
getting those kids.

Speaker 7 (52:52):
He actually had a guy in Centerville, in the small
town that we live in the Nilea that had moved
out to Georgia for a short period of time and
came across him kind of put our name, his name
on our radar we were recruiting them. Then we went
out to Senior Nationals and that was kind of his
first big national exposure and he made the national semi
finals out there, so definitely made a name for himself.

(53:14):
But yeah, just by chance connection, you know, just knowing
the right people to put this in the right direction.

Speaker 3 (53:22):
So what are some of the key matches that we
need to keep an eye on this year? Matches and
tournaments against the country nor on your schedule.

Speaker 7 (53:36):
Tomorrow night is a big one. And against North Idaho
they're traditionally I think I have won the most national
championships of any junior college program. So you they're a
little bit younger this year, but obviously somebody you have
to be prepared for all the time. I think I
was central and that's the enemy. That's that's the rival.

(54:00):
I can't call a rival yet just because we've only
done it once and they've done it a lot of times,
but definitely the team that I feel like in our
conference is who we compare ourselves to their they're kind
of the standard right now, even though we won the
national title. But they did a heck of the job

(54:21):
recruiting this year, and they're hungry, you know, they want
to They they're always relevant at the end of the year,
but I think they've gone a little bit of a
period without a national championship. And you can tell the
way they recruited this last offseason. They were on some hammers,
and so we're gonna get see them a lot, obviously
being so close to them. So I would, let's say

(54:44):
January twenty first against Iowa Central will be a big
duel and then we've added some cool things to it,
so i Will Public Television has decided to televise it.
So we were supposed to duel them maybe next week,
but because Iowa Public Television came in, we were able
to get in a line where we were able to

(55:05):
switch some some duel meets, and we're gonna go up
there January twenty first. It'll be televised, speed probably needed.
We'll probably walk into a pretty hostile environment, you know,
at their place, but be a great environment, great showcase
for junior college. I think right now we're both ranked
in the top three, and so if it stays that way,

(55:27):
it could be a big time duel.

Speaker 2 (55:32):
Yeah, we were just talking to coach mof but he
said the Iowa Public Television would be broadcasting. We were
joking about the old VHS tapes back in the day
that we used to get all the way all the
way in New Jersey. That was like a present that
my dad would get. Here. You get a couple of
duels with Iowa Oklahoma State or Iowa Penn State, and man,
we had so many good matches on those VHS tapes.

(55:55):
I think we post one of those online, Jim, we did.

Speaker 5 (55:59):
We did.

Speaker 3 (55:59):
I don't know which, but we did.

Speaker 2 (56:02):
I think they you and i and Nebraska. Maybe a
matt Linland was in that one.

Speaker 1 (56:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (56:11):
No, I think it's a really cool concept. They're trying
to like not but they're trying to put an emphasis
on non Division I programs and highlight some of the
premier I mean, we're pretty fortunate in Iowa. I think
we had five national championships between men's and women's last year.
Collegiate programs. Warburg Grand View US Men's and women's just

(56:33):
one other John Blake, but we have five, I believe.
And so if you had a lot of great programs
and so for them to be able to highlight some
of those. You know, obviously Iowa and you and i
and Iowa State are great, but just highlights some of
us that maybe don't get all the publicity all the
time in the state, but are really really successful programs,
pretty neat. You know last year they had Grand View

(56:55):
versus William Penn Women's. I mean that was two top
five you know, just just cool exposure for us, like
non divisional programs.

Speaker 3 (57:03):
So, coach you you mentioned the crowd and the guys
getting to wrestle in that big atmosphere. How important for
you as a coach to get those guys those experiences
in those big doal matches.

Speaker 7 (57:16):
I think it obviously pays dividends later, you know, in
the season, But I just think in life, you know,
wrestling is a tough, tough, freaking sport. You know, we
don't get a lot of opportunity to really you know,
showcase everything. We're in the restling room all the time
and we get very little time to really like highlight
what we're doing so, I think just from an opportunity

(57:38):
to just highlight all the work that we put in
and you get put in those neat situations, and I
think that's what the biggest piece is to me, is
just given them that opportunity you memories for later in life.

Speaker 3 (57:49):
So obviously, you guys are in a location where you
can wrestle a lot of different junior colleges. Do you
try to balance that out with going to opens and
wrestle on other divisions or do you want those guys
to wrestle all the guys are going to wrestle in nationals.

Speaker 7 (58:07):
We try to do a little of everything. Obviously, we're
going to see all the Iowa schools and duel meets,
so I'll be honestly, we don't go to a lot
of open tournaments that have a lot of the Iowa
junior colleges, so we will think we only hit one
open in the state of Iowa. So we'll we'll venture
out of the state of Iowa just to go see

(58:28):
some different schools and some we want to see junior
colleges because obviously it helps with you know, seating and
stuff like that later on in the year. It helps
our conference us seeing those other schools and those other
junior colleges. But then we also want to see those
different four years because it might open up opportunities for
the kids, you know, the guys beyond their time with us.

Speaker 2 (58:52):
So coach with the national title trophy in the trophy case, now,
is that help recruiting this past year?

Speaker 6 (59:02):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (59:03):
I mean I can't hurt, you know, definitely hurt from
kids that we There is more. It wasn't like a ton,
but there was more that reached out to us, more
of those high level kids that reached out to us
versus before. You know, it never hurts to be able
to say we've done it, we know what it takes.

(59:24):
We know you know, you know the magic recipe that
you might need to be successful. And you know, the
best want to be around the best, and so they
know how tough our wrestling. You know, our are the
competition is just in our room and uh and that's
the only way you elevate your game, that's the only

(59:46):
way you get better. So yeah, I definitely think it
helped us. Uh, you know, being able to show them
the trophy and show them you know that's success is
possible here and you know all those things so absolutely.

Speaker 2 (59:58):
And with the ever changing lands gape in Division one
sports these days, with n I L roster caps and
you know, potentially junior college seasons not counting towards NCAA eligibility.
Have you have you noticed an uptick in that regard.

Speaker 7 (01:00:15):
We I lost in that area because I feel like
we were pretty transparent about you know that's not true yet.
You know, you don't get those years. And I don't
know if that was happening everywhere. And I don't want
to accuse, but I was very forthcoming with parents that
that is something that's been discussed but not past. And

(01:00:38):
I don't want a kid to come here and then
think one thing and then leave and find out another
thing and then have a bad taste in their mounds
about Indian Hills or a program or any of those things. Yeah,
I think that. I think it could benefit us in
the future.

Speaker 6 (01:00:57):
Though, So.

Speaker 3 (01:01:00):
Is there anything about the program this season that we
haven't covered that you want our audience to know?

Speaker 5 (01:01:07):
Now?

Speaker 7 (01:01:07):
I mean, we are who we are, you know, we
we We're We're still a new program. You know, this
will be our sixth season, but we're doing a pretty
good job. I feel like establishing ourselves and really you know,
building a brand, you know, versus four years ago, five
years ago, when we're nothing. I think people are realizing

(01:01:30):
just kind of we'll just create more of a presence.
And so now I think and man, everything's kind of
out there. You know, we were not changing who we are.
You know, we're going to continue to have a successful program,
but we're going to also continue to have you know,
successful student athletes. You know, last year we were number
one in the country as far as athletic sense, and

(01:01:54):
then we're number two in the country academically. And we're
just we're about the kids or about the building young
adults and you know, really establishing them so that they
can go out there and they can kill it later
in life and come back and tell us some awesome stories.
And so now I don't I think it's pretty much

(01:02:16):
everything's out there about you know, we're starting to finally
build a face and be recognized.

Speaker 3 (01:02:23):
And so coach you. Tomorrow's dual match is going to
be uh broadcast yeap.

Speaker 7 (01:02:30):
So it's Go Hills TV, but it's branched underneath the
Iowa Media Network. It'll start at five thirty pm Central
Time because they've got to get back up to North Ida.
Who's got to get back up to Des Moines. They
wrestle at Grand View the next day. But while it's
being broadcasted, it's free. You can just click brows and Yeah,

(01:02:54):
Iowa Media Network, we do a great job. They do
a great job of production. With production, I think we
have one of the US media outlets there is as
far as streaming in the country at the junior college level.
We've got knowledgeable commentators and live scoring, live score o'clock,
everything on there all at once. And we've got a

(01:03:15):
smaller venue that we use, but pretty into it and
pretty fun and it gets loud and it gets rowdy,
and I think tomorrow night could it's earlier, so the
numbers might be people might not quite be off work,
but I think we'll still have a really good crowd.
We're going to recognize the national championship team and do
all that stuff.

Speaker 3 (01:03:32):
So Rach, I know what I'm doing. Yeah, coach, thank
you so much for your time. Best with the rest
of the season, sir, I appreciate it.

Speaker 7 (01:03:44):
Appreciate everything you guys do recognizing us smaller programs, So
thank you a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:03:49):
Absolutely, we appreciate that, and best of luck tomorrow night,
and enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Speaker 7 (01:03:54):
I appreciate it. Enjoy your Thanksgiving to you.

Speaker 2 (01:03:56):
Thanks siry, great night. All right, all that was coach
cole Spree. Now we got Art Castillo joining us from
Western Wyoming, and I believe he's on the road.

Speaker 5 (01:04:06):
How are we doing, guys?

Speaker 2 (01:04:07):
Awesome? How are you belated birthday? Coach?

Speaker 8 (01:04:10):
Oh, thank you, I appreciate it, Thank you so much. Yeah.
I didn't feel old until I work out a CrossFit
jam and after the workout they said, hey, you got
birthday burpies And it was forty seven of them bad
boys after the workout, So I was feeling a little bit.
But that's fun.

Speaker 2 (01:04:30):
What's your friend time?

Speaker 8 (01:04:33):
You know, I haven't done that one yet, just I'm
kind of a newbie to it.

Speaker 5 (01:04:39):
Okay, get into it.

Speaker 8 (01:04:40):
So cool, not full fledged crossfitter yet, but it's been
good for me.

Speaker 2 (01:04:45):
Good. That's good to hear. Jimmy and I are a
cross have been CrossFit coaches and so we've been around
the block a few times in the CrossFit community, so
it's nice to hear that.

Speaker 5 (01:04:56):
That's awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:04:56):
We're on the road too.

Speaker 8 (01:04:58):
So we're heading down to Snowke. We're gonna have some
duels tomorrow and then there's an open.

Speaker 5 (01:05:05):
On Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:05:06):
So okay, right, yeah, familiar with snow We just had
the cross country coach on. They just got forced at
the NJCA Division one Nationals on Saturday.

Speaker 8 (01:05:16):
Oh awesome, Yeah, yep, pretty cool, pretty cool.

Speaker 2 (01:05:19):
I have to give us the report on the on
the lay of the land down there. Jim and I
are looking at different locations to relocate, so that's one
of the places.

Speaker 8 (01:05:28):
Yeah, last time we spoke, you guys are supposed to
stop into the Rock Springs and check it out too, but.

Speaker 2 (01:05:33):
We haven't got out west yet.

Speaker 3 (01:05:34):
We're working on on the list. Don't don't think we
forgot you, coach. It's on the list. We just haven't
been out west since we last spoke.

Speaker 8 (01:05:42):
Yeah, the invite's still there, guys, so anytime you're ready, Thank.

Speaker 3 (01:05:46):
You, coach. How's the season treating you so far? We
know you're on the road right now, but how's it
been so far?

Speaker 5 (01:05:53):
You don't go good?

Speaker 8 (01:05:54):
Uh. We just had our first open tournament last Sunday,
School of Mines, and you know that's always good to
get out there and let all your guys rest and compete.

Speaker 5 (01:06:05):
So that was good. You know.

Speaker 8 (01:06:06):
We started out the season hosting Wyoming at our place,
which was fantastic. We actually sold out our arena. We
sold fourteen and fifty tickets. So yeah, that was that
was phenomenal. It was a it was an awesome event.

Speaker 6 (01:06:22):
You know.

Speaker 8 (01:06:24):
Well, I mean, he's really good, you know, so they
exposed us in many ways, but it was it was
fun for the fans and it was great experience for everybody.
And so that was a good way to start the year.
And and then we headed down to a revived program
colorad Our Northwestern and Rangely and had a duel there
on the sixth. And then, like I said, we just

(01:06:45):
had our first open tournament on Sunday at Mines and
so yeah, we're we're up and going.

Speaker 3 (01:06:54):
Coach, who are some of the key returners we need
to keep an eye on.

Speaker 8 (01:06:58):
Well, we have five return All Americans from last year.
Zach morero uh one thirty three, he was seventh last year,
Dimitri Ali corn Ala Cone was was second last year
national runner up, lost in overtime there and at one
forty one. And then Tommy Dalton bost in the finals

(01:07:19):
last year at one forty nine. Hicks and Canto was
sixth last year at one fifty seven, and Bank's Love
was sixth last year at one eighty four. And then
uh we had a couple returning well three round of
twelve vers or three excuse me, three national qualifiers two

(01:07:40):
rounded twelve vers as well, uh sixty five Banks Norby
was round to twelve. Franciscuayala is down at seventy four
this year, but he was around at twelve at ninety
seven last year, and he was actually a fifty seven
pounder that that we bumped up to fill a hole.
And then and then Sam May was our other national qualifier.

(01:08:01):
He was at one seventy four last year. So a
lot of championship experience.

Speaker 3 (01:08:06):
What's the key to keeping all those kids?

Speaker 5 (01:08:10):
You know?

Speaker 8 (01:08:10):
I we just create an environment where they just you know,
they want to be here. They love each other there,
you know, there's their brothers there, just just the campus
community is great, the community of Rock Springs and Swetwater County,
they just wrapped their arms around these guys, you know,
so they just still loved and and they get a

(01:08:31):
lot of attention and and uh, you know, we were
trying to meet all their needs and get them to uh,
you know, where they're what's next for him?

Speaker 2 (01:08:40):
Coach, With the upperclassmen lineup pretty heavy, you have some
new faces that might be looking to crack the lineup
this year.

Speaker 8 (01:08:50):
Yeah, yeah, you know our one twenty five pounder Stockton Allen,
he wrestled for like a total of three minutes last
weekend and winning the tournament. I think pinned his guy
in ten seconds in the in the finals of that tournament.
He's he's freshman from Stillwater, Oklahoma. And we have a
transfer in from Purdue in Trevin Gates at one ninety seven.

Speaker 5 (01:09:15):
And then we have two.

Speaker 8 (01:09:16):
Returners at heavyweight that that weren't in lineup last year.
We had the national champion, Tomorro and Lopez. So so
we're gonna have three, certainly at least three new new
faces in the lineup for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:09:30):
Coach. Sounds like you have a pretty loaded lineup this year.
Is there any trouble keeping those kids focused? Do they
already think they've got it one or do they know
that they're in for a dogfight and you got them focused.

Speaker 5 (01:09:43):
Well, you know that's the plan.

Speaker 8 (01:09:44):
They they know they're in for a dogfight, and we're
preparing them for that, you know as as you know,
as we've found out last year, you know, those those
teams came and got after it last year, and you know,
it was a heck of a national tournament. You know,
Indian Hills did a great job and had an amazing tournament,
and Placam has had a great tournament. IOWA Central's always
tell you know, all those teams are are are gonna

(01:10:07):
be ready to go and preparing, and so that's what
we're preparing for. We're preparing for everybody's best. And but
you know we're focused on just get better every day
and and do what we do well.

Speaker 2 (01:10:17):
Coach. What are some of the key dates on the
on the schedule this year, any any particular duels we
should keep an eye out for, any other open tournaments
or national duels.

Speaker 8 (01:10:27):
Yeah, you know we're gonna go to Karnie next week.
That's a big open after this one. We don't want
to look past this one for sure.

Speaker 5 (01:10:34):
But uh, but.

Speaker 8 (01:10:35):
We got Carney and then we'll have Thanksgiving break and
then then we'll come back and have a couple of
duels and then we go to Reno, which is always
a tough one and great experience for our guys and
then uh, then Christmas break and then we'll come back
and go to the national duels.

Speaker 5 (01:10:53):
So that's kind of what's coming up.

Speaker 2 (01:10:57):
Well, guys stick around campus or those guys head out
for the holidays.

Speaker 8 (01:11:02):
Yeah, I think most of them will head home at
some point around Christmas, but I think a lot of
them will stick around around Thanksgiving.

Speaker 5 (01:11:09):
But but we'll see.

Speaker 8 (01:11:11):
You know, we want to give them a break to
both mentally and physically, and you know, we we trust
them that they're going to continue.

Speaker 5 (01:11:17):
To to do with what they need to do.

Speaker 8 (01:11:19):
But it's also important to uh to go back home
and see family and spend some time with them as
well too, So we do. We just got to manage
that and balance as best we can.

Speaker 3 (01:11:31):
Coach with so so many returners. Is there anything different
this season than it was last season?

Speaker 8 (01:11:39):
Yeah, you know, I mean even though buy and large,
it's it's a lot of the same guys, they still
have a different identity and you know, they have different needs,
and you know, guys are are getting better and and uh,
you know, figuring things out, how to you know, do
the day to day things, and and so you're seeing
guys advance and in all areas as well. So yeah,

(01:12:02):
definitely a different team and you know, and we're just kind.

Speaker 5 (01:12:05):
Of used to that, did you co level coach?

Speaker 3 (01:12:08):
It seems like you guys are putting in a lot
of miles on the road. How do you keep the
guys fresh and obviously you're you're getting getting in the
bus and you're going five hours every weekend, probably more sometimes?
How do you keep them fresh to compete after that
long drive?

Speaker 8 (01:12:26):
Yeah, you know, that's that's all part of our plan too.

Speaker 5 (01:12:30):
You know.

Speaker 8 (01:12:30):
We we really focus on recovery and you know, in
our days off and you know, and giving them enough
time when we we do travel to to you know,
get our good shakeouts and stuff like that. But you know,
just with proper fuel and rest and understanding how to
recover and those kind of things. But yeah, we're we're
just used to travel and that's that's what we do.

(01:12:52):
I mean, you mentioned five hours. Five hours would be
one of the closer trips that we have, so yeah,
we're we're used to it.

Speaker 2 (01:13:00):
What's the longest, Oh.

Speaker 8 (01:13:03):
I mean, we fly we will fly to we'll fly
to Reno, we'll fly to national duels. Uh, you know,
we have to go down to Trinidad or Taro. That's
that's eleven twelve hours, you know, so down that far,
you know, northwest, which is in Wyoming's you know, five
and a half hours.

Speaker 5 (01:13:20):
So it's uh, it's.

Speaker 8 (01:13:25):
There's there's a lot of traveling, you know, CARNEYE. Well,
we'll chop that up into two days. We'll we'll go
due a Northeastern Junior College on the way, we'll stop
there in Sterling, Colorado, and then get up the next
day and drive. So that's probably about ten or so
hours there.

Speaker 2 (01:13:40):
So what's the time traveling?

Speaker 8 (01:13:43):
How do you.

Speaker 2 (01:13:45):
How do you keep the guys locked in on the academics?

Speaker 8 (01:13:49):
Yeah, you know, we just we do. We haven't bring
their stuff. We prioritize time, you know for that. They're
pretty locked in. You know, we have studies all throughout
the week too, so you know, they're pretty well prepared
to leave and they make arrangements you know, accordingly, and
plan it out well in advance. And you know this,

(01:14:10):
I wass telling them to bring their stuff on the bus.
It's a good time to to really catch up on things,
really get good starts on on uh you know whatever.
Maybe maybe coming too. So it's a good chance to
get ahead.

Speaker 2 (01:14:24):
Now, back in the day, you know, we used to
take bus trips all the time for cross country and
track meets. Is there is there a go to movie
that the team team watches trip after trip or they
mix it up a lot.

Speaker 8 (01:14:36):
Well, I don't think we we have TVs on this bus.

Speaker 5 (01:14:39):
It's a really nice bus.

Speaker 8 (01:14:40):
I don't know if you can see that back there,
it's we have TVs and everything, but they bring the
Xbox or the PlayStation and plug it in. They can
actually play play that on air, So they do that
from time to time, but I think they're.

Speaker 5 (01:14:51):
Mostly just watching.

Speaker 8 (01:14:53):
If they're watching movies, that's on their their on their
phones or their computers.

Speaker 2 (01:14:57):
So yeah, yeah, we didn't have that back Oh no, Coach.

Speaker 3 (01:15:04):
When I was in college, we got caught in a
snowstorm on the way to a duel and then there
was a car accident. So the guys had a way
in on the bus and warm up on the bus
because they were late, and then like the minute they
got off the bus, it was go. They start to match.
They didn't have any time.

Speaker 1 (01:15:22):
To warm up.

Speaker 3 (01:15:23):
Do you have any kind of funny stories or things
like that that have ever happened.

Speaker 5 (01:15:27):
Yeah, actually I do.

Speaker 8 (01:15:28):
We were we were dueling and uh against Montana State
Northern all the way up in Haver and you know,
we we were on a two lane road and I
was working on it was one of my first years
as a as a head coach, and I was working
on my Masters at the time too. And I told
the bus driver, I said, hey, you know, this road

(01:15:50):
is going to want to lead you to this other town.
There's a mountain pass up here that we have to
take a left at, and so just make sure that
you're aware of it, you know. And I told her
a couple of times, and I started typing and ended
up actually falling asleep, well with my computer open typing,
and I woke up and it said like twenty miles

(01:16:13):
to Balta, Montana, which was way out of the way,
and so I had to call Tyson Theeverridge and tell him, hey,
we're going to be late. We got to push Wayne's
back and push the duel back. And this was our
first duel of the year, so for most of my
guys it was like their first college experience, so it

(01:16:33):
was it was very interesting.

Speaker 5 (01:16:34):
So yeah, we so I went up to the.

Speaker 8 (01:16:36):
Front of the bus and cranked the heat up and
we just started pummeling and doing jumping jacks and that
kind of stuff in the aisle, and it was it
was a heck of an experience, that's for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:16:48):
Coach, in all your years of coaching, how has your
coaching style changed.

Speaker 5 (01:16:55):
Oh, it's changed quite a bit. You know.

Speaker 8 (01:16:57):
It's you have to adapt and innovate, I mean, and
it's it's just it's essential.

Speaker 5 (01:17:03):
You know.

Speaker 8 (01:17:04):
I talk to a lot of guys, my older guys
that I coached now and they come around and we
got some guys still living in town that they'll come
by occasionally and they'll tell the guys like, yeah, coach
is soft now. He was way tougher on us, you know.
And but you know, there.

Speaker 6 (01:17:20):
There's there's just.

Speaker 8 (01:17:21):
So many things that that I've changed over the years,
you know, just also just kind of like picking your
battles and you know, where to put where to put
energy and things like that, and just you know, at
the same time too, we were coaching different athletes than
we were fifteen years ago.

Speaker 3 (01:17:36):
You know.

Speaker 8 (01:17:36):
Now in my sixteenth year, you know, especially as a
in a you know, as a new coach, I didn't
have you know the athletes that I do now, So
we were coaching things like effort and you know, other
things like that. We're so far down the road now
with you know, these guys are are really good at wrestling,
So you know, it's just it's just different many ways

(01:17:59):
for sure, you know, And just the resources that we
have now at Western are way different.

Speaker 5 (01:18:05):
You know, I didn't have a coach's office, we didn't
have a locker room. I have a coach you know there.
You know, we were are.

Speaker 8 (01:18:13):
Wrestling with an old classroom. I was part time, non benefit,
had a full time job off campus, and so just
just the interactions that I would have with the guys
on the daily basis is different. So it's just it
just apples and oranges compared to how it used to
be when I started.

Speaker 2 (01:18:34):
Coach back in twenty ten. When I took my Level
one CrossFit certification with Jimmy, I did it because I
thought it was the most bang for your buck in
terms of improving my coaching, you know, coaching my tracker
field and cross country athletes in the weight room. Now
that you're doing CrossFit, do you see any benefits of

(01:18:56):
that and some things that you might be able to
incorporate with the wrestlers.

Speaker 8 (01:18:59):
Yeah, I do, absolutely, I do, you know, I mean
for me, you know, like I said, I just turned
forty seven. I I feel as good as I have
in my forties. You know, I feel better than I
have and even in my late thirties in terms of
mobility and just I feel strong and.

Speaker 5 (01:19:16):
Just feel I'm in good shape.

Speaker 6 (01:19:18):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (01:19:19):
You know, it's created a level consistency for me too
in my personal life where you know, in the summertime,
maybe I'm out on the golf course a lot more
than than I should be, and this is really kind
of cut into my golf and and so you know,
it's it just helped me so much in that area too.
But yeah, I mean just just the little things, you know,

(01:19:44):
from from dumbbell stuff to banding stuff to just even
the way to modify some things sometimes and scale some things,
and and uh just the understanding of you can get
you know, some great workouts and in ten to twelve minutes,
and just yeah, it's it's it's been really helpful in

(01:20:06):
those ways for sure. Nice and in fact, the guy
who owns that that Jim's good friend of mine, we've
actually brought him on as our strength coach this year too,
so so he's and he played college football and so
he's got a great understanding of athletics and stuff like
that in general. So it's been a it's been a

(01:20:27):
game changer for us too having him on board.

Speaker 3 (01:20:31):
Coach. You mentioned when you first started that you were
you were working and the wrestling was a part time job.
And sorry if you said this the first time you
were on I'm a Bad House. I didn't go back
and listen to the podcast. But my question for you is,
was there any point in that grind that it was
getting too much or did you see the light at
the end of the tunnel the whole time that you

(01:20:52):
were going to be able to turn it into a
full time position.

Speaker 5 (01:20:56):
Wow? Great question. You know.

Speaker 8 (01:20:59):
Also, I was newly married at that time, and so
when the opportunity to present itself to take a full
time job on campus, which was not till you know,
two three years later, my wife was like, what are
you doing? So I ended up actually cutting my my
salary in half when I did decide.

Speaker 5 (01:21:16):
To do that.

Speaker 8 (01:21:17):
But but yeah, you know, I guess I would be
be lying if I said, hey, yeah, we this is
you know, we have everything in place to be successful.

Speaker 5 (01:21:26):
You know.

Speaker 8 (01:21:26):
I guess I just really believed in the people I
believed in, you know, in the community. You know, wrestling's
really important, uh where we're at, and you know, I thought,
you know, we've we would surround ourselves with the right
people and uh, you know, with the with the vision
and a plan and a lot of hard work, you know,

(01:21:47):
can really make something out of this. And and so
so that's really you know what I did.

Speaker 5 (01:21:52):
I guess.

Speaker 8 (01:21:53):
I guess I'd be lying if I said, yeah, I
saw all this happening, you know.

Speaker 5 (01:21:57):
But one of the.

Speaker 8 (01:21:58):
First uh interactions I had with our a D after
being hired, I I set a list of goals and
and they were to, uh, you know, to get a
full time position, to have a weight room, to have
a locker room, to have a coach's office, and then
uh performance wise, to win an academic title, to to

(01:22:20):
win a national title.

Speaker 5 (01:22:21):
And so she.

Speaker 8 (01:22:24):
Kind of looked at me, and basically I can't remember
what she said verbatim, but the way what I heard
her say.

Speaker 5 (01:22:29):
Was you got to crawl before you could walk type
of thing.

Speaker 8 (01:22:32):
Just you Neanderthals, just go over there in the corner
and don't make any and you know, you know what
I mean, and that's kind of the way I took it.
Uh but uh, but yeah, it's we've come. We've come
a long way since then, that's for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:22:46):
Well, coach, dabs to you, because rich and I know
what that grinds like when you're chasing that coaching grind
or trying to stay in the sport. But you got
your foot foot one foot in, one foot out. We
know how hard that can be. So sure you are
living the dream. So dabs to you, sir.

Speaker 5 (01:23:02):
I appreciate it, Thank you, Thank you, coach.

Speaker 3 (01:23:05):
Is there anything about the program about this year's team
that we haven't covered that you want the audience to know?

Speaker 5 (01:23:13):
Dude?

Speaker 8 (01:23:13):
You know, they're just I'm impressed with them at this point.
You know, they're they're doing a great job. They're doing
well academically, they're doing everything I ask them to do,
and uh, they're a lot of fun, a lot of personalities.
I just really enjoy being around them. It's you know,
it's always the best part of what I do is

(01:23:34):
the guys. So yeah, I'm really impressed with them so far,
and I'm convinced that they're going to put the work
in that that's needed and make the adjudstments as we go.

Speaker 3 (01:23:45):
So yeah, awesome, Well, coach, thank you for taking time
on the drive to chat with the area bros. Looks
like you're in a pretty nice bus, so having safe
travels and best luck with the rest of the I
appreciate it.

Speaker 5 (01:24:01):
Thanks for getting us together.

Speaker 2 (01:24:02):
Guys, guys, great, yes, sir, we appreciate you. Safe travels,
best luck with the upcoming competitions, and enjoy your holiday season.
Thanks likewise, thank you, sir, very great night, safe travels
you too. By all right, ladies and gentlemen. That was
Coach Art Castillo joining us from Western Wyoming. That is

(01:24:26):
it for our NJCAA Wrestling preview roundtable. We hope you're
enjoying these roundtables because we got more coming at you
next week. As we mentioned earlier in the podcast, you
know there is the NJCAA, but there is also the
three C two A, which is the California State Junior
College System. So we'll be checking in with some cross

(01:24:48):
country coaches next week on Monday to discuss the cc
AA State Slash National Championships, and then on Tuesday day
evening we've got an Naia season preview for wrestling, So
that is all for us this week. We hope you
enjoyed the shows. Don't forget this is a value for

(01:25:11):
value program over here, So if you're getting any value
at anything we're doing over here, you're liking anything we do,
please give us a little bit of value back. You know.
Jimmy and I love our coffee and still waiting on
that paper street order, so we've got to order some more.
So have a great weekend, enjoy it, and we'll see
you back here on Monday eight

All Episodes

Airey Bros Radio Episode 411: 2025–26 NJCAA Wrestling Season Preview Roundtable | Western Wyoming, Indian Hills, Iowa Central & Clackamas

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Crime Junkie

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Airey Bros Radio Episode 411: 2025–26 NJCAA Wrestling Season Preview Roundtable | Western Wyoming, Indian Hills, Iowa Central & Clackamas