Kernodle Turns Tide As Nic Downs Central
North Idaho College freshman Seth Kernodle found himself in an unusual position entering his 167-pound match in Tuesday night’s non-league wrestling dual at Christianson Gymnasium.
The Cardinals, undefeated over the past two seasons and usually well ahead on the scoreboard by the time Kernodle wrestles, were tied with Central Washington University at 12-12.
Kernodle, a Mead High graduate from Spokane, opened a 7-1 lead on sophomore Dave French and finished with a 13-3 major decision.
More importantly, Kernodle set off a string of three consecutive NIC decisions, as the Cardinals tripped the Wildcats 23-15.
“First you go out there to win, after that you go out to do the best you can,” Kernodle said.
Kernodle scored a pair of takedowns in the opening two minutes, then settled in with the head and arm pin combination during the closing 1:10 of the first period. But French scooted out of bounds at 8 seconds and gave up three near-fall points.
“We were too close to out of bounds, I was trying to pull him back in, but wasn’t able to,” Kernodle explained.
“That was a very important win for us,” NIC coach John Owen said of Kernodle. “He did a really good job.”
At the midway point, NIC guarded a slim 12-6 advantage.
The Wildcats picked up some momentum behind an 11-9 sudden death overtime win by returning NAIA AllAmerican Brett Lucas over NIC’s returning NJCAA All-American Rick Moreno.
“I just didn’t feel we were finishing our takedowns,” Owen said. “We were wrestling in spurts. Rick (Moreno) lost (by) wrestling in spurts.
“We wrestled on the edge way too much,” Owen added. “Basically, we got to their legs. It cost us dearly.”
Central Washington, ranked No. 9 among NAIA teams, pulled even with the Cardinals, ranked No. 2 among NJCAA teams, behind a NIC forfeit at 158.
Sophomore Scott Surplus gave NIC some breathing room with a 14-3 major decision over Ryan Elsmore at 177, and sophomore Travis Hughes worked for a 5-3 decision over Dan Hamilton at 190.
Hughes scored all of his points in the third round, including two takedowns in the last 1:01.
The Cardinals won three of the first four matches.
Sophomore Kirk Hartzell held off Central Washington All-American Jason Baril, 4-1, at 118. A two-point near fall boosted Hartzell in the closing 1:30.
Sophomore Matt Paulson padded his 11-5 decision at 126 over the Wildcats Layton Smiley with six points in the third period.
NIC freshman standout Bob Presta notched the lone pin of the night, rolling Chad Hendricks to his back in 2:33. Hendricks is an ex-Cardinal.
“He’s in good condition, and he’s wrestling awesome,” Kernodle said of Presta. “He’s wrestling real impressive for having knee surgery in the middle of the year. He’s wrestling flawlessly.”
NIC ended the regular season with an 18-0 record, and is 33-0 over the past two years. The Wildcats fell to 9-3.
“Mostly, we did pretty good,” Central Washington coach Nick Daugherty said. “I can’t take anything away from North Idaho. They’re tougher than nails.”
The Cardinals are idle until the Region 18 Tournament on Feb. 11 in Longview, Wash.
“We’ll have to wrestle as a team to win the regional tournament,” Owen said. “We’re going to have to get all 10 people to come through for us.”
NIC 23, CWU 15
118 pounds - Hartzell (NIC) dec. Baril 4-1. 126 - Paulson (NIC) d. Smiley 11-5. 134 - Doctor (CWU) d. Edgar 7-6. 142 - Presta (NIC) pinned Hendricks 2:33. 150 - Lucas (CWU) d. Moreno 11-9 OT. 158 - Pine (CWU) won by forfeit. 167 - Kernodle (NIC) d. French 13-3. 177 - Surplus (NIC) d. Elsmore 14-3. 190 - Hughes (NIC) d. Hamilton 5-3. Heavyweight - Boe (CWU) d. Rosen 5-1.