NIC freshman Meyer reaches semifinals
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — What a difference a few weeks of rest have made for North Idaho College freshman Trey Meyer of East Valley High in Spokane Valley.
Meyer, in his first trip to the NJCAA wrestling tournament, advanced to the semifinals at 165 pounds for the Cardinals, who are 14th after the first day at the Mid-American Center on Friday.
“That two weeks, what a difference that makes,” said NIC coach Pat Whitcomb of Meyer, who took full advantage of a two-week break between the West Region tournament and nationals to recover from mononucleosis. “He’s still not 100 percent, but he’s at 90 right now, and what a difference that makes. We wish we had two more weeks with him.”
Alex Aguilar (174) and Levi Perry (184) joined Meyer as All-Americans on Friday. Wins by Aguilar and Perry in their first matches today will put them in placing matches.
“There’s been a lot of tears and smiles, but that’s the national tournament,” said Whitcomb, whose Cardinals qualified seven of a possible 10 to nationals. “They call it the end of the road for a reason. Every one of our guys that stepped on the mat did a good job of coming through.”
Four NIC wresters were eliminated on Friday.
Northeast Oklahoma, which claimed last year’s championship, leads with 93 points, followed by Iowa Central in second with 91 and Clackamas in third with 83.5 points.
TEAM SCORES — 1, Northeast Oklahoma 93. 2, Iowa Central 91. 3, Clackamas 83.5. 4, Lincoln 59. 5, Ellsworth 54.5. 6, NIACC 52.5. 7, Camden County 51. 8, Iowa Western 48. 9, Iowa Lakes 46. 10, Southwestern Oregon 45. 11, Rochester 43.5. 12, Northwest 43. 13, Western Wyoming 38. 14, North Idaho 35. 15, Labette 30.5. 16, Nassau 29. 17, Northwest Kansas 22.5. 18, Highline 22. 19, Niagara County 20.5. 20, Harper 17. 21, Spartanburg Methodist 16. 22, Barton 14. 23, Northeastern 11.5. 24, Jamestown 10.5. 25 (tie), Colby, Muskegon 9.5. 27, Minnesota West 8.5. 28 (tie), Mercyhurt (North East), Neosho 8. 30, Triton 5. 31, Northland 4.5. 32 (tie), Pratt, Ridgewater, Rowan-Gloucester 3. 35, Middlesex County 2.5. 36 (tie), Bergen Community, Itasca 1. 38 (tie), Ancilla, Arkansas Baptist, Otero, Thaddeus Stevens, Ulster 0.
NIC RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
First round
133 — Blake Walker, Ellsworth, d. Bryson Beard, NIC, 10-3.
149 — Thomas Stevenson, NIC, d. Samuel Freeman, Western Wyoming, 12-4.
157 — Brent Evans, NIC, md. Dangelo Scott, Ancilla, 19-4.
165 — Trey Meyer, NIC, d. Andrew Voinrein, Northwest, 4-3.
174 — Alex Aguilar, NIC, d. Matt Hebel, Western Wyoming, 11-4.
184 — Levi Perry, NIC, received a bye.
197 — Jeremy Merryweather, NIC, p. Sam Ham, Iowa Western, 5:15.
Second round
149 — Dylan Lucas, Northeast Oklahoma, p. Stevenson, NIC, :56.
157 — Brett Bradford, Rochester, p. Evans, 2:37.
165 — Meyer, NIC, d. Skyler Bloomer, Labette, 13-8.
174 — Nick Vines, Nassau, d. Aguilar, NIC, 5-3.
184 — Perry, NIC, d. Anthony Collins, Ellsworth, 11-9.
197 — Dymere Rappa, Camden County, tf. Merryweather, NIC, 23-8.
Quarterfinals
165 — Meyer, NIC, d. Tucker Black, NIACC, 5-3.
184 — Preston Lauterbach, Iowa Western, p. Perry, NIC, 3:39.
CONSOLATION BRACKET
First round
133 — Beard, NIC, d. Caysen Smith, Barton, 10-9.
Second round
133 — Britches Sikula, Harper, p. Beard, 5:34.
149 — Stevenson, NIC, d. Josh Adams, Ellsworth, 13-7.
Third round
149 — Stevenson, NIC, d. Ethan Reel, Lincoln, 10-1.
157 — Evans, NIC, md. Cole Franklin, Neosho, 14-3.
174 — Aguilar, NIC, md. Ryan Faught, NIACC, 10-0.
197 — Merryweather, NIC, received a bye.
Fourth round
149 — Brandon Murray, Iowa Central, d. Stevenson, NIC, 5:36.
157 — Evans, NIC, d. Dominic Demarco, Camden County, 4-3.
174 — Aguilar, NIC, d. Jordan Juliano, Middlesex, 3-1.
197 — Merryweather, NIC, md. Nick Maximov, Clackamas, 17-7.
Fifth round
157 — John Leal, Clackamas, p. Evans, NIC, 1:33.
174 — Aguilar, NIC, d. Matthew Widdicombe, Northwest, 5-3.
184 — Perry, NIC, d. Devin Crawl, Northeast Oklahoma,
197 — Cedrick Stephens, Nassau, d. Merryweather, NIC, 6-3.