Tempered expectations are the new norm in a COVID-19 world. With all the delays and missed experiences brought on by the pandemic, setting too lofty of goals can prove to be disappointing.
The shutdowns and restrictions robbed the Malcolm wrestling team of its usual summer camp season in which the grapplers get in dozens of matches. Add in the two-and-a-half week delay to the start of the season brought on by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department’s directed health measure, and the Clippers are even further behind schedule.
After Wahoo canceled its Dec. 19 meet due to Covid cases, several schools re-routed to Grand Island to compete in the quickly thrown together Northwest Invitational. Malcolm placed seventh out of eight teams by scoring 45 team points.
“Even our most experienced guys aren’t where they would normally be by this point in the year,” Malcolm head coach Matt Coufal said. “You can do a lot of running and conditioning when you’re shut down, but you just can’t make up for lost mat time.”
Gavin Zoucha had the best finish for Malcolm. After getting two early pins, the 160-pound junior was pinned late in the second period of his championship match against Nolan Eller of Aquinas Catholic.
“That’s a match that later in the season, I fully expect Gavin to win,” Coufal said. “He knows what to do to win and he has the ability to beat him. More time on the mat this season will make him better and he’ll get to where he needs to be.”
After losing his opening match against Centennial’s Carson Felhafer, 285-pound junior Kale Nordmeyer fought his way back to earn a bronze medal. Nordmeyer earned first period pins in both of his wins.
The Clippers picked up a pair of fourth-place medals as Josh Stewart (170) and Caleb Courter (182) each went 1-2 in their brackets.
“Caleb is in his third year of wrestling at any level,” Coufal said. “Most high school wrestlers have six or more years of experience before they get to high school.
“Caleb has done some pretty impressive things considering his lack of experience. He’s an example of someone that really needed the summer work we all missed out on. The more he learns on the mat, the better he’ll be.”
The Clippers traveled to Crete on Dec. 18 and earned a 47-36 dual win over the Cardinals. Zane Zoucha (120), Bricen Wilkie (126), Colt Reiling (138), Courter (182) and Nordmeyer (285) all pinned their opponents.
Malcolm will take some time off for Christmas and return to the mat Dec. 31 when they travel to Tecumseh to compete in a quad with Lincoln Lutheran, Lincoln Christian and Johnson County Central.
