NIC set up for run at national title
North Idaho College wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb might not be known as much of a gambler.
But after opting to redshirt Jake Mason last year after he finished seventh at the NJCAA tournament in Spokane in 2011, and putting another wrestler back in the lineup after missing most of this season, he's hoping his Cards are the best of the bunch this weekend.
"That was kind of our plan all along," Whitcomb said. "Last year, these guys finished sixth and we thought, with those guys and add (Jake) Mason and Ryan Zumwalt back in and get some experience, this was the mix of chemistry we were looking for to get a national title."
NIC is the favorite to win its 14th national title as this year’s tournament begins today and concludes Saturday at the Jacobson Exhibition Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
“We’ve been the No. 1 team all year, but we’re starting the tournament at 0,” Whitcomb said. “They’re guessing that we’ve got the best chance if we wrestle well, but you can never count out (defending champion) Labette. You’ve really got to see who shows up to wrestle.”
NIC qualified all 10 for nationals again this year. Michael Carreon (fourth at 133), Jarrett Morrill (eighth at 141), Ryan Zumwalt (third at 157), Kyle Sweedman (second at 174) and Caleb Rivera (seventh at 184) were All-Americans last year for the Cardinals after placing in the top eight.
Sophomore Brock Banta (125) and freshmen V.J. Guilio (197) and Curtis Berger (285) round out the Cardinal qualifiers.
It’s been 10 years since NIC last won a national title, in 2003.
“I don’t know that being No. 1 helps us,” Whitcomb said. “Everyone knows where we stand. Even though we’re No. 1, we need to act like it. Labette is right behind us.”
Whitcomb pointed to some quarterfinal matchups that could pit NIC and Labette wrestlers turning the tide either way with possible matchups at 125, 149, 157, 174 in the quarterfinals and a semifinal at 197.
“We’re headed for a shootout at five different weights,” Whitcomb said. “For some of those kids, they’re going to be ranked ahead of us. For guys like Brock (Banta), who was ranked No. 1, he’s got to have some confidence that he was ranked No. 1 earlier this year. Nico Moreno, the kid could be ranked behind him, but we’re going to know where we stand on Friday night. (Kyle) Sweedman and (Jeremy) Golding will do the same thing. We’re going to know where we stand on Friday night. We have to set the tone (in the quarterfinals). If those are the kids we’re taking care of, if we can get the job done — that’s how it should be.”
NIC is entering nationals as healthy as the Cardinals have been all year, with only a few injuries of note.
“We’re pretty much healthy,” Whitcomb said. “Moreno seems to be getting around really well on his injured (right) ankle. Now, we can get rid of that day of flying (Wednesday) and if we can keep them loose and focused on the task at hand — we’ll go and drill them hard (Thursday) and get ready and try not to get caught up in the hoopla that’s competing at a national tournament and get into Friday — where every match counts.”
The finals on Saturday will be webcast with a link at www.nicathletics.com or www.njcaa.org.