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Show Sporfstacular Page 6 Thursday. November 1 5, 1 ' 979 Usom gewmgj fair ffimsiB sessm Bj Keith Duncan Brad Isom, the former Layton High wrestling star and now a top grappler in the Big Sky, has teamed with Rush Campbell to give Coach John Webb a comfortable but throbbing headache. Isom, who happens to be one of those nice-gu- y superstars" and is a former Big Sky conference champion, is challenging defending Big Sky champion Russ Campbell this week for the top spot in the weight. Its the kind of situation that every coach does and doesnt want to be in, said Webb last week from his coaching office. Isom happens to be a senior this year and he has every desire to make this final campaign at Weber one of his finest. Campbell on the other hand is only a sophomore but is gifted in every wrestling aspect. To be a conference champion hed have to be. this As Coach Webb jokingly said, Our wrestle-off- s season will undoubtedly be some of the highlights of the season. It wouldn't be a bad idea to pull out the bleachers publicize these matches as much as the 142-pou- regular ones." Needless to say the confrontations between Isom and Campbell for the 142 bracket will be highly interesting here in the wake of the new season. Plans to be at 134 Region champion at Isom, who was a two-tim- e Layton High, doesnt plan on wrestling at 142 all season but has plans to eventually settle down in his regular weight, 134. Brads strategy for the 1979-8-0 season has several good details behind. He explains that during the off season he weighs in at about 160 and the fact he must lose 25 pounds right off the bat, has contributed to low resistance to injuries. Wrestling is generally not as prone to injury as other sports, but when one does occur the grapplers chances of great success are minimal. Eventually I want to be at 134 but Id like to build toward and work up some resistence," said Isom. Last season he felt was his best season even though he failed to finish it because of an injury. He was in- pressive. As a freshman, having to deal with transitions, a broken leg, and tough competition, he placed second in the conference. As a sophomore he survived a shakey start but went on to claim the championship, and last year was heading toward great goals but was injured. Talent to Spare In order to dethrone perennial Big Sky wrestling dominant Boise State, Coach Webb has worked overtime to prepare a squad with unbelievable depth. I thought we had a talented team last season," said Brad, But this year we have twice the amount of talent. Even in the bracket where Isom and Campbell will have some heated battles, is Dave Hansen who was voted Wyomings top wrestler last season. Most of the middle weights on the Wildcat team are d loaded with stars who are either returning from last years Big Sky Conference second place team, were standouts in prep wrestling or are top JC transfers. Isoms style of wrestling is much the same as teammate Lynn Jackson, both are highly explosive who use physical strength to its max, combined with good moves and techniques. Brad described it best when he said, Its almost like we blast out of the body structure." But his explosive kind of wrestling the kind he used at Layton, made some transition to collegiate wrestling when he came to Weber. Besides learning more technique, Brad also got accustomed to the rough competition. 142-pou- multi-talente- In high school you could expect to have an easy match once in a while, but in college you learn to throw that kind of experience right out the window. Every match is tough. Everyone you wrestle was either a state champion in high school or something close to it," said Isom. ' Brad had no doubts in his mind that the sport of wrestling is booming in the area. A good example of ' how its growing is Russ Campbell. It was almost unheard of to have a freshman take a conference championship, but with wrestling getting into junior high, elementary and little leagues, the future looks awesome, he said. The Weber State senior credited most of his college success to the present coach, Webb. People would naturally assume that he has helped me in athletics and he has. But one area Im grateful for, is the importance Coach Webb has placed on education. Ive been a better student beqpuse of him, said Brad. Isom has known Webb since the present wrestlers ninth grade school year. Brads older brother, Mike, once was a Wildcat grappler and Brad used to tag along to practices where hed practice wrestling with Webb who was then a Wildcat wrestler himself. As wrestling grows, Brad feels that the general public will take hold of the sport. He feels that the biggest problem is that fans are not educated in the sport.. When Brad wasnt playing his favorite high school sport of football, you could usually find him preparing for the ski slopes. Even today he is an avid skier. Upon graduation from Weber, Brad plans on earning his teaching certificate and working himself into a position at a local school. He also has goals of working in the lines of physical therapy teaching-coachin- g some day. Brads wife Sherrie, not only happens to be a good skier also, but is an avid wrestling fan. They are the. parents of one baby boy and presently the young family lives in Clearfield. Wober Stat Wildcat Wrestling Slat 1979-8- 0 November 23, 1979 November 24, 1979 Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs Colorado Air Force Academy Invitational at Colorado Springs, November 27, 1979 November 29, 1979 November 29, 1979 Colorado Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff, Arizona Washington University at Tucson, Arizona University of Arizona at Tucson, Arizona 7-- 8, January 5, 1980 January 7, 1980 January 11, 1980 January 15, 1980 January 16, 1980 January Isom enters final year with Wildcat wrestling team. Brad is a former Big Sky champion. when jured. Every wrestler knows that the conference and national meets is where it really counts. Of course the entire season is important, but the end is where you have to set your sights, said Isom. Brad's finishes in Big Sky wrestling have been im- November 30 December 1, 1979 December 1979 December 13, 1979 December 14, 1979 December 15, 1979 WEBER STATE'S Brad 16-- 1 wIGlhi 'C&fts 25-2- 6, 1980 Arizona Wildcat Tournament at Tucson, Arizona Beehive Tournament at Salt Lake City, Utah Boise State University at Boise, Idaho Washington State University Eastern Washington State Utah State University at Logan, Utah COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES AT OGDEN, UTAH UNIVERSITY OF UTAH AT OGDEN, UTAH BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY. PORTLAND STATE, AND WEBER STATE AT OGDEN, UTAH CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SACRAMENTO AND DAHO STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN, UTAH MIWA at Greeley, Colorado February 2, 1980 FOUR WAY MEET: WEBER STATE, NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY. UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, AND BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN, UTAH February 7, 1980 February 13, 1980 February 22, Idaho State University at Pocatello, Idaho University of Utah at Salt Lake City, Utah March 1, 1980 March 13, 14, 15, 1980 UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY AT OGDEN, UTAH Conference at Boise, Idaho NCAA at Eugeno, Oregon Big Sky 7:00 p.m. TBA 7:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. TBA TBA 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. TBA TBA 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. TBA TBA |