NJCAA WRESTLING TOURNAMENT: Rest does wonders for Cardinals hopes

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

That extra week worked wonders for the North Idaho College wrestling team.

It gave the coaches a bit of time to reset.

And those wrestlers to get their minds on the task at hand.

Now, it’s business time.

NIC qualified nine of 10 possible wrestlers for the NJCAA Tournament, which begins on Friday at the Mid-American Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

“We’ve had some time to heal the body and feel good about things going in,” said NIC coach Derrick Booth, whose teams competed in the Region 18 Tournament on Feb. 9, a week earlier than most other qualifiers were held. “Everyone knows what’s at stake and has been really locked in to what they need to do in all phases, so that’s been really nice to see.”

NIC's national qualifiers are sophomore Elijah Cater (regional champion at 125 pounds; sixth at nationals in 2024), freshman Hoyt Hvass (133), sophomore Ethan Boulton (141), sophomore Sam Silveria (regional champion at 149), freshman Jacob Hubby (157), freshman Gabe Lake (165), sophomore Hunter Gonzales (174), sophomore Chandler Loveless (197) and freshman Ray Griffin (regional champion at 285).

“We’ve had a different level of focus in the last three weeks and something we haven’t seen all year,” said Booth, who wrestled on NIC’s last NJCAA championship team in 2013. “Everyone is excited and feels good about where they’re at right now. We’ve taken care of business and now it’s time to go scrap.”

Western Wyoming of Rock Springs, Wyo., has won the past two NJCAA championships.

“They’re probably the favorite right now,” said Booth, in his second full season as coach after serving as interim coach in 2023. “They’re a well-balanced team and probably the favorite going in.”

NIC finished sixth at nationals last year.

The tournament begins Friday at 7 a.m. PST, with championship finals scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m.