2017 NJCAA National ChampionshipsFeb 22, 2017 by Mike Mal
Junior College Nationals Is A Three-Horse Race
Junior College Nationals Is A Three-Horse Race
The NJCAA national tournament is expected to be a three-team race between defending champion Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, No. 1-ranked Iowa Central, and Clackamas Community College on Friday and Saturday.
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When the top junior college wrestlers in the nation converged on Council Bluffs, Iowa, last year at the NJCAA national tournament, all eyes were on Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's Jacobe Smith and his dominant performance through the field. This year, however, it's the team race that's expected to provide fireworks at Mid-America Center on Friday and Saturday.
In only their program's third year in existence, the NEO A&M Golden Norsemen won their second national title in 2016 and outscored second-place Iowa Central by 24.5 points. While Northeastern Oklahoma A&M is the returning national champion, the Golden Norseman are anticipated a much tighter battle this weekend.
"It (was) almost sewn up going into the finals last year," NEO A&M head coach Joe Renfro said. "I don't think that will be the case for anyone this year."
Perennial junior college powerhouse Iowa Central will be the most dangerous team on the mats this weekend. The Tritons come into the tournament with their No. 1 ranking to protect and the ability to collect a massive amount of bonus points. Dayton Racer, a transfer from Virginia Tech, will be one of four Iowa Central athletes who are expected to be in the national finals on Saturday night.
If the fight for an NJCAA title is won on the back end of the bracket (which it often times is), Clackamas Community College may be the front-runner. The Cougars are one of the most well-rounded teams in the field, winning their fourth straight national dual meet title this January in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Clackamas also has some serious firepower toward the middle of its lineups, with Kurt Mode and Josh Reyes at 141 and 149, respectively.
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When the top junior college wrestlers in the nation converged on Council Bluffs, Iowa, last year at the NJCAA national tournament, all eyes were on Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's Jacobe Smith and his dominant performance through the field. This year, however, it's the team race that's expected to provide fireworks at Mid-America Center on Friday and Saturday.
In only their program's third year in existence, the NEO A&M Golden Norsemen won their second national title in 2016 and outscored second-place Iowa Central by 24.5 points. While Northeastern Oklahoma A&M is the returning national champion, the Golden Norseman are anticipated a much tighter battle this weekend.
"It (was) almost sewn up going into the finals last year," NEO A&M head coach Joe Renfro said. "I don't think that will be the case for anyone this year."
Perennial junior college powerhouse Iowa Central will be the most dangerous team on the mats this weekend. The Tritons come into the tournament with their No. 1 ranking to protect and the ability to collect a massive amount of bonus points. Dayton Racer, a transfer from Virginia Tech, will be one of four Iowa Central athletes who are expected to be in the national finals on Saturday night.
If the fight for an NJCAA title is won on the back end of the bracket (which it often times is), Clackamas Community College may be the front-runner. The Cougars are one of the most well-rounded teams in the field, winning their fourth straight national dual meet title this January in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Clackamas also has some serious firepower toward the middle of its lineups, with Kurt Mode and Josh Reyes at 141 and 149, respectively.
The NJCAA tournament is always entertaining, don't miss a minute of it LIVE on Flo this Friday and Saturday.
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