NIACC Competes at Harold Nichols Open

Harold Nichols Open Brackets

November 12, 2007-  Mason City--  Twelve wrestlers from the North Iowa Area Community College wrestling team traveled to Ames Saturday to compete in the Harold Nichols Open on the campus of Iowa State University.  Only one came away placing in the top six.  The competition was fierce, but very developmental for the young NIACC team.

Sophomore Glenn Rhees, competing unattached, was the only NIACC wrestler to place in the top six.  Rhees finished sixth at 174 pounds after suffering a lower leg fracture.  Rhees, competing in his first tournament in over two years, pinned Iowa Central's Kevin Kelly, then lost to the 2007 NAIA National runner-up Matt Cauley from Lindenwood University 12-8 in a tight match.  After the loss, Rhees bounced back to defeat Iowa Central's Ahmad Motley by major decision 13-3 and followed that win with another victory over Iowa State's Chris Pursel 3-2 before suffering the injury.  Rhees should be back in action in 4-6 weeks.

Jordan Bartoszek, Seth Cooper, Tyler Eckerman and Skyler Morrison all competed unattached and fell to some very tough competition. 

Freshman T.J Moen (Des Moines, 141) finished the day 1-2 with his last loss coming to Zach McCray of Wartburg.  Albert White (Harvey, IL, 149) went 1-2 on the day, but was injury defaulted out of the competition with an eye injury.  DaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, 157) was one match away from placing.  Perkins fell to NCAA Division III All-American Aaron Wernimont of Wartburg 7-4 in the quarterfinals.

At 165, Aaron Hancock (Phoenix, AZ) and Clarence Jordan (Waterloo) did not place with Hancock claiming a 1-2 finish after coming back from a two week illness.  Heavyweight Beau Tudor (Cornville, AZ) lost to Iowa State starter and NCAA national qualifier David Zabriskie by fall and to UNO's Bryce Boehm in a tiebreaker.

The Trojans will be hosting their first dual competition in over 30 years on Wednesday November 14th against region foe Ridgewater Community College out of Willmar, MN.  The dual is slated to begin at 7:00 pm.