Cardinals roll in debut of new coach Sebaaly

YAKIMA, Wash. — As only the fifth wrestling coach in 50 years at North Idaho College, Mike Sebaaly stressed the importance of getting back to what put the 14 NJCAA titles in the trophy case.

NIC won two matches by major decision against NAIA Eastern Oregon in a 26-19 season-opening win at the Yakima Convention Center on Saturday.

“We wanted to get out to a fast start,” Sebaaly said. “We had seven freshmen getting their first time on the mat of the season, and we started out really strong.”

Freshmen Cohle Feliciano (285 pounds) and Salvador Silva (149) won by pin, sophomore Jacob Swift (157) and freshman Isaac Lopez (125) by major decision for NIC.

“Cohle got the ball rolling for us and Isaac was really aggressive,” Sebaaly said. “Salvador and Jacob really swung the match in our favor after giving up some points to them. It’s early in the year, and we got pinned in some situations where we knew to get bailed out. It wasn’t our best, but we got the season started off right.”

NIC competes in the Trapper Open next Saturday at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo.

285 — Cohle Feliciano, NIC, p. Justin Wilson, 1:07. 125 — Isaac Lopez, NIC, md. Hunter Nees, 16-5. 133 — Monte Zufelt, EO, p. Bryce Miller, 5:25. 141 — Blake McNall, EO, md. Alex Lopez, 10-0. 149 — Salvador Silva, NIC, p. Clay Johnson, 3:53. 157 — Jacob Swift, NIC, md. Jesse Camacho, 16-5. 165 — Navarro Nanpuya, NIC, d. John Bittinger, 12-5. 174 — Keegan Mulhill, EO, p. Alan Badley, 1:52. 184 — Marco Retano, EO, d. Isaac Gomez, 6-3. 197 — Hunter Gregerson, NIC, d. Ryan Redford, 8-7.