NIC WRESTLING: Cardinals whip Cougars for second time this season
JASON ELLIOTT/Press North Idaho College freshman Kobi Johnson attempts to put the shoulders of Clackamas freshman Kai Matsunga to the mat during their match at 125 pounds on Friday at Christianson Gymnasium.
JASON ELLIOTT/Press North Idaho College sophomore Benjamen Mitchell overwhelms Jacob Kessinger of Clackamas in their match at 157 pounds on Friday.
By JASON ELLIOTT
Sports writer
COEUR d’ALENE — There’s plenty of reasons why Post Falls High product Ethan Miller might have chosen to transfer from Ellsworth Community College to North Idaho College.
Maybe the biggest played out on Friday night at Christianson Gymnasium.
Miller, who trailed 4-1 after the first period, caught Clackamas freshman Rocky Raby near the end of the second period, earning a pin in 4 minutes and 57 seconds at 174 pounds, clinching a 27-14 dual victory for the Cardinals, ranked 10th in the latest NJCAA poll over the top-ranked Cougars of Oregon City, Ore.
“It’s huge, especially coming home and being local,” Miller said. “So I get those fans that used to come out that used to come to my high school matches. It’s great to be in front of them, especially against a good team like Clackamas. They're the four-time national champs, so it’s a big win for us.”
Freshman Kobi Johnson of Greeley, Colo., opened the night with a pin of Kai Matsunaga in 34 seconds at 125 for NIC, which had wins in seven of the first nine matches.
“There’s always an extra spirit in the building,” NIC coach Derrick Booth said. “Especially last night, and having the dedication for (retiring NIC head athletic trainer) Randy Boswell. We had a little extra motivation to come out on top for him for the last time. On top of that, the Clackamas rivalry, we’re always going to have some extra juice for that every time they come to town.”
“It’s awesome,” Johnson said. “I like being able to come out and get things started all the time. I feel like the way I wrestle kind of dictates the way that we wrestle and the energy that we come with.”
Booth, a 2010 Post Falls High graduate, was an assistant coach at Ellsworth in 2021-22, but returned home to pursue other opportunities before being named interim coach in October.
“He’s done a great job of leading this team,” Miller said. “I got a little bit of that when he was an assistant at Ellsworth, so I kind of knew what to expect. We’ve been working hard, and it shows.”
Benjamen Mitchell also had a pin at 165 pounds for NIC, which beat Clackamas 28-18 in a dual in Oregon City.
The dual win in December was the Cardinals' first over Clackamas since 2015.
“It’s baby steps, but we’re on the right track,” Booth said. “We do everything for our guys. The national titles, the All-Americans, that stuff will take care of itself. We believe in our guys and they do the right things. And good things are going to happen.”
“We’re headed in a great direction with the new coaches,” Johnson said. “They’re awesome and have been doing great things and helping us do great things. I’m excited to be here this year and next year.”
“We talk about it all the time in the wrestling room, it’s the ‘Cardinal standard,’” Booth said. “And that’s attitude and effort. Effort and attitude for seven minutes. Our cardio is up with any bodies, and we’ll go out and break guys. We’ll push the pace and fight. There’s going to be no easy matches for anyone. The attitude and effort was there tonight.”
“What Derrick is doing here, it’s outstanding,” said first-year Clackamas head coach Brett Sanchez, an assistant for the Cougars the past four seasons. “One thing that we always had an edge on NIC in general was cardio and wrestling through the entire match. What I’ve seen throughout this year, every NIC wrestler is in top shape and wrestling to the end of the match. Even if they’re not winning some of these matches, they’re still bringing it and winning matches.”
NIC competes in the Apodaca Duals next Friday and Saturday at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo.
125 — Kobi Johnson, NIC, p. Kai Matsunaga, :34. 133 — double forfeit. 141 — Brant Porter, NIC, d. Justin Rodriguez, 7-6. 149 — Kanai Tapia, NIC, d. Peyton Hughes, 11-5. 157 — Benjamen Mitchell, NIC, p. Jacob Kessinger, 3:47. 165 — Steele Starren, Clack, md. Ledger Petracek, 12-1. 174 — Ethan Miller, NIC, p. Austin Raby, 4:57. 184 — Travis Waldner, NIC, d. Andrew Balukas, 5-1. 197 — Michael Gasper, Clack, md. Bradley Whitwright, 10-2. 285 — Braden Pease, Clack, p. Kyle Caldwell, 2:31.
