After winning a national wrestling title at 197 pounds in the 2008 NJCAA tournament, that chance for a repeat performance at Meramec Community College never came for Jamelle Jones.

After taking two years off to raise his son, he returned to find the community college in St. Louis, Mo., had dropped its wrestling program after coaching issues.

"They couldn't find a good coach and didn't want to go the interim coach route, so they dropped it in 2009," Jones said.

Jones also welcomed a son, Aiden, or more commonly known as Jamelle Jones Jr.

"I needed to help my family out so I took two years off to work and raise my son," Jones said. "I continued to wrestle when I had a chance, but kept my focus on my family."

Jones was also an assistant coach at the high school level during his hiatus from the mats.

"I competed in a couple of open tournaments and wrestled some Division I guys and was beating them," Jones said. "I decided that I had one year left, so I wanted to give it another try before it was too late."

With Meramec dropping its program, Jones turned to North Idaho College wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb, who recruited him out of high school in 2008.

"When I came out here before, it was a lot different from the east coast," Jones said. "It just didn't seem like the right place for me at the time."

Whitcomb's attempt to get Jones to NIC finally worked after Jones wanted to continue his education.

"When she (the boy's mother) started working and got on her feet, she started to take care of Aiden," Jones said. "Since she had a good job, I thought it was my time to come back to school before it was too late."

Jones came to NIC in the fall, leaving behind his 2-year old son.

"It's tough," Jones said. "I just missed his birthday, which is kind of rough. But I know that getting good grades and winning a national title are what my goals are. I know I'm doing the right thing by being here."

Three other schools were interested in Jones.

"Pat was that coach for me," Jones said. "When I came here, it felt like the right place at the right time."

"Jamelle is a very talented individual," Whitcomb said. "Even though he went to Meramec, he always kept us in mind. He wanted to come out here last year, but couldn't get released so he got out here in the fall and hasn't missed a step athletically. He's worked real hard in the classroom."

Jones is the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at 197 pounds, ahead of defending champion Walker Clarke of Labette, who defeated former NIC wrestler Kamron Jackson in last year's final. Jones' record this season is 22-3, and he's 9-0 vs. opponents within his region.

The NJCAA tournament will unfold on Friday and Saturday at the Spokane Convention Center, with the first session scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

"Jamelle is a talented wrestler and a gamer," Whitcomb said. "When the light comes on, he can wrestle. As his coach, I'd love to see him win a national title, but more importantly, I want to be able to call him five years from now and know he's finished his education and got his degree."

Championship finals are scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday night.

"Being ranked No. 1, I've got a lot to prove," said Jones, who is attracting interest from four-year schools. "With the returning champ No. 2 and me being the top ranked, I've got something to prove to my coaches and myself."

NIC enters this week's tournament as the No. 2 team in the nation, behind only Clackamas Community College of Oregon City, Ore., which beat NIC to win the Region 18 championship Feb. 12 in Coos Bay, Ore.

"Definitely with the tournament being here, we're ready to bring home the national title as a team," Jones said. "We're ready to perform as a group. We've been training since August, and ready to bring a title home at home. The national title isn't getting on a plane this year - it's going to come down (Interstate) 90 towards Coeur d'Alene."

NIC last won a national title in 2003.

NIC has only lost one dual, that to NCAA No. 2-ranked Boise State earlier in the season.

"We've beaten every NAIA and NJCAA team this season," Jones said. "Losing to Clackamas in regionals was really a reality check. Points are going to be very important to us this week if we want to win a national championship. If I've got to pin my guy to help, I'll do it."

Clackamas ended NIC's 10-year reign as Region 18 champions.

"Last Monday when we walked into the locker room, there was a picture of Clackamas with their team title," Jones said. "I tore it off the wall. It's really driven us. Regardless, we've beaten them twice this year and in a tournament, they may have had more points than us, but we're in better shape right now. We haven't won a national title since 2003. We could tell that not winning the regional title really hurt coach, but we're ready to buckle down and get that national title."

Off the mat, Jones has the dream of working in criminal justice.

"This is a second chance for him," Whitcomb said. "Going into that field should be a good deal for him and something he can succeed in. This is what he wants to do and wants to help kids have a better chance than he did."

Tournament passes are $30 for adults, $20 for students and seniors (60 and over) and available through TicketsWest.com.

NJCAA TOURNAMENT

At Spokane Convention Center

Friday

Session 1

9:30 a.m. - Championship first round (mats 1-8); second round; consolation pigtail round; consolation first round.

Session 2

6:30 p.m. - Championship quarterfinal round; consolation second round; All-American round.

Saturday

10:30 a.m. - Championship semifinal round (mats 1-4); consolation quarterfinal round (mats 1 and 4).

12:30 p.m. - Consolation semifinal round (mats 1-4).

2 - Consolation finals (third-fourth place on mat 2), fifth-sixth place on Mat 1 and seventh-eighth place on mat 3.

6:45 - Championship finals.

TICKETS

Tournament pass - $30 adults, $20 students and seniors (60 and over)

Session passes - $15 adults, $10 students and seniors

Tickets available through www.TicketsWest.com