Spotlight on Jesse Nielsen

It’s a good chance that a pair of former teammates could end up squaring off in a title match Saturday at the Idaho 5A state wrestling tournament at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

Jesse Nielsen of Coeur d’Alene stopped Jeremy Zabel of Post Falls 9-6 in the Region I title match at 160 pounds last Saturday.

Zabel, who transferred after winning back-to-back state titles at CdA, became academically eligible in late January. So the regional match was the first time this season that the ex-teammates faced off.

A state runner-up last year, Nielsen (41-1) is seeded No. 1 going into first-round action today at state. On the opposite end of the bracket is Zabel.

CdA coach Jeff Moffat said Nielsen doesn’t have an athletic bone in his body. “He’s an example of a self-made wrestler,” Moffat said.