Junior College NWCA National Duals Preview

NWCA Cliff Keen Multi-Divisional National Duals

Jan. 12-13 • Prairie Capital Convention Center • Springfield, Ill.

NJCAA Tournament

The following is a closer look at first-round match-ups, including potential head-to-head meetings of ranked wrestlers. The numbers associated with the teams are their seedings for the tournament, not their current NJCAA rankings. North Idaho, which was ranked No. 1 in the Dec. 21 NJCAA ratings, is not competing in the National Duals.

NJCAA National Duals Bracket

First-Round Match-ups on Jan. 12:

All matches begin at 9 a.m.

No. 1 Labette (Kan.) vs. No. 8 Iowa Lakes

Labette, which finished second to Iowa Central in the 2012 National Duals and is rated No. 2 in current NJCAA ratings, features eight men in the national rankings, including top-ranked heavyweight Trey Page … as well as three wrestlers — 125-pound Josh Walker, 165-pound Devin Aguirre and 174-pound Ethan Orr — who where ranked No. 2. The other rated wrestlers are Eric Hughes (third at 133), Tyler Davis (fifth at 141), Spencer Rutherford (fifth at 149) and Jeromy Davenport (third at 157).

Iowa Lakes, located in northwest Iowa, features three ranked wrestlers, led by Nick Lawrence, rated No. 4 at 174. Meanwhile Dylan Knoechne is 12^th at 125 and Skyler Rice is 6^th at 133.

No. 4 Niagra vs. No. 5 Lincoln

Located in Sanborn, N.Y. – and just northeast of the famous Niagra Falls — should send five ranked wrestlers to Springfield: Barney Prince (6^th at 125), Caleb Green (7^th at 133), Irvin Buck (2^nd at 157), Chris Schimek (1^st at 165) and John Brabon (8^th at 174).

The only probable chance of a head-to-head match-up against a ranked wrestler from this Illinois junior college — which is 35 miles north of Springfield — would come at 165 where Lincoln’s No. 6 Darnell Thomas will be looking to knock off the top-ranked Schimek.

Meanwhile, Lincoln’s other rated wrestlers are Takil Agnes (12^th at 149), Stephon Rudicil (11^th at 184), Archie Williams (6^th at 197) and Dequence Goodman (10^th at heavyweight).

No. 3 Colby vs. No. 6 Harper

When these Kansas and Illinois community colleges meet, there are three weight classes featuring head-to-head meetings of ranked men on paper: 133, Josh Martinez (4^th)  of Colby will be challenged by Harper’s Zach Hummel (9^th); 174, where Colby’s Justin Armstrong (11^th) faces Harper’s Tyler Thomas (12^th); and at 184, where Colby’s Dylan Braun (2^nd) should meet Kalvin Argueta (9^th) of Harper.

Colby also features Bryce Lewis (third at 165), while Harper (located in Palatine, Ill.) will send Donnie Simpson (7^th at 149), Steve Dewitt (10^th at 157) and Mike Summerville (8^th at 197) to the Duals.

No. 2 Iowa Central vs. No. 7 Neosho

Oddly, according to the Dec. 21 NJCAA national rankings, Iowa Central was rated No. 11 as a team and the Tritons of Ft. Dodge, Iowa, featured just two ranked wrestlers: Frank Cagnina (1^st at 149) and Colin Hewitt (4^th at 165).

Neosho of Chanute, Kan., actually features more ranked men: 125-pound Tim Prescott (8^th); 133-pound Le’Roy Barnes (1^st); 141-pound Terrance Moore (10^th); and 149-pound Kyle Graumenz (10^th).