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Show C1SPORTS ;111bTX1E30.RnEiVtlieb'-- ' 0 iA't 1 :TR Ift.) W ;10) ror Meet the new DSU football coachin Seal( f MONIQUE CHAVEZ BY MoniqueDSN ' : Dixie State University has introduced an entirely new football coaching staff that hopes to not only teach student athletes to become good football players, but also good fathers. Head coach Paul Peterson has been coaching for 14 years. The schools he has coached include Brigham Young University, North Carolina State University, Southern Utah University, Sacramento State University and most recently, Snow College in Ephraim. Peterson said his favorite part about being a coach is not the wins and championships, but seeing the "kids" be successful and forming good relationships. "1 want the team to be able to see our coaches around their kids, how we treat our wives and kids, and just an extra set of eyes to teach them the right way to do things," Peterson said. "1 think it goes hand in hand for them to be champions on the field and in their own lives too, and football can certainly teach that." Peterson and his family finalized their moved to St. George this month and said they are thankful for the help they have been offered during their relocation period. "We love it here," Peterson said. "People on campus have been fantastic and very helpful for us in anything that we need, so it's been very welcoming." Peterson said his goal for his first season as a Trailblazer is to win the RMAC - - , - , championship. "I think we have to talk about preparing to win a championship," Peterson said. "That's definitely a goal that we are going to keep out in front of them. I think we have some great student athletes that can give other teams a hard time on the field and hopefully we put them in a position to be successful." Defensive Coordinator Tyler Almond has been coaching since 2005. Almond was a linebacker coach at Sacramento State University, but most recently served as the head football coach at Christian Brothers High School when Peterson contacted him about the opening at DSU. The two worked together at Sacramento State for five years. Almond said this is his first time being and living in Utah, but he is really enjoying the community. "My wife and daughters are going to move out here fairly soon," Almond said. "We are excited to have a different pace of life, a little bit slower than California, not as much traffic, so we're looking forward to that." He said this is also the first time in his career being apart from his family for a few months. , , ii, I I I , r - 0,k C744f I ,0000, adlidego. Head football coach Paul Peterson gathered his team at the Trailblazer Stadium to discuss the coming season. Dixie State versity's football team recruited new staff and coaches after the previous head coach did not renew his contract. "It's definitely difficult," Almond said. "My wife is an elementary school teacher, and she's as passionate about that as I am about football so she obviously wants to finish off her semester with her kiddos." Almond said there are 30 kids among the entire coaching staff that are about the same age, and he looks forward to having them at practice and tailgates. "I don't think I'd be here if I wasn't working for a guy like Paul. Paul is really good about letting us have time off to spend with family, Paul preaches that and he's all about it too." Mike Fassel, special teams coach and director of football operations, has also been in football since 2005. Passel worked as the DFO Uni- going to be a better adjustment process, getting the family settled and the kids in school," Fassel said. "We enjoy the closeness to Zion National Park and a lot of the outdoor activities that we can do." Fassel said gaining player trust as a new coach is a long process of doing what for Princeton University and the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, but most recently served as the wide receivers and special teams coach at Snow College. Fassel said he has adjusted to St. George pretty well. "I was out here for a month before my family came out here, but they moved out here so now it's SEE COACH PAGE 5 5 DSU wrestling L for championship prepares VW" - - - 4.1 I ,14 rtif 11111 I I z ' ,- - 2 , ' - s 33 students on the Dixie State University wrestling team spar during practice. The NCWA WCC Championship looms over the team as they continue to work on their strengths. Two BY ISSAC GARCIA issacgarcial The Dixie State 6 Uni- versity wrestling team is preparing to host the National Collegiate Wrestling Association West Coast Conference Championship. DSU wrestling is part of the NCWA in the West Coast Conference; The - NCWA is the only athletic organization endorsed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Institutions have lost their wrestling programs due to Title IX. This was caused by influences such as budget cuts or governmental legislation. Therefore, the NCWA was started in 1997. Similar to the NCAA, the NCWA has conferences and a national tournament. The 2019 national tournament will be held in Allen, Texas, starting on March 14 and continuing to March 16. DSU wrestling has been preparing and practicing since as early as November. The Trailblazers prac- tice Monday-Thursda- y each week from 3:30 p.m to 5 p.m. The Trailblazers' season is coming to an end as they prepare for nationals. Head coach Wayne Briggs said the team still has excellent wrestlers despite having a rough season due to the small amount of individuals on the team. "The kids that are here are amazing kids," Briggs said. "Good wrestlers, and genuinely nice kids. Hopefully they all stay. I've got a bunch of kids that I'm talking to that we'll recruit for next year so we'll be back to the kind of quality wrestling we've had in the past." Cole Patterson, a freshman general studies major from Spanish Fork, said he wishes the team had more individuals but the members that are on the team are dedicated to the program. "The guys that are here, we're super dedicated," Patterson said. "We put in a lot of work and time at practice to try to be good. It's something that I've come to enjoy. I like wrestling the best guys and scrambling with the best guys. I like trying to come on top and be the best." The group not only has men's team, but also a women's team. The captain of the women's team is Shavelle Espindola, a freshman dental hygiene major from Ewa, Hawaii. a Espindola said it takes determination to be part of DSU wrestling. "We condition every single day," Espindola said. "We cut weight. We're very cautious of our weight and we are disciplined in our eating. We're cautious of our bodies and our health. It's hard, mentally." Jakob Stucky, a junior exercise science major from Rochester, Minnesota, said it takes mental toughness to be a DSU wrestler. "It takes someone who's willing to go the extra mile and willing to put in the extra effort to be great," Stucky said. "I have respect for anybody who wrestles and anybody who's willing to lace up their shoes and go out in the circle. One thing we try to do here at Dixie State is to make sure that our wrestlers are mentally tough and that we are technically sound as well." The Trailblazers continue to prepare for their next matchup, which is the NCWA WCC Championship. It will be held at DSU in the Student Activity Center on March 2 starting at 8 a.m. This championship will double as a qualifier for the national tournament. i ' (5:47) Baseball . 222 Home 1 p.m. Bruce Hurst Field Montana State Billings Women's Basketball 222 Home 5:30 p.m. Burns Arena Regis Ments Basketball 222 Home 7:30 p.m. Burns Arena Colorado Christian Women's Track 223 Home - Claremont, California Rossie Relays ... : cl,ti 1 Tennis' match against MSU Denver was cancelled due to 5 now. Softball's 2019 Dixie State Classic was cancelled due to rain, snow, and poor travel conditions. |