Cardinals ready to show off depth, make run at 15th national title

Defending national champs open season tonight at home

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

The lineup that you'll see when the defending co-NJCAA champion North Idaho College wrestling team takes the mat for the first time tonight is set in stone.

Staying there - that's where the work begins.

All-American Jeremy Golding returns at 149 pounds, along with Nico Moreno (157), Derek Booth (165), Curtis Berger (187) and V.J. Guilio (197). Guilio finished third at nationals last year.

"I think that's what we're going to see unless there's an injury," NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. "They're going to be battling all year."

Redshirt freshmen Jared Miller (125), a four-time state championship from Alaska; Carlos Lozoya (133) from Las Vegas and Terrance McKinney, a two-time state champion from Shadle Park High in Spokane at 141 pounds are also among the starters when NIC hosts Great Falls of the NAIA tonight at 7 p.m. at Christianson Gym.

"We've got a lot of names we can mix and match throughout the lineup," said Whitcomb, who is 222-40-2 entering his 17th season as NIC coach, and has won three national titles. "I'm interested in seeing how those freshmen respond. The sophomores will have to do their jobs, but Great Falls is talented and Montana State-Northern (who the Cardinals wrestle Saturday afternoon) might be better."

NIC finished 13-1 last year in duals, with the lone loss coming at Great Falls.

"We've been practicing since August and Great Falls was the only dual we lost," Whitcomb said. "We don't want that to happen, but they're going to push us and we're going to push them. We've both got a lot of talent, but it's nice to have it at home."

Last year's national title was NIC's first since 2003, and 14th overall. The Cardinals finished in a tie with Labette of Parsons, Kan., each with 120 points in Des Moines, Iowa.

"It took us a while in between," Whitcomb said. "But those guys that were on this team know just how special it was. They know what's at stake. They want to get back there and repeat."

Fortunately for NIC and schools out west, getting there is a little easier this year.

The NJCAA tournament will be held Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Spokane Convention Center. NIC hosted nationals in Spokane for the first time back in 2011.

"It's nice to be bringing everyone back to Spokane," Whitcomb said. "Our region is so tough this year, it's nice to have it here. Northwest Wyoming might be the toughest, so will be Clackamas and Southwest (Oregon)."

When NIC hosted nationals in '11, Clackamas edged NIC for the national title.

"We're lucky, because we've got a guy in Golding, who could be No. 1 in the rankings when they come out, and he could get beaten in a challenge match," Whitcomb said. "We've got guys in that (wrestling) room that feel that if they could beat that guy, they could be a national champion. We're fortunate to be pushing that kind of competition. We're definitely going to have to rely on those sophomores for their leadership, but after Christmas, nobody's a freshman anymore as far as experience goes. They're going to have to get over the jitters. We're going to find out right away what these guys are made of."

Due to hosting nationals, Region 18 will receive 10 extra bids to nationals - one in each class - giving the top four in each weight class from the regional tournament on Feb. 15 in Rock Springs, Wyo., a bid to nationals.

"I think you could see something very similar," Whitcomb said. "We're lucky to get the extra 10 bids, but with those, you'd better be able to qualify. Winning a national title is a national title. It was a battle there and when you're back there with those mats down, from the starting whistle to the end, every point matters. At North Idaho, our goal is to win a national title and we're lucky that bar is so high. There's lots of space to improve between now and March 1. Our eye is always on that end result and putting No. 15 up. For some of these guys, getting into the starting lineup is a big deal."