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Three North Iowa Area Community College wrestlers won national titles individually and the Trojans finished fourth as a team at the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association Wrestling Championships in Rochester, MN last weekend.

“Our guys peaked at the right time!  I am so proud of their performance this weekend and for the overall season!” Richard Fergola, NIACC wrestling head coach, said.

Six NIACC wrestlers earned All-American (top eight) status during the two-day tournament, the first the Trojans had participated in since the program disbanded in 1976. NIACC’s wrestling program was officially reinstated in November 2006 and head coach Richard Fergola was hired as head coach in March 2007.

“Last year at this time we didn't have a wrestling mat, a wrestling room or coaches. We've come a long way in a short period of time thanks to the efforts of Dan Mason (Athletic Director), Rich Fergola (Head Coach), Chad Vance (Assistant Coach), T.J. Sebolt (Assistant Coach) and Josh Byrnes (Volunteer Coach/Director of Wrestling Operations). I am exceptionally proud of our program and student-athletes,” Dr. Michael Morrison, NIACC president, said.

NIACC was among 36 schools represented at nationals and the team’s 109 points trailed only Iowa Central Community College (138), St. Louis-Meramac in Missouri (117.5) and Labette Community College of Kansas (111).

Freshman Albert White (Harvey, IL/St. Rita) finished his season 31-3 overall, beating T.J. Hepburn of Colby Community College (KS) 3-2 in last Saturday’s 149-pound finals. White beat Hepburn three times this year, including weight division finals at the inaugural Kaye Young/NIACC Open last November and the Colby Tournament of Champions in January. White, who was ranked No. 1 in his division heading into the weekend, won all four matches during the NJCAA nationals. He had earned a spot in the finals by beating Ellsworth Community College’s Kurt Simons 17-9 in Saturday’s semifinals.

Freshman DaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, NE/North) completed a 39-5 season with a 9-8 decision over Highline Community College (WA) in the 157-pound championship. Perkins opened competition with a victory over fourth-rated Cole Garcia of Colby last Friday and ended up 4-0 for the weekend. He had pinned Darren Olsen of Lincoln Community College (IL) in 4:51 during semifinal action.

Sophomore Glenn Rhees (Atascadero, CA/HS) topped off a 26-3 campaign by defeating Neosho County Community College (KS) wrestler Jason Green 7-3 in the 174-pound finals. Like White and Perkins, Rhees was 4-0 during nationals. He had beaten top-seeded Darius Williams of Harper College (IL) 3-1 in the semifinals.

Three other NIACC wrestlers earned All-American honors in last weekend’s meet, which included competitors from 36 schools. T.J. Moen (Des Moines/Saydel) finished third at 141 pounds while Cody Hogan (Richmond, MO/HS) placed seventh at 133 pounds and Beau Tudor (Camp Verde, AZ/HS) placed eighth in the 285-pound classification. Moen had lost in the quarterfinal round, but won four more matches, including a 6-5 decision over Derick Bartlemay of Clackamas Community College (OR) to earn third place. He was 6-1 at nationals and finished with a 30-11 overall record.

Others competing for NIACC at the national meet included: Brad Theilen (Nashua/Nashua-Plainfield) at 197 pounds, Jordan Bartoszek (Mason City/HS) at 125 pounds and Tyler Hancock (Camp Verde, AZ/HS) at 165 pounds. Theilen nearly earned All-American status, having won two consolation matches after losing in the quarterfinals before falling in overtime on Friday to finish 3-2 for the tournament.

Along with his national title on the mat, Rhees earned Academic All-American status (3.0 grade-point average or above in the past semester), as did NIACC teammate Jason Schweer (Waverly/Waverly-Shell Rock).

For more information on NIACC wrestling, visit www.niacc.edu/athletics.

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