Time to fly, Another Kapusta ready for NCC meet

The Forum, Fargo, North Dakota

03/03/1996

Time to fly, Another Kapusta ready for NCC meet
By Jeff Kolpack

It was just a harmless game of softball. So Jeff Kapusta thought, anyway.

The North Dakota State junior was working for a seed company last fall when he was asked to play in a tournament.

"I figured I could help them out," Kapusta said.

His help was short-lived. While running back to first base after a long fly ball was caught, Kapusta's ankle didn't appreciate the half slide. It broke.

Ligaments tore.

The prognosis was not good. Kapusta, who sat out the 1994-95 season as a redshirt, was in danger of taking another year off, this time as a medical hardship.

"They didn't think I would wrestle this year," he said.

They were wrong. In a Bison season that has seen its share of inconsistency, Kapusta has provided a solid effort at 126 pounds. Heading into the North Central Conference Championships today at the Bison Sports Arena, he is 13-0 and has earned the No. 1 seed.

His left ankle is fine. Even a minor sprain on the same ankle one month ago hasn't stopped him. In many respects, where one Kapusta left off last year, another one has picked up this year.

Brian Kapusta, Jeff's older brother, finished his career last year with an NCC and NCAA Division II title at 118. Jeff saw it all from the sideline during a season where observing proved to be just as valuable as competing.

"I learned a lot of things just by watching the matches," Jeff said. "You can see it happen in other people." For example, "Before, I'd get a big lead and then shut down," he said. "I'd be up 10-1 and win 11-10. Now I stay more focused and not go out like a ball of fire. Wrestling-wise, I think I'm more mature. I like to get a takedown right away but if I don't, I can stay patient." Kapusta was a good patient for NDSU medical and training personnel. That's why he was able to turn a reversal on his prognosis.

"He worked very, very hard on rehabilitation," said Bison coach Bucky Maughan.

He was back in the Bison lineup as soon as Dec. 15 for a non-conference dual at North Dakota. He started to turn on the jets in January.

Now is when it's time to fly. Tournament time. There are, potentially, only three days left in the season: Sunday and the Division II nationals March 15-16 in Greeley, Colo.

"Right now it's an individual thing," he said. "If you let up, you're only hurting yourself." For one of the few seasons in his life, Jeff and Brian are not in the same lineup. At 126, it was easy following a national champion at 118. Brian usually got the Bison going strong, which took a little pressure off Jeff.

This year, freshman Kris Nelson had a fine season at 118. But his youth alone put more importance on Jeff at 126.

"I was so used to going after Brian," he said.

The two are still a team. Brian has turned into an effective coach.

"He knows my style," Jeff said. "We're so close -- he'll see something and I'll pick up on the same thing. On the bench, it's hard not to listen to Bucky. But I focus on what Brian is saying." His focus today will also be an NCC title. He finished sixth two years ago. As a freshman in 1993-94, a shoulder ailment held him down.

This year, he pinned the injury opponent.