Three-time Nevada state champion Cox to make impact at Waldorf

By Matt Oliver

BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nevada – After winning three consecutive state championships, Andrew Cox brings all of the tools to excel at the next level as a member of the Waldorf University men’s wrestling team.

Cox, a 132-pound senior from Battle Mountain High School, signed a letter of intent with the Warriors on March 24.

“I know he’s going to bring a really good work ethic,” Waldorf assistant coach Bo Bettinson said. “He’s going to add depth to the weight class that he’s coming in at. He’ll be a great workout partner and teammate to the guys we already have.”

A four-year varsity letter winner at Battle Mountain, Cox helped the Longhorns win four straight team titles during his prep career. As a freshman, he was a state runner-up at 120 pounds. He won back-to-back Division III state crowns at 126 and capped his senior season as the 132-pound state champion.

“He comes from a very, very good high school program,” Bettinson said. “His coach has won the most team titles in the state. It’s a historic program with a great coaching staff.”

Ready to achieve at the collegiate level, Cox is looking ahead to stepping onto the mat for Waldorf during the 2016-17 season.

“It means so much just to have the opportunity that a majority of people don’t get,” Cox said. “I’m excited my career’s not over, and I get four more years of this amazing sport.”

Bettinson, who was instrumental in adding Cox to Waldorf’s 2016-17 recruiting class, was a three-time Northern Nevada Regional champion and a two-time state champion. He finished his high school career with a career record of 174-17. Bettinson continued his career at Waldorf where he was a four-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national qualifier and earned 105 wins.

Mitch Domagala, who coached Cox at Battle Mountain, was also one of Bettinson’s first coaches. Under Domagala, Bettinson won the 2000 Reno World Championships.

“I’m in the sport because of Mitch Domagala,” Bettinson said. “I won my first national title at 7, and that was with Mitch in my corner.”

Cox is the son of William and Loretta Cox. He is undecided on his field of study, but said he chose to join the Warriors after learning about their program from Bettinson.

“One of the main reasons I chose Waldorf University was because of the assistant wrestling coach,” Cox said. “Before I even fully decided that I wanted to continue my wrestling career, he was talking to me and telling me about their program. I’ve only actually met him once, but from that and what my high school coach has said, he seems like a great guy.”

Cox becomes the second member of Waldorf’s incoming recruiting class, joining Des Moines East High School senior Dallas Knoop. Coming off a standout career at Battle Mountain, Cox is expected to make an immediate impact for the Warriors.

“I see a lot of upside for him,” Bettinson said. “He’s the kind of kid who can come in and compete right away.”