Nic Wrestlers Headed For Nationals Seven Individual Champions Lift Cardinals To Regional Title

Riding the tide of seven individual regional championships, North Idaho College’s wrestling team may be on its way toward a national title.

The second-ranked Cardinals earned their 24th regional championship in 25 years Saturday at Oregon City, Ore., compiling 115 points to overwhelm third-ranked Ricks in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region 18 tournament at Clackamas Community College.

Ricks scored 70.5 points. Highline CC was third with 57 in the field of six. North Idaho won its fourth straight regional meet.

Coach John Owen’s latest NIC team qualified 10 wrestlers for nationals, which are scheduled Feb. 28 through March 1 at Bismarck, N.D. Last year, the Cardinals advanced eight wrestlers to the national meet and finished second.

North Idaho’s Ben Shanne, competing at 142 pounds, was named the regional meet’s outstanding wrestler. Shanne succeeded teammate Mark Janke, who won his second straight regional title at 150.

In the championship round, Shanne downed Jena Pulver of Highline 15-9. Janke defeated Chris Van Sickle of Colorado Northwestern 11-2.

Tony Gomez (126 pounds), Jesse Schaeffer (134), Josh Morton (158), Jason Moaney (167) and Josh Clausen (190) gave NIC its other regional titles. Schaeffer, Morton and Moaney joined Janke by successfully defending their championships. Clausen was a runner-up last winter.

Dan Vega (118) and Trevor Prangley (177) were victorious for the Cardinals in consolation finals. Heavyweight Todd Anderton of Ricks pinned North Idaho’s Aaron McArthur in their consolation final.

The top three finishers in each weight advance to the NJCAA meet.

, DataTimes