Rested Nic Wrestlers Defeat Yakima Valley

Ten days might have been too long of a layoff for the North Idaho College wrestling team, said coach John Owen.

However, Owen’s “flat” Cardinals demolished Yakima Valley 35-12 in a dual meet Tuesday night at Christianson Gymnasium. NIC, ranked No. 1 in the current NJCAA poll, won six of eight matches. The Cardinals take a 4-0 record into Friday’s home dual with Clackamas (Ore.) College.

“The heart was there,” Owen said. “We lacked that knockout punch we needed to have in certain situations.

“They’re young guys, too,” Owen added of his 10-man lineup which featured just one returner off last year’s team that placed third at nationals.

NIC got come-from-behind wins from Spokane freshman Josh Morton (150 pounds) on a takedown in the last 8 seconds, and freshman Josh Clausen (177), who trailed 5-0 in a 9-8 decision.

The Cardinals got a second-period pin from Jason Moaney (167), along with major decisions from Jessie Schaeffer (126) and Orlando Jordan (190).

NIC 35, Yakima Valley 12

118 pounds-Vega (NIC) won by forfeit. 126-Schaeffer (NIC) d. Beers 16-7. 134-Pimentel (YV) p. Shane 1:11. 142-Edgar (NIC) won by forfeit. 150-Morton d. Novak 6-4. 158-Heine (NIC) d. Hagert 10-4. 167-Moaney p. R. Aney 4:55. 177-Clausen (NIC) d. Robertson 9-8. 190-Jordan (NIC) d. Carlson 13-3. Heavyweight-A. Aney p. McArthur 1:09.

, DataTimes