NIC WRESTLING: NIC wrestlers limp into postseason
Some teams have off years — it happens — a lot of times when you least expect it.
Injuries, eligibility and other factors often play a role in that, but not that often for a program like 14-time national wrestling champion North Idaho College.
This has been one of those rare years.
NIC had to postpone its sophomore night match against Simon Fraser on Jan. 27, as well as a trip to the Apodaca Duals in Powell, Wyo., to conclude the regular season on Jan. 29-30.
“It’s been an odd year for sure,” said NIC coach Pat Whitcomb, in his 19th season as Cardinals coach. “I wish I could say that they all got better, but we lost another kid in the last two weeks.”
Sophomore Deondre Wilson, the top-ranked wrestler in the NJCAA at 141 pounds, will miss the tournament after his appeal was denied by the NJCAA. Wilson, who had a misconduct penalty enforced in a dual at Southwestern Oregon on Jan. 22 and had to sit two matches, was not allowed to participate this weekend.
“He’s not with us and it’s a heartbreaker for sure,” Whitcomb said. “He tore his ACL last year and missed out on nationals, so I really feel bad for him. We’re going to struggle, but we’ve got to go with the guys we’ve got.”
NIC competes at the West District championships (formerly the Region 18 tournament) today at Highland Community College in Des Moines, Wash. It will mark the first competition for the Cardinals since the Clackamas Open on Jan. 24 in Oregon City, Ore.
In a normal year, NIC would be trying to qualify all 10 to nationals, and almost always did. This year, the Cardinals have entered just six wrestlers to the national-qualifying tournament.
The Cardinal lineup today will consist of Garrett White (125 pounds), Issac Aguilar (133), Jaren Samanuang (149), Dajour Reece (165), Tim Parten (174) and Damian Trujillo (285).
Reese, who tore his meniscus during the finals of the Clackamas Open, had surgery last week.
“He seems to be doing good following the surgery,” Whitcomb said. “We’re hoping to get him to the finals and forfeit him to rest him. I think he’ll be fine.”
NIC will have open spots in its lineup at 141, 157, 184 and 197.
“It’s definitely been an odd year trying to qualify all 10,” Whitcomb said. “Some of them, it will be a struggle to qualify. We’ll see how everyone fits in. But they’ll have to win at least two matches, but most of them know they’ll have to finish in the top three to get to nationals.”
The top three wrestlers, as well as wild cards in each weight, advance to the NJCAA tournament is Feb. 26-27 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Wilson could receive a wild card to nationals, but Whitcomb added it’s a long shot.
“I told him to prepare for the worst when we lost that appeal,” Whitcomb said. “We’ve got to move forward with the guys we’ve got. Every year, you’re going to have your challenges. We’ve been thinking kind of ‘what else could go wrong,’ and it did. Our job as coaches is to shield the guys from it. We’ve had seasons where we’ve lost one guy, but this year, it’s been 15. Hopefully we’ve got it out of our system this year and can move forward.”