Nic Gets Second At Nationals Team Title Decided In Day’s Final Match

With one wrestling match left at the National Junior College Tournament, North Idaho College led by a half-point in the team standings.

Josh Clausen had just put NIC on top by winning the 190-pound title, 12-2 over Phil Baroni, of Nassau, N.Y.

But NIC coach John Owen didn’t like his chances. Lassen College heavyweight Vladimir Matyvshenko, the defending national champion, was taking the mat.

Matyvshenko won 11-2 over Clackamas College’s Damien Martindale, giving Lassen its third consecutive team title at the Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Lassen finished with 140 points. North Idaho was second at 135.5 and Ricks College was third at 71.5.

Owen could find little to fault in NIC’s effort.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on the history books. I guarantee that 135 points will win most national titles,” said Owen, falling just shy of his ninth crown. “I told my team this: It’s a shame an effort like this was rewarded with second place.”

Owen even found a bit of irony in the outcome.

“In 1982, I won a national title when my heavyweight, Darryl Peterson, won in the final seconds of the last match,” Owen said. “So everything that goes around comes around. I did a 360.”

Mark Janke (150) and Jason Moaney (167) joined Clausen as individual champions. Janke downed Elijah Roberts, of Lincoln College (Ill.), 15-9 in the finals. Moaney destroyed Lassen’s Markese Nelson 12-2.

Moaney and Janke became NIC’s first two-time national champions since Mark Echevarria won in 1991-92.

Clausen’s crown was hard-earned. He trailed in his semifinal match 5-1, due in part to a questionable referee’s call, Owen said.

“He comes back to tie it at 8 with 20 seconds left, turns the guy and pins him. It was the match of the tournament,” Owen said.

NIC’s Jessie Schaeffer (134) placed second, falling to Iowa Central’s Tony Davis 15-5.

Ben Shane (142) took fourth, Mead High graduate Josh Morton (158) was sixth, Trevor Prangley (177) eighth and heavyweight Aaron McArthur fourth, giving NIC eight All-Americans.

“After we lost to Lassen (28-12 in a December dual), all I wanted was a shot. We got better in the last month,” Owen said. “I had eight returning sophomores and seven of ‘em placed higher than they did last year. That’s what I feel good about - seeing people getting better.”

, DataTimes