SPOKANE - The NJCAA title is staying in the Northwest.

Unfortunately for host North Idaho College, the Cardinals will have to wait another year for their 14th title in school history.

Clackamas Community College of Oregon City, Ore., behind two-time heavyweight champion Tyrell Fortune, finished with 109 points to win its first national title since 1978 in front of an estimated crowd of 2,750 at the Spokane Convention Center on Saturday night.

NIC finished second with 98.5 points after a pin by two-time champion Jamelle Jones of defending champion Walker Clarke of Labette at 197 pounds vaulted the Cardinals from fourth place.

"At a national tournament, you look at the champions and the runners-up and acknowledge what they did," NIC coach Pat Whitcomb said. "It's tough to lose, but we'll live to fight another day. We didn't get through the wrestlebacks like we'd hoped last night. My hats off to (Clackamas coach) Josh (Rhoden). He's a great coach and we'll continue to push each other for years to come. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, but that's how it is."

NIC sophomore Jesse Nielsen captured the 174-pound title with a 5-3 decision over Keithen Cast of Northwest College of Powell, Wyo., marking the team’s first individual champion since 2007.

“I’ve worked hard all year to improve from last year,” said Nielsen, the former Coeur d’Alene High star who finished sixth last year. “I’ve been working hard in practice and am in good shape.”

Then along came Jones.

After battling to a scoreless tie after the first period, Jones turned the tide in the second period after a mistake by Clarke wound up turning the momentum.

“He had a lot of motion,” Jones said. “He tried coming in with a ‘super duck’ and shot at my left leg. I knew that if he did that, I could pin him. That’s why I lead with that leg.”

In a matter of seconds, Jones had Clark on his back and pushed him to the mat to claim a second national title.

“I’ve been training really hard for this,” said Jones, who was also named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler. “I knew coming into tonight I was going to win. I believed in my coaches. I came out a little stiff, but went out and stayed calm. As soon as I had the chance, I landed him on his back and got him.”

“It really put a bow on the present that was this weekend,” Whitcomb said. “The only thing that could have made that any better was having it be for a national title.”

NIC sophomore Jeremy Bommarito tied his national final match at 157 pounds at 2-2 with 1:12 remaining in the third period. Harper’s P.J. Starnes scored the final two points on a takedown in the final seconds for the win.

“I never thought I’d get to this point in my collegiate career,” Bommarito said. “I proved a lot to myself this weekend. I’m not thrilled with how I finished, but I’m happy with the outcome of the season. I put my heart and soul into it. I’ve got no excuses. You win some, you lose some.”

Sophomore Kyle McCrite lost in the semifinals to eventual 125- pound champion Mike Garofalo of Nassau, then lost his next three matches to finish sixth.

“We all stuck together as a team today,” McCrite said. “It wasn’t quite the finish I had in mind, but this is still a great experience. It’s been real nice to have this tournament at home. I know a lot of guys that would want to be in my spot.”

McCrite, the former Lakeland High standout, is still undecided on where he’ll wrestle next year.

“We’ll see what college makes an offer,” McCrite said. “I definitely want to wrestle at the next level.”

Freshman Jake Mason wrestled back to finish seventh at 165 and was NIC’s fifth All-American (top-eight finisher at nationals).

“I’m a little bit disappointed,” said Mason, who wrestled at University High in Spokane. “I’ve got a lot to learn. I’ve just got to keep setting those goals. It was nice to have this tournament in my hometown.”

Mason estimated at least 20 family and friends were in attendance for the weekend.

“There’s really too many to name,” Mason said. “I just want to come back next year and win it.”

TEAM SCORES — 1, Clackamas 109. 2, North Idaho 98.5. 3, Rend Lake 94. 4, Iowa Central 93. 5, Labette 85.5. 6 (tie), Harper, Lincoln 84. 8, Northwest 72.5. 9, Muskegon 69. 10 (tie), Highline, Iowa Lakes 67.5. 12, Nassau 67. 13, Mercyhurst 47.5. 14, Northern Iowa Area 45.5 15, Ellsworth 40.5. 16, Niagara 30.5. 17, Middlesex 26.5. 18, Ridgewater 26. 19 (tie), Glouscester, Neosho 25. 21, Colby 23. 22, Western Wyoming 22. 23, Yakima 21. 24 (tie), Bergen, Itasca 20.5. 26, Rochester 20. 27, Southwest Oregon 15.5 28, Thaddeus Stevens 14.5. 29, Alfred State 10. 30, Darton 9.5. 31, Pratt 4.5. 32 (tie), Spartanburg, Springfield Tech 2.5. 34 (tie), Jamestown, Northwest Kansas Tech, Waubonsee 0.

Championship

Finals

125 — Mike Garofalo, Nassau, d. Josh Heinzer, Iowa Central, 3-2.

133 — Tyler Holloway, Rend Lake, d. Jesse Hillhouse, Northwest, 3-2 OT.

141 — Wilson Metellus, Ellsworth, p. Vinnie DiGravio, Mercyhurst, 6:35.

149 — Victor DeJesus, Iowa Lakes, d. Jason Gray, Highline, 3-2.

157 — P.J. Starnes, Harper, d. Jeremy Bommarito, NIC, 4-2.

165 — Isaiah Williams, Rend Lake, d. Derek Mestrovich, Clackamas, 17-5.

174 — Jesse Nielsen, NIC, d. Keithen Cast, Northwest, 5-3.

184 — Nick Peterson, Northwest, d. Austin Morehead, Rend Lake, 4-1.

197 — Jamelle Jones, NIC, p. Walker Clarke, Labette, 3:42.

285 — Tyrell Fortune, Clackamas, d. Seth McGregor, Iowa Central, 4-3.

Third-Fourth

125 — Steven Romero, Highline, d. Jeff Vesta, Neosho, 11-6. 

133 — Brandon Wright, Iowa Central, p. Martin Gonzalez, Clackamas, :57.

141 — DaMonte Riley, Lincoln, d. Sean Turner, Muskegon, 13-7.

149 — Frankie Bunenafuente, Bergen, d. Mark Marianovich, Lincoln, 4-2. 

157 — Justin Pencook, Gloucester, d. Matt Melendrez, Clackamas, 16-4.

165 — Dan McGillivray, Iowa Lakes, p. Isaiah Tatum, Northern Iowa Area, 3:54.

174 — Travis Peralta, Ridgewater, d. Khari Washington, Harper, 3-0.

184 — Brett Sanchez, Clackamas, d. Ray Hall, Labette, 4-3.

197 — Nick Pica, Iowa Central, p. Darren Faber, Highline, 2:46.

285 — Adam Chalfant, Harper, d. Matt Wyss, Iowa Lakes, 6-2.

Fifth-Sixth

125 — T.T. Prayther, Rend Lake, d. Kyle McCrite, NIC, 8-2.

133 — John Miller, Nassau, d. D’Marcus Spencer, Lincoln, 3-2.

141 — Cody Randall, Clackamas, d. Kodie Silvestri, Nassau, by injury default.

149 — Michael Perez, Labette, d. Tyler Peet, Alford State, 10-6. 

157 — Eric Jones, Highline, p. Eric Telford, Muskegon, 3:47.

165 — Troy Ireland, Northern Iowa Area, d. Theo Jensen-Innis, Rochester, 3-2.

174 — James Haywood, Lincoln, md. Jules Doliscar, Nassau, 14-2.

184 — Arbor Bebo, Harper, p. Marlon Baker, Mercyhurst, 1:47.

197 — Trent Fiegel, Muskegon, d. Vinny Campinelle, Ellsworth, 5-2.

285 — Reno Redleaf, Labette, p. Kyle Gibas, Niagara, 1:53.

Seventh-Eighth

125 — Garrett Jones, Labette, p. Eduardo Dominguez, Harper, 3:16.

133 — Tim Hubbard, Mercyhurst, d. Wismit Moinius, Northern Iowa Area, 5-2.

141 — Casey Williams, Ita, d. Jace Campbell, Colby, 9-5.

149 — Adam Will, (TS), d. Justin Schumacher, Western Wyoming, 10-8.

157 — Quinten Haynes, Northern Iowa Area, d. Scott Verner, Western Wyoming, 3-2.

165 — Jake Mason, NIC, d. Lance Wade, Nassau, 6-4.

174 — Carl Forside, Iowa Central, p. John McArdie, Middlesex, 6:58.

184 — Michael Johnson, Lincoln, p. Teagan Franco, Yakima, 1:04.

197 — Fred Moses, Lincoln, p. Cully Butterfield, Itasca, 1:18.

285 — Karl Green, Rend Lake, p. Ryan Stevenson, Muskegon, 3:13.

Semifinals

125 — Josh Heinzer, Iowa Central, d. Steven Romero, Highline, 5-4. Mike Garofalo, Nassau, d. Kyle McCrite, NIC, 5-2.

133 — Tyler Holloway, Rend Lake, d. Martin Gonzalez, Clackamas, 3-2. Jesse Hillhouse, Northwest, d. Brandon Wright, Iowa Central, injury default.

141 — Wilson Metellus, Ellsworth, d. Kodie Silvestri, Nassau, 12-6. Vinnie DiGravio, Mercyhurst, d. Cody Randall, Clackamas, 5-4.

149 — Jason Gray, Highline, d. Michael Perez, Labette, 7-3. Victor DeJesus, Iowa Lakes, d. Tyler Peet, Alfred State, 10-8.

157 — PJ Starnes, Harper, d. Matt Melendrez, Clackamas, 6-1. Jeremy Bommarito, NIC, d. Justin Pencook, Gloucester, 7-3.

165 — Isaiah Williams, Rend Lake, md. Troy Ireland, Niagara, 14-2. Derek Mestrovich, Clackamas, md. Dan McGillivray, Iowa Lakes, 17-5. 

174 — Jesse Nielsen, NIC, d. Jules Doliscar, Nassau, 4-1. Keithen Cast, Northwest, d. Khari Washington, Harper, 4-3.

184 — Nick Peterson, Northwest, md. Arber Bebo, Harper, 8-0. Austin Moorehead, Rend Lake, d. Ray Hall, Labette, 9-4.

197 — Walker Clarke, Labette, d. Vinny Campanille, Ellsworth, 4-0. Jamelle Jones, NIC, d. Nick Peca, Iowa Central, 8-5.

285 — Tyrell Fortune, Clackamas, p. Matt Wyss, Iowa Lakes, 1:57. Seth McGregor, Iowa Central, d. Adam Chalfant, Harper, 3-1.

NIC RESULTS

Championship

Finals

157 — P.J. Starnes, Harper, d. Jeremy Bommarito, NIC, 4-2.

174 — Jesse Nielsen, NIC, d. Keithen Cast, Northwest, 5-3.

197 — Jamelle Jones, NIC, p. Walker Clarke, Labette, 3:42.

Semifinals

125 — Mike Garofalo, Nassau, d. Kyle McCrite, NIC, 5-2.

157 — Jeremy Bommarito, NIC, d. Justin Pencook, Gloucester, 7-3.

174 — Jesse Nielsen, NIC, d. Jules Doliscar, Nassau, 4-1.

197 — Jamelle Jones, NIC, d. Nic Pica, Iowa Central, 8-5.

Consolation

Finals

125 — T.T. Prayther, Rend Lake, d. Kyle McCrite, NIC, 8-3.

165 — Jake Mason, NIC, d. Lance Wade, Nassau, 6-4.

Semifinals 

125 — Jeff Vesta, Neosho, p. Kyle McCrite, NIC, 6:47.