Nic Import Cools Off Rivals Cameroon Wrestler Djoumessi Makes Rapid Progress

Until a couple of months ago, Alain Djoumessi had never seen snow.

Now, he’s built a snowman, gone sledding and can’t wait to try ice skating.

Until a couple of months ago, the Cameroon native could barely communicate in English. Now, he can hold a conversation and carries a 2.9 grade-point average at North Idaho College.

Until December, he was a virtual unknown in the NIC wrestling room, a 195-pounder without a weight class. Now, he’s the starting heavyweight for the Cardinals, tossing opponents as much as 90 pounds heavier on their backs.

What’s next? How about a date with the defending NJCAA champion, Ricks’ James Humel. The Cardinals entertain Ricks, their fiercest Region 18 rival, tonight at 7:30 at Christianson Gym.

“I don’t know my opponent,” Djoumessi says in improving English, “but I will do my best.”

Win or lose, NIC coach Pat Whitcomb has come to rely on that. He’s seen rapid growth in Djoumessi in every walk of life. Djoumessi was the lesser known of the “Cameroon Connection” referred to NIC by former Cardinals wrestler Shaun Williams, who had seen Djoumessi and fellow countryman Blondel Assonken at the All-African championships.

Assonken, who is out with a dislocated shoulder, was more fluent in English and initially had to translate Whitcomb’s instructions to Djoumessi. Both Cameroon natives had to learn U.S. collegiate-style wrestling and rules.

“Alain’s caught on quick, especially living with a couple of other wrestlers,” Whitcomb said. “He’ll answer the phone now when I call.”

The Cardinals were set at 184 pounds with Ry Stone and at 197 with David Sandberg. Whitcomb, on a whim, tried Djoumessi at heavyweight in mid-December.

“When we first got in the (practice) room, he was a flat athlete. If he was born in the U.S., he’d be a football player, probably a tight end,” Whitcomb said. “I remember one of his challenge matches goes overtime, and we have to explain to him what that meant. Then it goes double overtime, and we have to explain the flip, so he was a little frustrated at first.”

Djoumessi quickly began turning his size disadvantage into an advantage. He grew up wrestling heavier opponents in Cameroon. Recently against a Central Washington opponent, Djoumessi was giving up 90 pounds - and won easily.

“It is hard because they are strong and heavy,” he says. “But I want to wrestle in this (weight) class. I lose the habit of wrestling smaller guys.”

Djoumessi is in excellent shape, a tribute to playing soccer when he was a youngster. He’s active in a weight class that sometimes results in two tiring wrestlers leaning on one another. He says he might try out for NIC’s soccer team next year.

Djoumessi came to Coeur d’Alene with one goal - become a better wrestler. He’s succeeded, and says that, with continued training, he can get better.

But he’s also enjoyed several side benefits. He has cut down a Christmas tree, taken a liking to country music and hamburgers, and taught some of his teammates French phrases.

Known by the nickname “Jooms” to teammates and coaches, Djoumessi has no complaints with Coeur d’Alene, just Mother Nature.

“People are very nice here, always smiling. It’s a nice city. It’s fun and I like it here,” he says.

“But it’s too cold!”