Nic Fans Inspire Lassen Visitors Deal Cards A Rare Home Defeat

As North Idaho College wrestling coach John Owen had hoped, a big crowd turned out for Saturday’s showdown against Lassen College in Christianson Gym.

Someone else was hoping for a big crowd - Lassen coach Rex Branum.

“Our kids were really fired up,” Branum said after his impressive team handed NIC a rare home loss, 28-12, before a gathering of 920.

“At our JC - at any JC - you don’t get this quality of support with the fans,” Branum said. “I think it helped our kids as much as theirs. And our guys knew it meant a lot to me. I told our guys basically, ‘I don’t care if I lose all the dual matches this year, when you go against North Idaho you’ve got to be competitive.”’

Lassen, the two-time defending national champion, won tight matches at 134 pounds, 158, 167 and 190 to stymie NIC. “I have to compliment Lassen for coming into the house of Cards and responding like they did and winning those close matches,” said NIC coach John Owen, who couldn’t pinpoint his team’s last home defeat. “It was a great crowd. I couldn’t ask for better support from the community.

“All those things were great. The only thing that was bad was the final score.”

It wasn’t as bad as it looked. NIC’s night took a turn for the worse when Lassen’s Kelly Revelles (126) pinned Tony Gomez midway through the second period and NIC’s Jessie Schaeffer (134) dropped a 6-4 decision to Daris Josey.

“Those two were the keys for us, no doubt,” Branum said.

Several matches didn’t go as expected as two national champs lost. NIC national champion Jason Moaney (167) fell into a 7-0 hole in the first 70 seconds. He fought back to tie at 11 late in the third period, but surrendered a takedown with 53 seconds remaining as Markese Nelson upset Moaney 14-13.

NIC’s Trevor Prangley (177) turned in a lightning quick pin of 1995 national champ Joe Watson. Watson appeared to aggravate a rib injury when Prangley tossed him to the mat for a first-period takedown.

Prangley’s pin came on another throw in the second period.

Perhaps the most impressive performances were turned in by Lassen heavyweight Vladimir Matyvshenko, who pinned Thor Strangeland, and Lassen’s super quick T.J. Williams, who routed Ben Shane 18-9 at 142.

Matyvshenko, a sleek 200-pounder from Belarus, who owns wins over U.S. stars Kevin Jackson and Royce Alger in international competition, overwhelmed Strangeland. Williams had eight takedowns against Shane.

NIC defending national champion Mark Janke (150) posted a hard-fought 7-3 victory over Matt Brady. Janke, wrestling in his first match this season after an April knee surgery, was visibly tired, but held on.

“I wasn’t very good, but I got through it. He was no slouch,” Janke said. “I was on empty.”

NIC’s Dan Vega (118) defeated Kevin Radcliff 7-3 to join Janke and Prangley as winners.

Owen wasn’t too concerned with the outcome.

“You can read that score anyway you want … but that was close,” he said. “Last year I beat them badly in a dual and they were able to regroup and win a national title. Based on what I saw, I have to feel we have the talent to compete with Lassen.”

It sounds like both coaches believe the other’s team is the one to beat.

“This is a focus point for us for what we have to do at nationals,” Branum said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo