Cardinals line up for title run

One wrestler quit, one left the team to take a job, and one became academically ineligible. Two others moved up a weight class, and three scheduled to redshirt were forced into duty.

North Idaho College’s 2004-05 season didn’t materialize quite as planned. Instead of tacking up its 14th national championship banner, the Cardinals settled for second place.

They’re back with a veteran lineup that figures to provide more stability and position NIC for yet another title run. Seven sophomores are in the starting lineup as NIC opens its season at home against Great Falls on Friday and Montana State-Northern on Saturday. Both matches start at 7:30 p.m.

“What I like is we’re experienced,” NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. “Who cares if they’re tough or not, they know the program. That’s the biggest downfall when you have a real young team is you spend half your time teaching them – not moves, but your philosophy.”

NIC returns three national placers – Jeff Hedges, fifth at 125 pounds; Cody Nicholson, sixth at 133; and Josh Edmondson, third at 184. Josh Erickson (165) and Nick Wright (174) also return and heavyweight Robby Shaw moves into a starting position.

The Cardinals are also counting on Jake Kallestad, who was ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds last year but missed the last half of the season for academic reasons.

NIC’s fortunes, though, might rest on three true freshmen in the starting lineup. South African Heinrich Barnes (141), who placed eighth in the junior worlds, is making the adjustment from freestyle to collegiate-style wrestling. He was recruited to NIC by assistant coach Shaun Williams, a South African and former NIC national champion.

Coby Jones (149), whose older brothers wrestled at NIC, and Jake Friedman (157), a two-time Washington state champion, are slated to start.

“The freshmen have to get it done,” Whitcomb said. “We always put the pressure on the sophomores that they’re expected to get it done. Our freshmen have to step up and being around so many sophomores that expect to win, they kind of look around and say, ‘We’re expected to win.’ “

Others who could work their way into the lineup are Lee Morrison, Kyle Sand, Brett Owen, Tyson Hurst and David Johnson.

“I think we have a few more options (than last year),” Whitcomb said. “Kyle’s already redshirted, and you usually don’t keep an undefeated four-time state champ out of the lineup. So there could be some changes.”