Cardinals bounce back, blank Umpqua
ROSEBURG, Ore. — After a setback on Friday, North Idaho College interim wrestling coach Brandon Richardson addressed his fears going forward to his team.
Then they responded.
NIC, ranked fourth in the latest NJCAA poll, fell 30-24 to Southwestern Oregon, then beat host Umpqua 48-0 in the Riverhawk Duals on Friday.
On Thursday, NIC announced Pat Whitcomb — who’d coached the team to four NJCAA titles — was no longer employed by the school after an investigation into academic practices in the program. Assistant coach Keri Stanley remains on paid leave.
“They wrestled like they were upset,” Richardson said. “For the first time in a long time, we lost to Southwestern Oregon. We found ways to lose tonight. In four of those matches, we were winning, and just found ways to lose.”
NIC won six matches by pin against Umpqua.
“Our post match meeting was really good,” Richardson said. “I addressed my fears with them going forward. We’re a super-talented team that have in the back of the mind with the excuse of the things are tough, and they can blame a tough loss on that. It’s not easy for anyone, but I need to know that they’re all-in. For most of them, the All-American honor is right in front of them, they just need to figure it out.”
Izaiah Duran (165), Dylan Lockwood (141), Cooper McCullough (157) and Trager Abatti (174) went unbeaten on the night for NIC, which faces Clackamas — the top-ranked team in the NJCAA — tonight at 5 p.m. in Oregon City.
SOUTHWESTERN OREGON 30, NORTH IDAHO 24
125 — Joel Avila, SO, d. Jacob Garrison, 8-1. 133 — Christian Balagso, SO, d. Nicholas Hara, 5-4. 141 — Dylan Lockwood, NIC, p. Brandon Gibson, 6:49. 149 — AJ Lira, SO, p. Bryce Parson, 4:01. 157 — Cooper McCullough, NIC, p. Coltyn Ringen, 1:48. 165 — Izaiah Duran, NIC, p. Ryan Beck, 2:55. 174 — Trager Abatti, NIC, p. Adrian Rodriguez, 1:11. 184 — Quinn Simard, SO, p. James Scott, 1:05. 197 — Wyatt Westfall, SO, p. Hunter Gregerson, 6:10. 285 — Hunter Hart, SO, p. Connor Sullivan, 6:39.
NORTH IDAHO 48, UMPQUA 0
125 — Jacob Garrison, NIC, p. Nathan Kiddoo, 6:24. 133 — Nicholas Hara, NIC, md. Johnny Maldonado, 18-7. 141 — Dylan Lockwood, NIC, md. Grant Laiblin, 16-5. 149 — Bryce Parson, NIC, p. Garrett Russell, 1:11. 157 — Cooper McCullough, NIC, md. Braydon Wright, 8-0. 165 — Izaiah Duran, NIC, p. Jesse Ramirez, 5:54. 174 — Trager Abatti, NIC, d. Josh Hammers, 2-0. 184 — James Scott, NIC, p. Gottlieb Davis, 6:26. 197 — Hunter Gregerson, NIC, p. Brayden Schultz, 4:10. 285 — Connor Sullivan, NIC, d. Adam Lamb, 3-1.