The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT March 2, 2011

While the main event of Saturday's NJCAA wrestling championships didn't turn out the way that most local fans wanted it to - you've got to admit, it was a pretty good show.

With more than 2,750 fans packed into the Spokane Convention Center, cheering when North Idaho College's Jesse Nielsen and Jamelle Jones won national titles, I'd say that the tournament was a success.

WHEN TEAMS began the journey toward Spokane last October, most dreamt of winning a national title.

Nobody dreamt bigger than NIC, which had the tournament circled on its calendar for two years - if not longer.

And having four wrestlers qualify to the semifinals, chances were good that the team title wasn't going anywhere. NIC sent three of four into the finals, with former Lakeland High wrestler Kyle McCrite finishing sixth at 125 pounds.

Sophomore Jeremy Bommarito, who battled his way through to the finals, wound up losing 4-2 in the championship match.

"I proved a lot to myself," said Bommarito following the match. "I put my heart and soul into this weekend. I'm looking to continue my career and education at either a Division II or NAIA school."

With the wins by Nielsen and Jones, NIC went on to finish second with 98.5 points, trailing only Clackamas Community College of Oregon City, Ore., which finished with 109.

DESPITE FALLING short in the attempt to claim a 14th national title in school history, the Cardinals' chances for running down the title next year should improve.

Freshmen Braden Mowry and Jake Mason battled through the consolation bracket and Matthew Foxworthy - expected to redshirt this year - nearly qualified for the final day.

Foxworthy replaced Marcel Dubose, who tore his pectoral muscle in the team's final tournament before the Christmas break and missed the remainder of the season.

“I’m proud of all of those guys,” NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. “If you’re the second or third guy in the lineup, there’s no time to get them into shape if someone goes down. Everyone has to be ready and Matthew stepped in and did an amazing job this year.”

Mowry, formerly of Coeur d’Alene High, returned after suffering an injury in the Region 18 tournament in Coos Bay, Ore.

“He tore his meniscus at regionals and had surgery two weeks ago,” said Whitcomb of the injury. “He got it going out there and did a great job. He just ran out of juice. Everyone on the team gave everything they had.”

ORGANIZERS HAVE already made a plan to bring the tournament back to Spokane in 2013 and 2015, according to NIC athletic director Al Williams.

Next year’s tournament will be held in Rochester, Minn.

Williams, along with Chris Frye of the Spokane Regional Sports Commission, will present their bid on March 26 during an NJCAA meeting in Florida.

“We’re trying to host it in alternate years,” Williams said. “We’re trying not to wear down our volunteers, so we’re trying for a two-year interval.”

The tournament, held for the first time in the northwest in 52 years, was met with approval from defending champion Harper College of Palatine, Ill.

“It was a nice change,” Harper coach Dan Loprieno said. “We wish we could have seen more of the area. For a lot of our guys, this was the first time they’d been on a airplane.”

Loprieno was also impressed with the turnout of fans.

“You can tell the fans get out and support their wrestling,” he said.

The winning city will be announced at the conclusion of the meeting March 29.

Last weekend, northwest wrestling fans won as well.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.