Cardinals finish 4th at nationals

DES MOINES, Iowa – Three North Idaho College wrestlers finished in second place and another added a third-place finish as the Cardinals took fourth place at the NJCAA national tournament Saturday.

Harper College, a nonscholarship school in Illinois, won the national team title with 137 points. The Cardinals scored 99 to finish behind Iowa Central (116) and Labette CC of Kansas (105.5).

Celic Bell (184 pounds), Kamron Jackson (197) and Roger McCovey (285) all won their Saturday semifinals to advance to the finals for the Cardinals.

After defeating Arber Bebo from Harper 10-2, Bell lost to Deron Winn of Meramec (Mo.) CC 6-2 in the title match.

Jackson dropped a 14-6 major decision to Walker Clark of Labette after advancing to the title match at 197 with a narrow 4-3 decision against Northwest Wyoming’s Mark Jones.

McCovey started the final day with a pin of Stanley Lattimore from Ellsworth (Iowa) CC in 2:27, but lost 5-0 to Landon Harris of Northwest Wyoming in his final match.

The Cardinals’ Kyle McCrite rebounded from a loss in Friday’s second round to win four consecutive matches and earn third place at 125.

In his final match, McCrite bested Eduardo Domingquez of national champion Harper 13-10.

Also medaling for the Cardinals was Jesse Nielsen, who took sixth place at 165. The freshman won four matches in the consolation bracket before dropping his last two matches.