COEUR d'ALENE - As North Idaho College sophomore transfer Michael Nguyen put it, this is just the first step toward the ultimate goal.

But winning that West District title at 125 pounds - that's a nice feeling.

Nguyen, ranked second in the NJCAA, beat Ronald Wardleigh of Western Wyoming by a 9-5 decision to claim the regional title.

"It just feels like another step forward toward the ultimate goal of being a national champion," Nguyen said. "But it definitely feels good. It doesn't feel bad at all. All the hard work this season is paying off."

His twin brother - Matthew Nguyen of Southwestern Oregon - finished fourth at 125.

"We didn't wrestle, but we had to face his troubles together today because he wasn't wrestling as well as he could have," said Michael, who transferred from Southwestern Oregon after finishing seventh in the 2013 NJCAA tournament. "He's a tough kid, but should have wrestled a lot better. I'm sure I'll see him again at nationals."

Clackamas - the top ranked team in the NJCAA - won the West District title with 132.5 points. Third-ranked NIC finished second with 119.

NIC qualified all 10 of its wrestlers to the NJCAA tournament Feb. 27-28 in Des Moines, Iowa. The top four wrestlers in each weight qualified for nationals.

"That's the big thing," said NIC coach Pat Whitcomb of advancing. "We'd love to win this thing in our gym, but kudos to Clackamas. They wrestled tough. They stumbled a little at some weights, and we stumbled. It's a tough region."

Dajour Reece (165 pounds), Johnathen Dennis (197) and Taylor Kornoely (285) also won district titles for NIC. For Dennis and Reece, it was their first title. Kornoely repeated as champion at 285.

"I just needed to keep grinding," Dennis said. "I'm only out here on the mat for a little bit, and just need to take it to him while I can."

Dennis beat Jonathan Wixom of Northwest College by a 10-3 decision. Wixom was national runner-up last year, losing to NIC's V.J. Giulio in the championship match.

"Johnathen goes through the toughest weight in the region and beats the runner-up," Whitcomb said. "And he'd beat him in a dual (at Northwest) and he (Wixom) had won here, so it wasn't a fluke. He wrestled a great match."

Trailing 4-3 in the 165-pound title match, Reece scored a late takedown in the final five seconds to get past Kyle Bateman of Clackamas.

"One of us needed to get that takedown," Reece said. "I'm just excited and happy it was me. I think the crowd was my motivation to keep going and get that takedown."

Isaac Aguilar (133) was fourth, Bryce Weatherston (141) third, Tyler Booth (149) and Jordan Cooks (174) was third to also move onto nationals for NIC. Cruz Del Angel (fifth at 184) received the lone wild card from the district to nationals.

"All of us as coaches knew that we could leave someone at home that we absolutely needed to go (to nationals)," Whitcomb said. "With that, getting 10 back is the big key. Now, we'll have two weeks of hard work. We'll get back, they'll get back and we'll need a little luck - and had it tonight to get the only wild card in the tournament - but now Cruz has a second chance, and he's going to take advantage of that."

Jeff McCormick of Northwest College was named Most Outstanding Wrestler after pinning Quinn Johnston of Southwestern Oregon in 2:24 in the 149-pound championship.

Bud Castillo of Western Wyoming was named the West District Coach of the Year.

TEAM SCORES - 1, Clackamas 132.5. 2, North Idaho 119. 3, Western Wyoming 104.5. 4, Northwest 92.5. 5, Southwestern Oregon 81.5. 6, Highline 72.5.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

125 - Michael Nguyen, North Idaho, d. Ronald Wardleigh, Western Wyoming, 9-5. 133 - Eduardo Penha, Northwest, d. Lawrence Otero, Clackamas, 10-7. 141 - Robert Rizzolino, Clackamas, d. Walker Damewood, Southwestern Oregon, 3-2. 149 - Jeff McCormick, Northwest, p. Quinn Johnston, Southwestern Oregon, 2:24. 157 - Eleazar Deluca, Clackamas, d. Tyler McLean, North Idaho, 5-3. 165 - Dajour Reece, North Idaho, d. Kyle Bateman, Clackamas, 5-4. 174 - Dylan Reel, Clackamas, d. Colby Barlocker, Western Wyoming, 11-8. 184 - Adrian Salas, Clackamas, d. Adrian Mack, Western Wyoming, 5-2. 197 - Johnathen Dennis, North Idaho, d. Jonathan Wixom, Northwest, 10-3. 285 - Taylor Kornoely, North Idaho, d. Ben Tynan, Highline, 5-2.

THIRD-FOURTH PLACE

125 - Korbin Levin, Clackamas, d. Matthew Nguyen, Southwestern Oregon, 6-3. 133 - Brett Jones, Western Wyoming, d. Isaac Aguilar, North Idaho, 4-2. 141 - Bryce Weatherston, North Idaho, d. Brenn Schiess, Western Wyoming, 5-3. 149 - Christopher Garcia, Clackamas, md. Zeke Mamalis, Western Wyoming, 14-6. 157 - Ryan Slaugh, Western Wyoming, p. Justin Weiding, Highline, 2:09. 165 - Kaelen Loveless, Northwest, d. Andrew Orr, Southwestern Oregon, 5-4. 174 - Jordan Cooks, North Idaho, d. Antonio Melendez, Highline, 8-4. 184 - Connor Rosane, Highline, d. Adrian Lyons-Lopez, Southwestern Oregon, 10-7. 197 - Aspen Naylor, Western Wyoming, p. Ihoghama Odighizuwa, Clackamas, 1:26. 285 - John Hatch, Southwestern Oregon, d. John Morin, Clackamas, 5-2.

FIFTH-SIXTH PLACE

125 - Robert Gomez, Northwest, d. Brian Alonzo, Highline, 8-2. 133 - Brad Reddaway, Highline, d. Kailen Inouye, Southwestern Oregon, 9-6. 141 - Erick Garcia, Highline, md. John-David Henderson, Northwest, 11-3. 149 - Tyler Booth, NIC, by forfeit. 157 - Mathew Widdicombe, Northwest, d. Payton Moore, Southwestern Oregon, by injury default. 165 - Tyler Noon, Highline, p. Kaden Campbell, Western Wyoming, 4:17. 174 - Jacob Beck, Northwest, p. Ismael Rubio, Southwestern Oregon, 3:23. 184 - Cruz Del Angel, North Idaho, d. Batista Covolow, Northwest, by injury default. 197 - Josh Wessels, Highline, d. Pablo Gomez, Southwestern Oregon, 6-0. 285 - Gabriel Escobedo, Northwest, d. Dylan Sackett, Western Wyoming, 6-1.