- WRESTLING

NIC lands five

All-Americans

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — After taking his team to Oregon City for a dual with top-ranked Clackamas, interim North Idaho College wrestling coach Brandon Richardson sat his squad down and spoke some truths.

They listened.

On Saturday, they responded.

NIC — which qualified seven wrestlers for the NJCAA tournament — returned with five All-Americans (top eight individuals in each weight class), finishing sixth with 84.5 points at the Mid-American Center on Saturday.

“I told them after that trip that we’re not going to beat teams with just talent, but with hard work and grit,” said Richardson, a Lakeland High product who later wrestled at Wyoming. “Our guys came back and really showed that. These guys really showed what I’ve been trying to preach. We beat some guys this weekend that we wouldn’t have two months ago. They’ve embraced the grind and came away with something nobody will be able to take away.”

Richardson was named interim coach after the school fired Pat Whitcomb following an investigation into academic integrity, claims that Whitcomb denies. Longtime NIC assitant coach Keri Stanley remains on administrative leave.

Claiming All-American honors for NIC were Bryce Parson (third at 149 pounds), Connor Sullivan (fourth at 285), Cooper McCullough (fifth at 157), Esco Walker (sixth at 125) and Hunter Gregerson (eighth at 197).

Parson — a Lewiston High product — lost in his opening match, but fought back through to finish third in his sophomore year.

“Bryce had a long two days of wrestling,” Richardson said. “He came all the way back, and the fact that you never know who’s going to drop, he just kept going at anyone and everyone. I’m really, really proud of him.”

Sullivan finished third in the West District championships at Christianson Gymnasium on Feb. 10.

“Connor’s pretty special to me,” Richardson said. “He’s a super tough kid, coachable and pretty eager to go big at times. He just stuck to his fundamentals this weekend and came from third in the region to fourth in the nation.”

Clackamas, which finished with two national champions, ran away with the team title, finishing with 176.5 points.

TEAM SCORES (Top 20) — 1, Clackamas 176.5. 2, Northeast Oklahoma 152. 3, Iowa Central 125.5. 4, Northwest Kansas 109.5. 5, Ellsworth 89. 6, North Idaho 84.5. 7, Iowa Lakes 72.5. 8, Western Wyoming 71.5. 9, Harper 52. 10, Iowa Western 51.5. 11, Northeastern 48.5. 12, Rochester 45. 13, Niacc 44.5. 14, Cloud County 44. 15, Barton 41. 16 (tie), Jamestown, Niagara 31. 18, Thaddeus Stevens 30.5. 19, Pratt 25.5. 20, Mercyhurst 24.5.

PLACING MATCHES

(Top 8 All-American)

THIRD-FOURTH

149 — Bryce Parson, NIC, p. Austin Eldredge, Cloud County, 6:57.

285 — Landon Brown, Western Wyoming, d. Connor Sullivan, NIC, 6-4.

FIFTH-SIXTH

125 — Kevin Radcliff, Iowa Central, d. Esco Walker, NIC, 6-3.

157 — Cooper McCullough, NIC, tf. Dallas Boone, Neosho, 21-6.

SEVENTH-EIGHTH

197 — Chris Henderson, Pratt, p. Hunter Gregerson, NIC, 2:15.

Consolation

Semifinals

125 — Zeth Brower, Clackamas, p. Walker, NIC, 4:40.

149 — Parson, NIC, d. Enkhbold Sukhbaatar, Northwest Kansas, by forfeit.

157 — David Hollingsworth, Iowa Lakes, md. McCullough, NIC, 20-9.

285 — Sullivan, NIC, d. Zach Santee, Niacc, 4-3.

Round of 4

125 — Walker, NIC, d. Tre Ponce, Labette, 12-8.

149 — Parson, NIC, d. Yarkoski Aldiva, Iowa Central, 7-2.

157 — McCullough, NIC, p. Shae Chafin, Labette, 6:21.

197 — Hunter Harnish, Mercyhurst, tf. Gregorson, NIC, 18-0.

285 — Sullivan, NIC, d. Gunner Cash, Iowa Central, 9-5.

- SOFTBALL

Seminole State 6-7

North Idaho 3-5

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Cardinals fell to the Raiders of Sanford in the Spring Games tournament.

NIC (1-3) concludes the tournament with games against Mercyhurst and Macomb today.