NJCAA WRESTLING TOURNAMENTS: NIC in fifth after 1st day

| February 28, 2015 8:00 PM

DES MOINES, Iowa - They've got a chance.

But for the North Idaho College wrestling team to win its 15th NJCAA championship, it's going to take a strong showing in the consolation round this morning.

North Idaho finished Friday's opening day of the NJCAA tournament at the Jacobson Exhibition Center fifth with 62.5 points. Region 18 rival Clackamas leads with 94.

Dajour Reece (165 pounds) and Taylor Kornoely (285) advanced to the semifinals for NIC.

"Dajour blew his first guy out of the water, then had some close matches in his second and third match," NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. "Taylor scored a big takedown in the quarters to solidify the win. They both put themselves where they need to be."

Michael Nguyen (125), Bryce Weatherston (141), Tyler McLean (157), Jordan Cooks (174) and Johnathen Dennis (197) remain in the consolation bracket, winning in the fourth round to assure themselves of All-American status for finishing in the top eight.

"It goes without saying that today's a big day," Whitcomb said. "Bryce gets beat, but wins a consolation match by a point, Tyler wins by a few points and Johnathen wins in matches they came up short in last year. If they can wrestle well, we're in good shape. If they all lose, we're not going to do well."

Clackamas has nine semifinalists.

"They're having a good tournament," said Whitcomb of Clackamas. "They're performing really well."

TEAM SCORES - 1, Clackamas 94. 2, Iowa Central 82. 3, North Iowa Area 79. 4, Northeast Oklahoma 73. 5, North Idaho 62.5. 6, Ellsworth 58.5. 7, Muskegon 55.5. 8, Neosho County 51.5. 9, Nassau 50.5. 10, Iowa Lakes 46. 11, Iowa Western 45.5. 12, Labette 45. 13, Harper 44. 14, Gloucester 41.5. 15, Darton 41. 16 (tie), Southwestern Oregon, Springfield Tech 29. 18, Western Wyoming 27.5. 19, Northwest 26. 20, Pratt 23.5. 21, Colby 23. 22, Mercyhurst 22. 23, Itasca 21. 24, Highline 18. 25 (tie), Jamestown, Niagara 17. 27, Northland 14. 28, Ridgewater 10. 29, Lincoln 7. 30, Triton 6. 31 (tie), Sullivan County, Northwest Kansas Tech 5. 33 (tie), Middlesex, Wentworth Military Academy 4. 36, Camden 2. 37, Bergen 1. 38 (tie), Arkansas Baptist, Riverland 0. 40, Minnesota West (-1).

NIC RESULTS

Championship bracket

First round

125 - Michael Nguyen, NIC, p. Mathew Henning, Minnesota West, 2:43. 141 - Bryce Weatherston, NIC, received a bye. 149 - Tyler Booth, NIC, received a bye. 157 - Tyler McLean, NIC, received a bye. 165 - Dajour Reece, NIC, received a bye. 174 - Jordan Cooks, NIC, received a bye. 184 - Brock Warren, Northeast Oklahoma, p. Cruz Del Angel, NIC, 1:11. 197 - Johnathen Dennis, NIC, received a bye. 285 - Taylor Kornoely, NIC, p. Robert Carson, Triton, 1:52.

Second round

125 - Nguyen, NIC, md. Dylan LaPalomento, Gloucester, 13-3. 141 - Weatherston, NIC, md. Zach Wright, Darton, 11-1. 149 - Abbas Tamaradze, Springfield Tech, d. Tyler Booth, NIC, 5-2. 157 - Tyler McLean, NIC, d. Austin Hughley, Pratt, 5-1. 165 - Dajour Reece, NIC, tf. Zachary Colgan, Niagara County, 22-6. 174 - Jacobe Smith, Northeast Oklahoma, d. Jordan Cooks, NIC, 7-6. 197 - Wesley Dodd, Itasca, d. Dennis, NIC, 10-3. 285 - Kornoely, NIC, p. Myron Hamilton, Lincoln College, 4:47.

Quarterfinals

125 - Alfredo Rodriguez, Iowa Lakes, md. Nguyen, NIC, 20-10. 141 - Clay Archer, Northeast Oklahoma, d. Weatherston, NIC, 11-5. 157 - Yoanse Mejias, North Iowa, d. McLean, NIC, 9-4. 165 - Reece, NIC, d. Greg Jaquez, Harper, 9-4. 285 - Kornoely, NIC, d. Dalonte Holland, Ellsworth, 3-1.

Consolation bracket

First round

184 - Del Angel, NIC, received a bye.

Second round

149 - Sam Twistol, Northland, d. Booth, NIC, 5-3. 174 - Cooks, NIC, md. Darick Jones, Neosho, 11-3. 184 - Connor Rosane, Highline, p. Del Angel, NIC, 2:25.

Third round

174 - Cooks, NIC, d. Austin Lynn, Jamestown, 5-2. 197 - Dennis, NIC, md. Kyler Mathews, North Iowa, 14-3.

Fourth round

125 - Nguyen, NIC, p. Josh Antoine, Nassau, 6:39. 141 - Weatherston, NIC, d. Tyler Stenberg, Muskegon, 10-9. 157 - McLean, NIC, d. Gavin Grater, Colby, 5-2. 174 - Cooks, NIC, p. Sadarriss Patterson, Ellsworth, 1:11. 197 - Dennis, NIC, md. Cylas Dorety, Gloucester, 13-5.