Allison signs scholarship with University of Northern Colorado

Allison signs scholarship with University of Northern Colorado

Nov. 18, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

COLE ALLISON, A SENIOR at Montezuma-Cortez High School, signs a National Letter of Intent to wrestle at the University of Northern Colorado. Watching him are his parents Carolyn and Mike Allison (also MCHS head wrestling coach and athletic director), and MCHS principal Mark Rappe (right).

The recruiting war is already over for Montezuma-Cortez senior standout wrestler Cole Allison. The winner was the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. Allison, who won the Class 4A State Wrestling title at 160 pounds, signed an NCAA Division II National Letter of Intent on Thursday morning, Nov. 16, to become a Bear next fall. Allison signed during the early signing period the NCAA sets aside in November so high school athletes can get on with their final season. The regular signing period begins the second week of April.

Attending the signing ceremony in the conference room at MCHS were athletic director, head wrestling coach and father Mike Allison, mother Carolyn, and principal Mark Rappe.

"I liked the school up there," young Allison explained. "I know lots of the team members already. I have wrestled against some of them. UNC also signed one of best friends Gerald Degarro from Adams City. So that also made an impact on my decision. I have attended several wrestling camps and I like the coach (Jack Maughn)."

He has received offers from University of Chicago, Adams State College, Dakota (South) Wesleyan, and some inquiries from the University of Wyoming.

"It (recruiting) gets to be kind of a distraction. I just wanted to get it over with now. I like the business school. I don’t really know what I want to major in but something in the business field. I’m going back for a visit this Sunday, Nov. 26. Wrestling is pretty tough no matter what division it is. Because there aren’t many schools left with wrestling programs, Division I and Division II is comparable. But this (school) was a good fit me. I’m glad it’s over and I’ve made my decision," he added.

UNC has a good wrestling program, according to the elder Allison.

"Maughn took the program when it was about ready to fold and turned it around with a lot of wrestlers coming from Colorado. I like that. I think his decision benefits UNC and Cole. I doesn’t really matter where he goes in DI, II or III, because he will get to wrestle all of them. The cream still rises to the top. UNC has an outstanding program. It was national runnerup a couple year’s ago. It competes in a very good conference (North Central Conference) with schools like North Dakota State, South Dakota State, University of South Dakota, Nebraska-Omaha, and eight others. Five of the top 10 teams in the nation each year are out of that North Central Conference. If you can do well in that conference, you can do well at nationals," he reported.

Young Allison was attracting national attention not only because of his prowess on the mat but in the classroom as well. He has a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked no. 1 in his class of 2001. For his efforts, he was recently chosen State Finalist in Wendy’s Restaurant’s 2000 High School Heisman Scholarship Program. He also was nominated for the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law.

From his freshman year to present, Allison improved as each season and summer passed. He placed fourth at Regionals as a freshman. He was Regional runner-up as a sophomore.

He worked tirelessly the summer before his junior year working out and wrestling Colorado USA matches. He was tabbed Free Style All-American and placed seventh in the nation. As a junior last season, he won the renowned Warrior Classic in his weight division. He was voted the Outstanding Wrestler at the Rifle Tournament. He went through the Southwest League regular season undefeated and then won Regionals. He then breezed over every opponent in winning State and finished the season with a perfect 41-0 overall record. He took home many post-season honors following that magical season. He was named National Scholastic Dual Team All-Tournament Team. He was chosen All-Colorado by both major newspapers, Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post. He also was picked All-State by Varsity On-Line.

Allison has an overall high school mat record of 97-16 going into this coming season. But Allison, at least right, will not get an opportunity to defend his 160-pound title. But that’s because he is jumping up in weight to 171 for the Panthers.

"He will have another tough weight class. The defending State champ (Joe Serna from Fort Lupton) returns in that weight. Cole and Serna have tangled before and Serna has come in on the bad end of the stick. But he should have an interesting season," coach Allison said.

What does the wrestler do best while on the mat?

"He’s a legger. He works his legs so well. You had better not be on the bottom or he will come and get you. If you choose bottom, you have got to be very good because I don’t think you’re going to come out. On top, he’s also tough. Cole has developed into a very good wrestler," coach Allison added.