Cardinals qualify seven of a possible 10 to nationals

COOS BAY, Ore. — In the past, a top-three finish at the national-qualifying tournament would have guaranteed a North Idaho College wrestler a trip to nationals.

But when Western Wyoming and Northwest College of Powell, Wyo., pulled out of the West Region in favor of a more favorable region in Kansas, that left NIC and the three remaining teams just two guaranteed spots in each weight class at the West Region championships Sunday at Southwestern Oregon Community College.

A total of eight wild cards in the 10 weights — as voted on by the four head coaches — were available for those who finished out the top two in each weight.

And while NIC had four second-place finishers and six third-place finishers, only three of the third-place finishers received wild-card berths. So the Cardinals will send seven to the NJCAA tournament Feb. 24-25 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

“We knew when the Wyoming teams pulled out, that opened the door to leave some people home,” NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. “We’ve got to take the seven that we qualified back to the national tournament and make some noise.”

But first, Whitcomb made some noise after Sunday’s tournament.

NIC had four regional runners-up — Thomas Stevenson (149 pounds), Brent Evans (157), Levi Perry (184) and Jeremy Merryweather (197).

Three of the Cardinals’ third-place finishers — Bryson Beard (133), Trey Meyer (165) and Alex Aguilar (174) — received wild-card berths.

NIC’s other three third-place finishers — Garrett White (125), Hasaan Hawthorne (141) and James Sullivan (285) — did not.

“They took two kids (for wild-card berths) that didn’t win a match at regionals (at 184 and 197),” Whitcomb said. “I’m one vote of four. Our three that didn’t go, either pinned or tech falled their guys in the third-place match. Garrett White is ranked sixth in the nation and he’s staying home.”

With just four teams, the tourney consisted of two rounds. Those who won their first (semifinal) matches qualified for nationals. Those who didn’t had to leave it up to the coaches afterward.

“It is a qualifying tournament for a reason,” Whitcomb said. “And if you have a terrible day, that’s the breaks. It’s just a hard one to swallow. Our kids all came back strong after losing in the semis; they made their statement. I love my kids, but I would have had a hard time putting my wrestler up for a wild card that didn’t win a match.”

Whitcomb said it appears Umpqua Community College of Roseburg, Ore., is planning to add wrestling next year, which would increase the number of national qualifiers from the West Region.

Clackamas of Oregon City, Ore., won the regional tournament with 104.5 points. North Idaho was a distant second with 70, followed by Southwestern Oregon (67) and Highline (48.5).

TEAM SCORES — 1, Clackamas 104.5. 2, North Idaho 70. 3, Southwestern Oregon 67. 4, Highline 48.5.

125

Semifinals — David Campbell (Clackamas) d. Izaak Grubbs (Southwestern Oregon) 12-7; Jesus Torres (Highline) d. Garrett White (North Idaho College) 7-5, OT

Championship — David Campbell (Clackamas) p. Jesus Torres (Highline), 2:20.

Third place — Garrett White (North Idaho College) p. Izaak Grubbs (Southwestern Oregon), 2:17

133

Semifinals — Beau Shatto (Southwestern Oregon) d. Bryson Beard (North Idaho College), 5-4, OT; Nathan Johnson (Clackamas) p. Claudeus Laude (Highline), 2:24.

Championship — Nathan Johnson (Clackamas) md. Beau Shatto (Southwestern Oregon), 11-0.

Third-place — Bryson Beard (North Idaho College) tf. Claudeus Laude (Highline), 17-2.

141

Semifinals — Kurt Mode (Clackamas) p. Hasaan Hawthorne (North Idaho College), 3:00; Andrew Ramirez (Highline) d. Marcus Martin (Southwestern Oregon), 2-1.

Championship — Kurt Mode (Clackamas) d. Andrew Ramirez (Highline), 6-3.

Third place — Hasaan Hawthorne (North Idaho College) tf. Marcus Martin (Southwestern Oregon), 18-2.

149

Semifinals — Josh Reyes (Clackamas) p. Cody Greene (Southwestern Oregon), 4:09; Thomas Stevenson (North Idaho College) p. Antonio Nieves (Highline), 4:16.

Championship — Josh Reyes (Clackamas) d. Thomas Stevenson (North Idaho College), 1-0.

Third place — Antonio Nieves (Highline) tf. Cody Greene (Southwestern Oregon),18-0.

157

Semifinals — John Leal (Clackamas) p. Cole Morrison (Highline), 4:40; Brent Evans (North Idaho College) p. Cole Hornbrook (Southwestern Oregon), 3:53.

Championship — John Leal (Clackamas) md. Brent Evans (North Idaho College), 8-0.

Third place — Cole Hornbrook (Southwestern Oregon) p. Cole Morrison (Highline) 3:35.

165

Semifinals — Lucius Van rensburg (Southwestern Oregon) p. Bobby Jackson (Highline), :59; Dillon Ulrey (Clackamas) d. Trey Meyer (North Idaho College), 9-3.

Championship — Lucius Van rensburg (Southwestern Oregon) p. Dillon Ulrey (Clackamas), 4:18.

Third place — Trey Meyer (North Idaho College) p. Bobby Jackson (Highline), :37.

174

Semifinals — Colt Doyle (Clackamas) p. Jacob Zocco (Highline), 1:46; Adrian Lyons-lopez (Southwestern Oregon) d. Alex Aguilar (North Idaho College), 7-5, OT

Championship — Colt Doyle (Clackamas) tf. Adrian Lyons-lopez (Southwestern Oregon), 20-5.

Third place — Alex Aguilar (North Idaho College), md. Jacob Zocco (Highline Community College), 10-1.

184

Semifinals — Haszell West (Clackamas) d. Mario Luevano (Highline), 8-5; Levi Perry (North Idaho College) d. Tyler Webley (Southwestern Oregon), 7-4.

Championship — Haszell West (Clackamas) d. Levi Perry (North Idaho College), 7-2.

Third place — Mario Luevano (Highline) d. Tyler Webley (Southwestern Oregon Community College) 0-2 (Dec 7-4)

197

Semifinals — Wyatt Westfall (Southwestern Oregon) d. Joshua Wessels (Highline), 8-2; Jeremy Merryweather (North Idaho College) d. Nick Maximov (Clackamas), 15-9.

Championship — Wyatt Westfall (Southwestern Oregon) md. Jeremy Merryweather (North Idaho College), 10-2.

Third place — Joshua Wessels (Highline) d. Nick Maximov (Clackamas), 5-3, OT.

285

Semifinals — Miguel Morales (Highline) d. Andrew Tausch (Clackamas), 4-0; Timothy Smith (Southwestern Oregon) p. James Sullivan (North Idaho College), 6:14.

Championship — Miguel Morales (Highline) d. Timothy Smith (Southwestern Oregon), 8-5.

Third place — James Sullivan (North Idaho College) p. Andrew Tausch (Clackamas), :37.