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Wrestling NewsNorth Idaho to host 2011 NJCAA Wrestling Championships North Idaho College, in conjunction with the Spokane Regional Sports Commission, has been awarded the rights to host the NJCAA Wrestling National Championships in 2011. The bid was awarded and announced at the NJCAA annual meetings on April 5, 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO, the home of the NJCAA national office. "This is a tremendous honor to host any national championship event, but especially because of the success of our wrestling program, we are grateful for this opportunity" said NIC Athletics Director Al Williams. Three regions submitted bids to the NJCAA championship committee to host the tournament, Rochester (MN), Des Moines (IA) and Spokane. The event has been held at Rochester for the past ten years, and they will also host the event in 2009 under the prior bid awarded three years ago. The NJCAA decided to award each submitter the opportunity to host for one year since the bids were comparable in presentation and each region displayed excellent qualities in their ability to host. Des Moines will host in 2010, Spokane in 2011, and Rochester in 2012. The tournament will be up for bid again at the completion of this rotation. "NIC has never hosted this event before so this bid gives us a chance to showcase our region and put on a quality event. That will strongly influence our chances of receiving future bids if we desire. Partnering with the Spokane Regional Sports Commission gives us tremendous experience in hosting a national athletic event. Combine that with our internal experience in hosting the annual Tri-State Wrestling tournament at NIC and we expect to put on a first class event." said Williams. The event will be held at THE HUB in Liberty Lake, the former Sports USA complex. It has existing seating for 3,500, with the ability to increase to 5,000 with temporary seats. The facility holds five regulation full court basketball floors, and includes VIP upper deck seating, concessions, office space and athletic training and lockers facilities. The event is scheduled for February 2011. The tournament will bring approximately 50 NJCAA wrestling programs to the region. NIC has earned 13 national championships and 30 finishes in the top three nationally. In 2007, the western region accounted for five teams in the top seven at the NJCAA national tournament, NIC (3rd), Northwest Wyoming (4th), Clackamas (OR) (5th), Southwest Oregon (6th), and Western Wyoming (7th). NIC finished 13th this past season. Wrestling National Tournament Results Complete Tournament results are available on this link: Region 18 All-Americans Team Results (Division I Scholarship Schools) Team and Individual Records 133 lbs 141 lbs 149 lbs 157 lbs 174 lbs 184 lbs 197 lbs 285 lbs Wrestling prepares for National Championships The Cardinals had a total of seven wrestlers make it to championship matches with six winning their weight class titles. Southwestern Oregon came in second with 117 points, one individual champion and two runner-ups. Clackamas finished a close third with 114 pts, one champion and five runner-ups. Highline tallied 100pts and won two championships in the 174 and 157 pound classes. Yakima Valley was fifth with 61pts while Pima took sixth on 49.5pts and one runner-up in the 125lbs championship. Highline, for the third straight year, had the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. This year, 174 pounder Pano Dreves took the honors for the Thunderbirds. North Idaho qualified all ten wrestlers for the 2008 National Tournament in Rochester, MN. on Feb 22-23. Southwestern Oregon qualified nine wrestlers, Clackamas and Highline seven, Yakima Valley three and Pima two. [view tournament brackets] High resolution tournament photos are available at www.fotozoneonline.com
NJCAA National Qualifiers: 133lbs 141 lbs 149 lbs 157 lbs 165 lbs 174 lbs 184 lbs 197 lbs 285 lbs Wrestler fights back from drug addicition to inspire team By Andy Hamilton -
Special to ESPN.com Richard Jensen spent 17 years wrestling with an opponent he seemingly couldn't beat -- until he scored the biggest escape of his life. For Richard Jensen, even the toughest wrestling matches don't compare to the battles he's faced. Those were his toughest battles. Those were his darkest days. Tangling with the top junior college wrestlers in the country? Spending hours each day priming his body to compete for seven minutes with athletes half his age? That is the easy part for the 37-year-old sophomore at Clackamas Community College. It is nothing compared to what he's been through. Getting past the pain After breaking meth's hold, wrestler Richard Jensen, at 37, is a likely No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Region 18 championships Saturday Wednesday, February 06, 2008 When the ref finished, Jensen trotted to one side of the wrestling mat to shake hands with the opposing coach, then trudged back toward the Clackamas Community College bench in search of Kevin Arizo, the Cougars' trainer. "Kevin, where's an ice pack?" asked Jensen, touching the knot rising from his chin. Jensen found the ice pack in the red plastic cooler behind the bench and then sat on the floor. As he gently iced his chin, a fan in the stands to his left hollered. "Keep livin' the dream, Richard!" Jensen, a 37-year-old sophomore, looked up and smiled. Under the best of circumstances, the human body isn't intended to absorb the blows of competitive wrestling at age 37. And Jensen has abused his body more than most people. He's a former methamphetamine addict and ex-convict who last year returned to the mat after a 17-year layoff. NJCAA wrestling rankings These are the current NJCAA Region 18 wrestlers ranked in the nation's top eight going into this week's Region 18 Championships: [view complete poll] Current Region 18 NJCAA team rankings 2008 Region 18 Wrestling Championships - February 9th Clackamas to host the championships February 9th
"This has to be one of the top regions in the nation," said Head Wrestling Coach Josh Rhoden. "Just look at the results from last year's tournament," he added. Rhoden is referring to the top three teams in last year's Regional: North Idaho College, Southwest Oregon and Clackamas who placed 3rd, 6th and 5th at the National Championships, respectively. This year's tournament promises to be every bit as good as previous regional championship based on the level of talent in the region. "This is a great opportunity for us (Region 18) to showcase our talent," said Rhoden. Ranked NJCAA Region 18 Wrestlers Ranked NJCAA Region 18 Wrestlers 125 pounds Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Vancouver, WASH- The 2007 NWAACC Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. The inductees will be honored at the 20th Annual Hall of Fame Banquet being held at the Bellevue Red Lion May 31st. The Hall of Fame includes athletes, coaches, teams and administrators who have enhanced and improved the quality of athletics at Northwest Community Colleges or have distinguished themselves after leaving the NWAACC. 2007 HALL OF FAME INDIVIDUAL INDUCTEES 2007 HALL OF FAME TEAM INDUCTEES BELLEVUE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Coaches: Ernie Woods (Head), Wil DeCuire, Bob Fronk (Assistants) Athletes: Kevin Baker, Marko Dresevic, Jason Griffith, Daniel Hallgrimson, Roger Hammond, Keith Higgins, Leon Johnson, Brett Lundeen, Ralph Metzger, Garry Muir, Mark Odsather, Willie Thomas, Roman Wickers.
HIGHLINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Coaches: Joe Callero (Head), Jeff Albrecht, TJ Bohl, Brandt Borghorst, Tyler Geving, Fred Harrison, and Kurt Nelson (Assistants).
Athletes: Justin Adam, Reggie Ball, Marty Delange, Neil DeMerritt, Adam Enfield, Josh Geise, Bryan Guy, Derek Johnson, J.J. Ivy, Gabrriel Ladd, Scott Luedke, Shaun Madsen, Garrett Miller, Travis Moore, Brandon Nash, Tom Rockey, Brian Scalabrine, Kyle Templeton, Todd Watts, Quincy Wilder. SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE Coaches: Steve Epperson (Head),Betsy Benson and Julie Walker (Assistants). National Championships Results North Idaho Captures 3 National Championships and Six Clackamas Wrestlers Earn All-American Honors. Clackamas enjoyed an amazing tournament with six of its wrestlers earning All-American honors. Only Iowa Central, the NJCAA Team Champions, placed more All-Americans (7). Clackamas trophied in the 5th place spot for NJCAA Div I programs. Southwestern Oregon also finished in trophy position at 6th place and accounted for three All-American wrestlers NJCAA DIV I TEAM RESULTS (Region 18) Junior College National Champions All-Americans National JC Wrestling Championships The NJCAA Wrestling Championships take place this weekend, February 23-24 in Rochester, MN. Event coverage and brackets are available on the tournament web site. The following wrestlers from NWAACC affiliated schools were ranked in the NJCAA final polls:
125 #5 Richie Zuniga, Southwestern Oregon :: Region 18 Championship Wrestling Results Yakima, Wash. - North Idaho dominated the 2007 Region 18 Championships with eight of their wrestlers finishing in the top two including two region champs. Southwestern Oregon had four wrestlers take home championship titles and one finishing second. Clackamas also claimed a pair of champions in the 141 and Heavyweight classes. Highline and Pima notched championships in the 184 and 157 classes. Highline's Brad Padgatt was the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler for the second consecutive year. Yakima Valley's Tito Pimentel and Mike Schmitt were selected Coaches of the Year. Pimentel and Schmitz were highly instrumental in Yakima Valley's major turnaround from last season when the Yaks scored no wins in the 2006 tournament. North Idaho qualified all ten wrestlers for the 2007 National Tournament in Rochester, MN. on Feb 23-24. Southwestern Oregon qualified nine followed by Clackamas and Highline with six, Pima with four and Yakima Valley with three. The top three in each weight class are guaranteed berths Eight of the competitors going to nationals were selected via wild card selection by Region 18 coaches based on performances and weight class competitiveness. Region Champions (view all Nationals Qualifiers) Coach of the Year - Yakima Valley's Tito Pimentel and Mike Schmitt
Padgatt & Schmitz Ranked Nationally Highline's Brad Padgatt is a sophmore from Buckley, Wa. He has been a dominating force at 184 lbs this season and is currently ranked #1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). At 19-1, Brad's only loss came from a match against a NCAA Div I opponent. Brad placed 5th last year, and should be the favorite win it all this year. Clackamas' Sam Schmitz, a freshman from Newberg, Oregon has recently been selected the number four-ranked 149 pound wrestler in the NJCAA wresling poll. Schmitz has compiled a 24-6 record this season including two wins over the NJCAA's top-ranked Coby Jones from Northern Idaho College. Schmitz has a 10-0 record over junior college peers and has been solid over the 4-yr institution opponents with a 14-6 record including multiple wins over PAC-10 schools Oregon, Oregon State, Boise State & Portland State. Clackamas Goes 2-1 at Home January 6, 2007 “Our guys wrestled very hard and overcame a tough situation to perform very well.” “It gives us a lot of confidence knowing that even when we are a little down we can still perform”, said Head Coach Josh Rhoden. view results Clackamas Defeats #5 North Idaho & Yakima Match Summaries: December 14, 2006 According to rule 4 section 12 of the NCAA rules, when two teams finish in a tie the winner of the match shall be determined by criterion. In this situation criterion A states that the team with the most victories, wins the dual meet. “The guys wanted the win bad,” said Head Coach Josh Rhoden. “We have been working very hard and we wanted the victory,” he added. The Cougars, who gave up two forfeits in the match, wrestled their way back into contention with some very impressive victories. “John Bates really got things going with a big win over over current NJCAA 5th-ranked Robbie Shaw at 285 lbs. From there on we didn’t lose a match excluding the forfeit at 141 lbs," stated Rhoden. At 149 lbs, Sam Schmitz found himself up against returning All-American and current NJCAA 4th-ranked Coby Jones. In what was a very exciting match Sam won a hard fought victory. “The win was a great one for Sam and the team, it really pumped up our guys," exclaimed Rhoden. "We are looking forward to wrestling them again in Oregon City next month.” The next meeting between the two squads is January 12 at Clackamas Community College. Clackamas C.C. 22 vs. North Idaho College 21 (Criterion A) Yakima, Wa. - The Cougar Wrestling team, high on a victory in Idaho, traveled straight to Yakima, Washington for an evening meeting with the Yaks of Yakima Valley. The Cougar Wrestling Team won the match going away. “From the first whistle to the last we came to wrestle and it really showed," said Coach Rhoden. The dual started at 125 lbs with Brian Jacob picking up the 11-4 victory and it was really all Cougars after that. “I was glad to see that the guys weren’t effected by the long drive over. They stepped out and really got after it.” The Cougars will face Yakima at home and will see their next action after the New Year on January the 6th in the CCC Duals. Clackamas C.C. 32 vs. Yakima Valley C.C. 12 Accessing Old NWAACC Site The NWAACC has launched its new look web site for the 2006-07 season. While we continue working on adding information for the winter and spring sports programs, you can access the old web site by visiting: nwaacc.org/oldsite |
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Oregon City, Ore. - The North Idaho Cardinals once again dominated the Region 18 Wrestling Championships winning the team competition by 35.5 pts on a total of 152.5pts. 
OREGON CITY -- As the referee lifted his hand in victory, Richard Jensen was assessing which body parts hurt -- and how much. 
Oregon City, Ore. - Clackamas Community College will be hosting the NJCAA Region 18 Wrestling Championships on Saturday, February 9th, starting at 10 am in 
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