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Latest NJCAA Poll bumps NWC up one Spot
By RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
The Northwest College Trappers rose one spot to No. 5 in the latest batch of NJCAA wrestling rankings. The new poll - the first since competition began - identifies seven Trappers as being among the top 12 nationally within their weight class.
Iowa Central, ranked second in the preseason, rose one spot to assume the new No. 1 ranking. St. Louis-Meramec, the preseason No. 1 team, slid down one spot to second.
Labette (Kan.) Community College sits at No. 3, followed by North Idaho and then Northwest College. Highline, Clackamas, Lincoln College, Colby and Iowa Lakes round out the top 10.
Pratt leads off the second 10, followed by Niagara County, Muskegon, Southwestern Oregon, Rend Lake, Yakima Valley, Western Wyoming and Neosho County. The latest poll features a three-way tie at No. 19 between North Iowa Area, Spartanburg Methodist and Ellsworth.
Northwest College sophomore Landon Harris remains the top-ranked grappler in the 285-pound division. Harris, the defending NJCAA runner-up, is one of seven Trappers ranked as individuals.
Also appearing in the individual rankings are Jesse Hillhouse (fifth at 125), Saul Guerrero (third at 133), Mc- Cade Ford (third at 141), Briston Brenton (10th at 157), Nick Petersen (seventh at 174) and Mak Jones (sixth at 197).
Northwest College hosts No. 17 Western Wyoming this Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. dual at Hank Cabre Gym. The Trappers travel to Great Falls, Mont., on Friday for duals against Simon Fraser University and Dickinson State University. The team competes in the University of Great Falls Open tournament on Saturday.