Council Bluffs, IA – The National Junior College Athletic Association wrestling championship take place over two days this Friday and Saturday at the Mid-America Center.
Garrett College head coach David Wingate's top goal is ensuring his Lakers are more than just spectators on Saturday.
"Last season we didn't have anyone make it past the first day of the tournament," recalled Wingate, whose squad is sending nine to nationals this year. "My goal for this year is to have at least one wrestler there for Day Two."
Wingate said wrestlers "have to win anywhere between four and five matches depending on their bracket" to survive Friday's wrestling marathon and qualify for Day 2.
Five Lakers – Nicholas Anderson (125 pounds), Everett Nichols (157), Tyberious Clayton (174), Braeden Poorbaugh (184), and Drayk Bunn (197) – received first-round byes. They each moved directly into the Round of 32 in the championship bracket.
GC's other four participants – Camden Hull (133), Brooks Smith (149), Cole Stuchal (165), and Jacob Beeman (285) – will wrestle first-round matches.
Three Lakers are seeded in their respective weight classes. Anderson and Bunn are each 13th seeds while Stuchal is seeded 15th. Four Lakers – Smith, Nichols, Clayton, and Beeman – drew seeded wrestlers in their opening matches.
On paper, Clayton was handed the toughest opener, drawing fourth-seeded Trey Bennett (32-7) of Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College. Smith didn't fare much better – his opening opponent is fifth-seeded Bryce Brust of Southwestern Michigan College.
Both Bennett and Brust were region champions in their respective weight classes.
"The biggest thing for us is to not worry about seeds," said Wingate. "Our wrestlers just need to wrestle their style and try to control their match."
Wingate said he's thankful for the Lakers' outstanding season, which included qualifying wrestlers for nationals in every weight class but one.
"I'm super-grateful for the season we've had," said Wingate. "We had great opportunities all season. We beat a Top 20 team, and we were ranked in the top 15 nationally at one point.
"We're right where we want to be, program-wise," added Wingate, "to push the program where it needs to be."
PHOTO CUTLINE
Garrett College 285-pounder Jacob Beeman, who graduated from Northern Garrett High, is one of nine Lakers who qualified for this week's NJCAA national wrestling tournament.
