Iowa Central aims to repeat as NJCAA national champion this weekend
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by Johnny Johnson, Special to TheMat.com
Iowa Central is looking to repeat as the NJCAA national champion, but the race looks to be between Northeast Oklahoma and Clackamas. NEO has eight ranked wrestlers as does Clackamas, and the Norse have three top ranked wrestlers and two other projected finalist, However, never count out the Tritons!
Last year’s NJCAA national championship was probably the best NJCAA finish in history! Only seven points separated first from third place and the tournament was not determined until the last match of the finals!!! The JUCO finals was like a prize fight, one blow and a knock down, and another blow to the leader and a recovery!
Iowa Central claimed its eighth NJCAA wrestling national title in dramatic fashion last year at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. Entering the finals, the national title was within striking distance for three perennial powers in NJCAA wrestling as the Tritons - along with Clackamas (Ore.) and defending champion Northeastern Oklahoma A&M – exchanged the top spot on the team leaderboard six times over the course of the 10 championship bouts.
The team battled throughout the two day event with Iowa Central and Northeast Oklahoma as the lead changed in the finals a total of 5 times. Clackamas took the lead after Colt Doyle won the National Championship at 174 pounds but Clackamas would be passed at the final weight class of the night as Iowa Central’s heavyweight would win by fall in the finale to take the lead for good.
Trialing Clackamas by two and a half points (146.5 to 144), the national title was ultimately decided on the last match of the evening when Iowa Central’s Thomas Petersen handled Mario Pena of North Iowa Area in the heavyweight final. Petersen’s pin lifted Iowa Central to 150 points to surpass Clackamas. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M settled for third place with 143.
Thomas Peterson clinched Iowa Central’s national title dreams in the final match of the NJCAA national tournament. Petersen earned a fall in the 285 pound championship to give the Tritons (150) the crown, climbing past Clackamas (146.5). Heading into the final match, Iowa Central just needed a win, but Peterson earned the fall in 2:33.
This was Iowa Central’s first championship since 2015 and seventh overall. “I have been riding an emotional roller coaster since we got here,” Moffitt said. “With missed calls, video calls overturned, I think this was a lot tougher on the coaching staff. “It was pretty special to win the way we did, coming down to the final match.”
Petersen’s title was the third championship of the night for the Tritons, as Todd Small picked up a 4-3 decision over David Campbell of Clackamas at 125 pounds.
Dayton Racer (157) cruised to the championship with a 13-0 major decision over Brett Bradford of Rochester. Small, Racer and Petersen’s national titles, gives the Tritons 20 individual champions in school history. Zac Hensley suffered a 10-6 loss to Sean DeShazer of Northeast Oklahoma in the 133 pound final, which brought NEO onto a tight race for the titles. Antrez Clagon (174) and Brandon Murray (149) both finished fourth. De’Andre Reed (141) was sixth and Danny Bush (184) finished eighth.
The 2017 national title marks the eighth in program history for Iowa Central and sixth since 2006 – all under the direction of head coach Luke Moffitt. Iowa Central’s eight national championships in NJCAA wrestling ranks second all-time to North Idaho’s 14. Eight Iowa Central wrestlers finished on the podium stand with top 8 finishes. Todd Small (125#), Dayton Racer (149#) and Thomas Peterson (285#) each won individual titles for Iowa Central.
The Clackamas Community College wrestling team ended the best regular season in school history with a second-place finish at the NJCAA National Championships earning an amazing eight All-Americans with five National Finalists. Clackamas had two individual champions: Josh Reyes (149#) and Colt Doyle (174#), and Northeastern Oklahoma also had two individual champions: Sean Deshazer (133#) and Wyatt Jordan (165#). Earning a trip to the National finals were: David Campbell, Josh Reyes, Dillon Ulrey, Colt Doyle and Haszell West. Wrestling back to medal were: Kurt Mode 3rd, Nathan Johnson 4th and John Leal 7th. Nick Maximov also scored points for the Cougars at 197 pounds. Winning individual national titles for the Cougars were Josh Reyes (149) and Colt Doyle (174).
Rochester (Minn.) was the top non-scholarship program in the team standings coming in ninth overall with 61.5 points. Rochester looks to win non-scholarship title again with Nassau in the hunt!
This year looks to be equally competitive.
NJCAA RANKINGS 2/20/2018
125
1. Nodir Safarov - Northwest
2. Benny Gomez – Muskegon
3. Esco Walker – North Idaho
4. Marcelino Lopez – Cowley
5. Boo Dryden – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
6. Francisco Barrera – Southwestern Oregon
7. Javier Moreno – Ellsworth
8. Jacob Mendoza – Highline
133
1. Todd Small – Iowa Central
2. Justin Folley – Ellsworth
3. Munhbat Baterdene – Northwest Kansas Tech
4. Austin Wallace-Lister – Highline
5. D’Andre Brumfield – Iowa Western
6. Kyle Mock – Nassau
7. Gage Gomez – Barton
8. Tanner Reetz – Itasca
141
1. Cody Karstetter – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
2. Ralphy Tovar – Clackamas
3. Austin Anderly – NIACC
4. Tyree Johnson – Triton
5. Christian Kanzler – Lincoln
6. Eric Clarke – Iowa Central
7. John Arceri – Nassau
8. Keaton Sander - Barton
149
1. Kendon Lee – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
2. Kenny Astle – Western Wyoming
3. Jasiah William – Clackamas
4. Brent Evens – North Idaho
5. Mark Voss - Ridgewater
6. Chris Meloni – Nassau
7. Dren Bartrum – Muskegon
8. Michael Zachary – Iowa Western
157
1. Kade Sander - Barton
2. Ethan Karsten – Iowa Central
3. Isaiah Diggs – Clackamas
4. Steven Lawrence – Ellsworth
5. Alfred Daniel – Rochester
6. Tristan Guaman - Harper
7. Anthony Maia – Iowa Lakes
8. Brandon Harris – Spartanburg
165
1. Wyatt Jordan - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
2. Troy Keller - Niagara
3. Dillon Ulrey – Clackamas
4. Jose Rodriguez – Iowa Central
5. Bunmi Smith – Iowa Lakes
6. Tucker Tomlinson – Western Wyoming
7. Michial Foy – Harper
8. Nick Dado – Joliet
174
1. Dylan Reel – Clackamas
2. Matt Hebel – Western Wyoming
3. David Kelly – Barton
4. Devin Crawl - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
5. Shane Siewert – Rochester
6. Brady Vogel – Iowa Central
7. Michael Abidin – Nassau
8. Bailey Schutt – Thadeus Stevens
184
1. Tanner Harvey – Southwestern Oregon
2. Alex Kauffman – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
3. Connor Kirkland – Western Wyoming
4. Jeff Oakes – Northwest
5. Levi Perry – North Idaho
6. Nick Maximov – Clackamas
7. Ottis Peeler – Iowa Western
8. Isaiah Cox – Iowa Lakes
197
1. Tyree Sutton – Iowa Central
2. Tim Young – Ellsworth
3. Gage Harrah – Clackamas
4. Cory Schmidts - Itasca
5. Mason Hawkins – Rochester
6. Seth Ham – Iowa Western
7. Wade French – Western Wyoming
8. Zeke Silva – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
285
1. Damion Trujillo – North Idaho
2. Brian Andrews - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
3. Odgerek Batkhishig - Northwest Kansas Technical College
4. Lisiate Anau – Northwest
5. Darryl Aiello – Clackamas
6. Andrew Pistillo – Iowa Western
7. Luis Pinto – Rochester
8. Brix Brickey – Barton
RANK SCHOOL POINTS
1 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 91
2 Clackamas 81
3 Iowa Central 65
4 Western Wyoming 44
5 North Idaho 42
6 Ellsworth 37
7 Barton 36
8 Northwest Wy 34
9 Iowa Western 26
10 Rochester 25
11 SW Oregon 22
12 Nassau 20
12 Northwest Kansas Tech. 20
14 Muskegon 16
15 Iowa Lakes 14
16 Highline 12
16 Itasca 12
16 Niagara 12
19 Harper 10
19 NIACC 10
21 Cowley 9
21 Triton 9
23 Lincoln 7
23 Ridgewater 7
25 Joliet 3
25 Spartanburg 3
25 Thadeus Stevens 3
Last year’s NJCAA national championship was probably the best NJCAA finish in history! Only seven points separated first from third place and the tournament was not determined until the last match of the finals!!! The JUCO finals was like a prize fight, one blow and a knock down, and another blow to the leader and a recovery!
Iowa Central claimed its eighth NJCAA wrestling national title in dramatic fashion last year at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. Entering the finals, the national title was within striking distance for three perennial powers in NJCAA wrestling as the Tritons - along with Clackamas (Ore.) and defending champion Northeastern Oklahoma A&M – exchanged the top spot on the team leaderboard six times over the course of the 10 championship bouts.
The team battled throughout the two day event with Iowa Central and Northeast Oklahoma as the lead changed in the finals a total of 5 times. Clackamas took the lead after Colt Doyle won the National Championship at 174 pounds but Clackamas would be passed at the final weight class of the night as Iowa Central’s heavyweight would win by fall in the finale to take the lead for good.
Trialing Clackamas by two and a half points (146.5 to 144), the national title was ultimately decided on the last match of the evening when Iowa Central’s Thomas Petersen handled Mario Pena of North Iowa Area in the heavyweight final. Petersen’s pin lifted Iowa Central to 150 points to surpass Clackamas. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M settled for third place with 143.
Thomas Peterson clinched Iowa Central’s national title dreams in the final match of the NJCAA national tournament. Petersen earned a fall in the 285 pound championship to give the Tritons (150) the crown, climbing past Clackamas (146.5). Heading into the final match, Iowa Central just needed a win, but Peterson earned the fall in 2:33.
This was Iowa Central’s first championship since 2015 and seventh overall. “I have been riding an emotional roller coaster since we got here,” Moffitt said. “With missed calls, video calls overturned, I think this was a lot tougher on the coaching staff. “It was pretty special to win the way we did, coming down to the final match.”
Petersen’s title was the third championship of the night for the Tritons, as Todd Small picked up a 4-3 decision over David Campbell of Clackamas at 125 pounds.
Dayton Racer (157) cruised to the championship with a 13-0 major decision over Brett Bradford of Rochester. Small, Racer and Petersen’s national titles, gives the Tritons 20 individual champions in school history. Zac Hensley suffered a 10-6 loss to Sean DeShazer of Northeast Oklahoma in the 133 pound final, which brought NEO onto a tight race for the titles. Antrez Clagon (174) and Brandon Murray (149) both finished fourth. De’Andre Reed (141) was sixth and Danny Bush (184) finished eighth.
The 2017 national title marks the eighth in program history for Iowa Central and sixth since 2006 – all under the direction of head coach Luke Moffitt. Iowa Central’s eight national championships in NJCAA wrestling ranks second all-time to North Idaho’s 14. Eight Iowa Central wrestlers finished on the podium stand with top 8 finishes. Todd Small (125#), Dayton Racer (149#) and Thomas Peterson (285#) each won individual titles for Iowa Central.
The Clackamas Community College wrestling team ended the best regular season in school history with a second-place finish at the NJCAA National Championships earning an amazing eight All-Americans with five National Finalists. Clackamas had two individual champions: Josh Reyes (149#) and Colt Doyle (174#), and Northeastern Oklahoma also had two individual champions: Sean Deshazer (133#) and Wyatt Jordan (165#). Earning a trip to the National finals were: David Campbell, Josh Reyes, Dillon Ulrey, Colt Doyle and Haszell West. Wrestling back to medal were: Kurt Mode 3rd, Nathan Johnson 4th and John Leal 7th. Nick Maximov also scored points for the Cougars at 197 pounds. Winning individual national titles for the Cougars were Josh Reyes (149) and Colt Doyle (174).
Rochester (Minn.) was the top non-scholarship program in the team standings coming in ninth overall with 61.5 points. Rochester looks to win non-scholarship title again with Nassau in the hunt!
This year looks to be equally competitive.
NJCAA RANKINGS 2/20/2018
125
1. Nodir Safarov - Northwest
2. Benny Gomez – Muskegon
3. Esco Walker – North Idaho
4. Marcelino Lopez – Cowley
5. Boo Dryden – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
6. Francisco Barrera – Southwestern Oregon
7. Javier Moreno – Ellsworth
8. Jacob Mendoza – Highline
133
1. Todd Small – Iowa Central
2. Justin Folley – Ellsworth
3. Munhbat Baterdene – Northwest Kansas Tech
4. Austin Wallace-Lister – Highline
5. D’Andre Brumfield – Iowa Western
6. Kyle Mock – Nassau
7. Gage Gomez – Barton
8. Tanner Reetz – Itasca
141
1. Cody Karstetter – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
2. Ralphy Tovar – Clackamas
3. Austin Anderly – NIACC
4. Tyree Johnson – Triton
5. Christian Kanzler – Lincoln
6. Eric Clarke – Iowa Central
7. John Arceri – Nassau
8. Keaton Sander - Barton
149
1. Kendon Lee – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
2. Kenny Astle – Western Wyoming
3. Jasiah William – Clackamas
4. Brent Evens – North Idaho
5. Mark Voss - Ridgewater
6. Chris Meloni – Nassau
7. Dren Bartrum – Muskegon
8. Michael Zachary – Iowa Western
157
1. Kade Sander - Barton
2. Ethan Karsten – Iowa Central
3. Isaiah Diggs – Clackamas
4. Steven Lawrence – Ellsworth
5. Alfred Daniel – Rochester
6. Tristan Guaman - Harper
7. Anthony Maia – Iowa Lakes
8. Brandon Harris – Spartanburg
165
1. Wyatt Jordan - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
2. Troy Keller - Niagara
3. Dillon Ulrey – Clackamas
4. Jose Rodriguez – Iowa Central
5. Bunmi Smith – Iowa Lakes
6. Tucker Tomlinson – Western Wyoming
7. Michial Foy – Harper
8. Nick Dado – Joliet
174
1. Dylan Reel – Clackamas
2. Matt Hebel – Western Wyoming
3. David Kelly – Barton
4. Devin Crawl - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
5. Shane Siewert – Rochester
6. Brady Vogel – Iowa Central
7. Michael Abidin – Nassau
8. Bailey Schutt – Thadeus Stevens
184
1. Tanner Harvey – Southwestern Oregon
2. Alex Kauffman – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
3. Connor Kirkland – Western Wyoming
4. Jeff Oakes – Northwest
5. Levi Perry – North Idaho
6. Nick Maximov – Clackamas
7. Ottis Peeler – Iowa Western
8. Isaiah Cox – Iowa Lakes
197
1. Tyree Sutton – Iowa Central
2. Tim Young – Ellsworth
3. Gage Harrah – Clackamas
4. Cory Schmidts - Itasca
5. Mason Hawkins – Rochester
6. Seth Ham – Iowa Western
7. Wade French – Western Wyoming
8. Zeke Silva – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
285
1. Damion Trujillo – North Idaho
2. Brian Andrews - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
3. Odgerek Batkhishig - Northwest Kansas Technical College
4. Lisiate Anau – Northwest
5. Darryl Aiello – Clackamas
6. Andrew Pistillo – Iowa Western
7. Luis Pinto – Rochester
8. Brix Brickey – Barton
RANK SCHOOL POINTS
1 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 91
2 Clackamas 81
3 Iowa Central 65
4 Western Wyoming 44
5 North Idaho 42
6 Ellsworth 37
7 Barton 36
8 Northwest Wy 34
9 Iowa Western 26
10 Rochester 25
11 SW Oregon 22
12 Nassau 20
12 Northwest Kansas Tech. 20
14 Muskegon 16
15 Iowa Lakes 14
16 Highline 12
16 Itasca 12
16 Niagara 12
19 Harper 10
19 NIACC 10
21 Cowley 9
21 Triton 9
23 Lincoln 7
23 Ridgewater 7
25 Joliet 3
25 Spartanburg 3
25 Thadeus Stevens 3
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