NIC qualifies all 10 to nationals

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. - North Idaho College wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb called it "a successful crash landing."

The Cardinals, ranked third in the nation, finished third in the West District tournament on Saturday afternoon on the campus of Western Wyoming Community College.

Tyler McLean (165 pounds), V.J. Guilio (197) and Taylor Kornoely (285) won district titles for NIC.

"Tyler had a heck of a tournament and fought in a really tough weight," Whitcomb said. "V.J. looked dominating and is on his game right now and Taylor looked good as well. We had three champions and qualified all 10 guys, but we've got to do better than that in two weeks. You can call it a successful crash landing."

Due to a Region 18 team (NIC) hosting nationals, the top five in each weight class advanced to the NJCAA tournament Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Spokane Convention Center.

NIC qualified all 10 wrestlers to nationals.

"With how tough our region is, it's a good thing," said Whitcomb of the extra bids. "Northwest was tough and got themselves back into contention and had some guys that did good. We looked a little ran down, and hopefully that's from the trip and that won't follow us to Spokane (for nationals)."

Top-ranked Clackamas won the regional title with 137.5 points, followed by second-ranked Northwest College with 134. It is Clackamas' third regional crown in four years after NIC had won 35 of the last 38.

"Regionals isn't the end of world," Whitcomb said. "But we have to improve on tonight. Someone is going to win a national title in two weeks, and we need to get better for it to be us."

With the qualifying tournament now consisting of teams from Region 18, Region 1 and Region 9, the tourney is now called the West District tournament.

TEAM SCORES - 1, Clackamas 137.5. 2, Northwest 134. 3, North Idaho 112. 4, Southwest Oregon 89. 5, Highline 67.5. 6, Western Wyoming 59.5.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

125 - Cody Vichi, Northwest, p. Matthew Nguyen, Southwest Oregon, 5:39. 133 - Cary J. Palmer, Clackamas, md. Bryce Weatherston, North Idaho, 10-1. 141 - Zach Loveless, Northwest, d. Robbie Rizzolino, Clackamas, 7-5. 149 - Jeff McCormick, Northwest, p. Kenny Martin, Clackamas, 3:57. 157 - Eleazar DeLuca, Clackamas, md. Dixon Richins, Western Wyoming, 12-4. 165 - Tyler McLean, North Idaho, d. Diorian Coleman, Northwest, 3-2. 174 - Cole McArthur, Northwest, d. Tyler White, Clackamas, 8-6. 184 - Miles Nixon, Northwest, d. Adrian Salas, Clackamas, by injury default. 197 - V.J. Guilio, North Idaho, md. Jonathan Wixom, Northwest, 16-4. 285 - Taylor Kornoely, North Idaho, d. Michael Henry, Highline, 7-5.

THIRD-FOURTH PLACE

125 - Stevan Knoblauch, Clackamas, md. Andres Tereza, Highline, 13-3. 133 - Ben Jorgensen, Northwest, md. Lucas Garza, Southwest Oregon, 9-1. 141 - Matt Gay, Southwest Oregon, md. Chaz Lovato, Western Wyoming, 13-5. 149 - Jeremy Golding, North Idaho, d. Josh Romero, Highline, by injury default. 157 - Andrew Orr, Southwestern Oregon, p. Nicholas Moreno, North Idaho, 4:41. 165 - Kyle Bateman, Clackamas, d. Kris Newport, Southwest Oregon, 9-2. 174 - Mikey Ayala, Southwest Oregon, d. Elias Mason, Highline, 3-0. 184 - Kolbjorn Skaflestad, Southwest Oregon, d. Jonathen Dennis, North Idaho, 3-2. 197 - Ihoghama Odighizuwa, Clackamas, p. Tyler Cormier, Highline, 3:46. 285 - Brandon Johnson, Clackamas, d. Teran Reedy, Southwest Oregon, by injury default.

FIFTH-SIXTH PLACE

125 - Jared Miller, North Idaho, received a bye. 133 - Brenn Schiess, Western Wyoming, md. Alejandro Herrera, Highline, 16-8. 141 - Terrance McKinney, North Idaho, p. Josh Smith, Highline, 2:18. 149 - Ryan Slaugh, Western Wyoming, d. Aaron Villarin, Southwestern Oregon, 12-10. 157 - Kaelen Loveless, Northwest, md. John Hedge, Highline, 12-4. 165 - Damon Mele, Western Wyoming, d. Beau Gore, Highline, 11-4. 174 - Derrick Booth, North Idaho, d. Hunter Riggs, Western Wyoming, 7-1. 184 - Austin Beaman, Western Wyoming, p. Anton Yates, Highline, 1:20. 197 - Jorge Alatorre, Western Wyoming, d. Trevor Davis, Southwest Oregon, 2-1. 285 - Gabriel Esobedo, Northwest, received a bye.