NJCAA WRESTLING TOURNAMENT: NIC's Reece, runner-up last year, seeks national title

Always a contender this time of year to add another national championship to its collection, the North Idaho College wrestling team will have a different role this year as the NJCAA tournament opens today at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Spoiler.

With only two wrestlers qualifying from the West District Championships — sophomore Dajour Reece at 165 pounds and sophomore heavyweight Damian Trujillo — the Cardinals won’t factor into the final team scoring for the first time in almost four decades.

Reece, who was a runner-up at nationals last year, injury defaulted in the West District Championship on Feb. 13 in Des Moines, Wash., to rest his surgically repair meniscus. Trujillo won the regional title at 285 after his opponent injury defaulted.

In addition, NIC coach Pat Whitcomb is serving a suspension for the flagrant ejection of a wrestler during a dual with Southwestern Oregon on Jan. 22. With the NIC roster depleted by injuries, the Cardinals had to cancel their final two matches of the regular season and Whitcomb was unable to serve his suspension.

The team will be coached this weekend by assistant coaches Keri Stanley and Tyson Springer.

Wrestling begins today at 7:30 a.m. with the first round and second round at 10. Quarterfinals are scheduled for today at 4:15 p.m.

Championship semifinals are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, with the finals at 4 p.m.

Live streaming of the tournament is available at www.flowrestling.com.