Nic Flattens Ricks Despite Late Letdowns, Cards Show Superiority

North Idaho College wrestling passed its physical on Friday. The Cardinals didn’t do quite as well on their mental test.

“Physically we’re fine,” said NIC coach Pat Whitcomb following a 34-12 dual victory over Ricks at Christianson Gym.

“Our guys wrestled well. Some of them just need to concentrate for the full 7 minutes. We’re wrestling along for 5 minutes, then we kind of go brain dead and let them crawl back in the match.”

For example, NIC’s Justin Springer (150 pounds) used takedowns in the first and third periods to build a 5-2 lead with 50 seconds remaining. But an escape and a stalling call left Springer clinging to a 5-4 lead.

Springer was in a precarious position in the closing seconds, but he grabbed Bill Walker’s leg and held on as the period ended.

Still, the team battle was never in doubt. It was kind of like “Titanic.” You knew what was going to happen before it started.

Ricks forfeited the heavyweight match as No. 1-ranked Dave Anderton was out with a shoulder injury. The Vikings needed monumental efforts to upset the Cardinals, particularly after spotting NIC those six points.

Instead, the Vikings got monumentally uninspired efforts, according to coach Bob Christensen.

“We looked awful,” Christensen said. “I don’t care if we get beat, but you gotta go down fighting. I’m just disappointed because some kids quit. That drives me nuts.”

Shaun Williams got NIC rolling early, though he wasn’t exactly sure how. The 118-pounder was locked in a tight battle with K.C. Rock before registering a startling pin in the third period.

“I just caught him,” said Williams, who improved to 15-5. “I don’t even know what I did.”

NIC’s Jeremy Wynia (134) also won by pin, using a throw to stick Allen Bolen.

Shane Anderson, NIC’s most improved wrestler according to Whitcomb, was sharp in building a 10-7 lead in the third period. He won by injury default over Tom Worton.

“I was in on my shots, but I just had a little lapse there in the third,” said Anderson (20-12).

Worton called it quits for a good reason.

“He has asthma,” Christensen said. “I just watch him and once he gets that pained look… .”

Those looks became common on Vikings faces as NIC’s Trevor Prangley (177) and Thor Strangeland (190) posted fairly easy decisions.

Ricks won three matches, including Aaron Polkowske’s pin of Cole Dennison at 126. NIC starter Jason McClanahan didn’t make weight at 126.

Whitcomb was looking forward to today’s Central Washington Tournament in Ellensburg because he thinks his wrestlers will concentrate better when facing multiple matches.

“It’ll come,” he said. “We just have to stay on it and concentrate for 7 minutes.”

North Idaho 34, Ricks 12

118 - Williams (N) p. Rock 5:44. 126 - Polkowske (R) p. Dennison 6:42. 134 - Wynia (N) p. Bolen 4:19. 142 - Anderson (N) inj. def. over Worton. 150 - J. Springer (N) d. Walker 5-4. 158 - Weiss (R) d. Laslovich 4-2, OT. 167 - Johnson (R) d. B. Springer 8-3. 177 - Prangley (N) d. Dalling 15-10. 190 - Strangeland (N) d. Harris 11-3. Hvy - Neff (N) won by forfeit.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo