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Eight Ranked on Eve of Regional Tournament
By RANDAL HOROBIK
Tribune Sports Editor
The expected rankings shakeup in the wake of the Apodaca Dual Showdown hit the NJCAA wrestling poll when it was released last Friday. While the Trappers remain fourth overall, the impact was more significant in the individual weight class rankings, which in some cases saw considerable shakeup.
Iowa Central remains the team that everyone is chasing atop the standings, followed by St. Lous-Meramec. Labette leapfrogs back ahead of Northwest College, which remains No. 4 in the standings. Clackamas rounds out the top five.
North Idaho took the largest post-Apodaca tumble with a slide to No. 6 after carrying a No. 3 ranking into Powell. Highline, Iowa Lakes, Lincoln and Colby complete the top 10.
The next five begins with newcomers Niagara County at No. 11 and Mercyhurst North East at No. 12. Region VI schools Pratt and Neosho County are next, followed by Muskegon.
Pratt, Neosho County, Colby and Labette will all be in attendance this weekend when the Trappers begin regional tournament competition.
Eight of the 10 Northwest College wrestlers expected to make the trek south for regional action will do so while ranked in the top 12 of their respective weight classes. Five of those ranked are in the top five of their divisions.
Nick Petersen (174 pounds) and Mak Jones (197 pounds) share the honor of being the Trappers' top wrestlers in the polls. Both will carry the No. 3 rating in their divisions into regional competition.
McCade Ford is the No. 4 wrestler at 141 pounds in the latest poll. Heavyweight Landon Harris, who had spent the entire season atop the 285-pound poll, tumbled to No. 5 after being defeated in the Apodacas. Fellow returning All-American Saul Guerrero is also considered the No. 5 wrestler at 133 pounds.
Also ranked this week for the Trappers are Jesse Hillhouse (No. 6 at 125), Briston Brenton (No. 9 at 157) and Jarrett Baker (No. 12 at 184).
The Trappers open regional action on Friday in Colby, Kan.