"At North Idaho College, winning national titles is what we do. From coaches Bill Pecha to John Owen, it's time for us to bring another national title home," NIC wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb said on the eve of the school's biggest national tournament appearance.

While the task may be tougher than ever - the trip home won't be, as the Cardinals compete just a mere 30 miles from their campus in Coeur d'Alene.

NIC seeks its 14th national title in school history - and first since 2003 - and the Cardinals get the chance to do it in front of their home fans for the first time as the host school of the NJCAA tournament starting today at the Spokane Convention Center.

"We're excited to have it here for once in the northwest," Whitcomb said. "We've had to call in results to the newspaper and have fans read about it. Now, our fans can get out and experience the atmosphere that comes with this kind of tournament. Our team had a good workout (Thursday) and has done a good job of taking care of things under their control."

A total of 251 wrestlers representing 36 community colleges will begin action today at 9:30 a.m.

Finals are scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday.

"We'll need to be firing on all cylinders," Whitcomb said. "Having it close to home doesn't change that we need to work hard to get that national title. Our three regional champions (Kyle McCrite, Jeremy Bommarito and Jamelle Jones) are going to be guys to lead us — but we need to keep working as a team.”

The tournament heads west for the first time in more than 50 years, giving NIC a chance to compete for a title in front of its home fans.

“This is the first time those kids from the northwestern states had to get on a plane and wake up early to experience some of that travel,” Whitcomb said. “It doesn’t matter if you fly six hours or travel by bus 20 minutes, you’ve still got to go out and compete.”

Whitcomb, who has coached and wrestled at NIC for 14 years, realizes the tradition of his Cardinal program.

“Something that NIC has always done is wrestle well on Saturday,” Whitcomb said. “Our job as coaches is to get those guys there. We’ve got lots of tradition here, with over 199 All-Americans. We’ve got to use that tradition to our advantage. That NIC uniform means a lot to us. We’re really excited about this entire weekend.”

Harper College of Illinois and Iowa Central Community College are back to defend their national championships.

Harper, competing in the non-scholarship division, became the first non-scholarship school to score the most team points at the tournament. Harper scored 137 points last year to Division I champion Iowa Central’s 116.

Harper has eight qualifiers and three returning All-Americans (wrestlers who finish in the top eight).

Four national champions return to defend their crowns as Victor Dejesus of Iowa Lakes defends at 149 pounds. At 197, defending champion Walker Clarke of Labette and Jamelle Jones of NIC comprise that bracket.

Jones won the title at 197 in 2008 while wrestling for Meramec College in St. Louis. The other returning champion is Tyrell Fortune of Clackamas, who will attempt to win his second national title in the heavyweight division, the first coming in 2009.

The Cardinals qualified wrestlers at all 10 classes during the Region 18 tournament in Coos Bay, Ore., on Feb. 12.

“There’s no tomorrow anymore,” Whitcomb said. “It’s a lot of pressure to wrestle in front of your home fans, but it comes down to this — either you win or you lose. That’s the kind of pressure you put on the team. After that little glich (finishing second to Clackamas at regionals), I’m excited to see how the team responds.”

Clackamas is ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA. NIC is second, Labette fourth, Harper fifth, Iowa Central seventh.

Others with full 10-man teams include: Clackamas Community College, Highline Community College (Des Moines, Wash.), Iowa Central (Fort Dodge, Iowa), Labette Community College (Parsons, Kan.), Lincoln College (Lincoln, Ill.), Mercyhurst Northeast (North East, Pa.) and Nassau Community College (Garden City, N.Y.).

Clackamas has the most returning All-Americans with four, including one defending national champion. NIC, Harper and Nassau have three apiece.

Saturday’s championship round will be webcast, and live stats after each match and bracket updates will be available at www.nic.edu/athletics/wrestlingnationals.

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