THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, February 18, 2015
When it comes to rivalries, the one - at least on the wrestling mat - between Clackamas Community College and North Idaho College has been a fun one to watch in recent years.
Competing for Region 18, West District and national titles in recent years, just like both feel they should be.
IN CASE you missed it, and you might have, the latest chapter of this rivalry unfolded last Friday as the West District wrestling tournament was held at Christianson Gym.
Clackamas, from Oregon City, Ore., won the team title with 132.5 points. It was the Cougars' fourth title in the last five years in a region that had been dominated by NIC, which won 13 straight titles from 1998 to 2010.
When the schools wrestled head-to-head in the finals, they each won once, with Eleazar Deluca beating NIC's Tyler McLean at 157 pounds and NIC's Dajour Reece getting a late takedown to beat Kyle Bateman at 165.
"It's a tough place for us to wrestle with our friendly rivalry with the Cardinals," ninth-year Clackamas coach Josh Rhoden said. "The fans are great and it's a fun atmosphere for our guys to wrestle in."
"For us, it's honestly a great opportunity for us to get up here, be in a hostile environment and not feel very good," Rhoden said.
SINCE 1998, NIC has won four NJCAA championships, the last coming in 2013. Clackamas won the national title in 2011 in Spokane.
"This is the toughest region in the country," Rhoden said. "And it's not because I'm in it. I'm more stressed about this (district) tournament than I am nationals. You've got to qualify all 10 to be competitive at nationals."
Fortunately for both Clackamas and NIC, they'll send their full 10 to the NJCAA tournament Feb. 27-28 in Des Moines, Iowa.
The last time nationals was held in Des Moines, in '13, NIC and Labette tied with 120 points for the championship. Clackamas finished third.
"We're both hoping to be in that team race," Rhoden said. "And (NIC coach) Pat (Whitcomb) knows as well as I do that it doesn't matter where you qualify, just punch your ticket."
Clackamas finished third at nationals last year, NIC sixth.
"I'm proud of our guys and how they did at regionals," Whitcomb said. "It was a good regional tournament for us, but we've got two weeks of hard practice if we want to make a run at that national championship. If we sit on our butts, it's not going to happen."
Chances are, neither team's fans will have a chance to be sitting on their butts waiting to see how things play out next weekend.
Most likely, they'll be at the edge of their seats.
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 email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.