NIC entertains wrestling powers
They are separated by 725 miles on the map, but rarely by more than a spot or two in the NJCAA wrestling rankings.
North Idaho College and Lassen renew their rivalry tonight at Christianson Gym and they should have lots of company. NIC is billing it as “Pack the House” night, an event featuring prep duals, a celebrity sumo match and the main event between two traditional NJCAA powers.
“Our guys are always ready to wrestle when Lassen comes to town,” NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. “And the nice thing is there’s no looking past them because we have Northwest College (Powell, Wyo.) coming in next.”
NIC has won 13 national championships. Lassen, of Susanville, Calif., has won four titles and finished runner-up last year to Northwest College, which visits NIC at 7:30 p.m. Friday. NIC and Lassen shared the 1998 NJCAA crown. Lassen coach Rex Branum also won two NJCAA titles during his tenure at Lincoln (Ill.) College.
“Rex is a good guy, but he’s intense,” Whitcomb said. “We get along pretty well, but we also love to beat the heck out of each other.”
The first NJCAA poll is expected to be released later this month, so this week’s results should heavily influence the rankings. Iowa Central, Colby and Labette are also considered contenders.
Lassen will apparently be without three starters, but the team has more potential than last year’s crew, assistant coach Joe Arminas said. “On paper, we’re better than last year, but paper doesn’t mean anything. Our lineup has fewer holes if we can get everybody in there.”
Arminas said starters at 184, 197 and 285 pounds won’t be in the lineup tonight. The loss of Kelly Anundson, fourth nationally at 285 last year, appears to be the most significant, although he’s replaced by Charles Beasley, a state champion from Oregon.
Lassen is in its second year in Region 18, a conference NIC has ruled for decades. NIC won the regional crown last year, but Lassen placed higher at nationals. NIC took fourth. They’ve faced off once annually the last seven years, but they’ll meet twice this year. The rematch is Jan. 20 in Susanville.
“They’re solid where we’re solid, so it’s kind of a different dual than Northwest will be. We’re hit and miss with Northwest,” Whitcomb said. “It’ll be the same names (in the national picture) after this weekend, but if we can pull off two wins we’re going to be the name. Whoever wins will be the name.”
Northwest College faces defending NAIA champ Montana State-Northern tonight in Havre. Northwest finished well below NIC in the standings at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last week. In the only head-to-head match between the teams, Northwest’s Chase Walker defeated Mike Rogers 4-2.