Bio

2015-16 highlights: Placed sixth (149) at Kaye Young Open with a record of 1-3 ... Placed 6th (149) in the freshman division at the Luther College Open ... Placed third at NJCAA North Central district at 149 pounds (2-14-16).

2015-16 record: 17-14 with 10 falls and 2 major decisions.

2015-16 season:

Kaye Young Open (149 pounds)

Niichel dec. Brandon Schissel (Upper Iowa), 6-4; Damian Penichet (Upper Iowa) pinned Niichel, 4:46; Joseph Dominguez (unattached, Iowa State) pinned Niichel, 2:09; Zach Bruns (unattached, Upper Iowa) dec. Niichel, 3-2.

Luther College Open (freshman division, 149 pounds)

Blake Meyer (Wartburg) pinned Niichel, 6:39; Niichel pinned Cale Roelofsen (Iowa Lakes), 6:06; Niichel won by injury default over Bradley Irwin (NIACC), 4:47; Niichel pinned Daniel Close (Minnesota State), 1:41; Meyer (Wartburg) tech. fall Niichel, 19-4; Gilbert Valadez (Luther) dec. Niichel, 6-5.

Buena Vista Open (149 pounds)

Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa) pinned Niichel, 2:56; Niichel pinned Elijah Dahl (Northwestern), 4:11; Niichel pinned Nickolas Madsen (Morningside), :34; Niichel major dec. Dalton Hanson (Morningside), 9-1; Brad Kerkhoff (Buena Vista) pinned Niichel, 3:00. 

Central College Invitational (149 pounds)

Niichel dec. Brandon Seward (Graceland), 2-1; Jonathan Melton (Simpson) tech. fall Niichel, 16-0; Niichel major dec. Logan Coleman (Graceland), 19-9; Angelo Kelly (William Penn) dec. Niichel, 9-2.

Regional duals (Rochester, Minn.) (1-23-16)

Iowa Central dual, 149 pounds

Ryan Cokeley (IC) major dec. Niichel, 14-3.

RCTC dual, 149 pounds

Niichel (N) pinned Deven Loepp, 1:30.

Augsburg JV dual, 149 pounds

Niichel (N) pinned Alex Wilson, 1:21.

Iowa Lakes dual, 149 pounds (1-27-16)

Niichel (N) pinned Cale Roelofsen, 6:03.

NJCAA North Central district, 149 pounds (2-14-16)

Quarterfinals - Niichel (N) pinned Lerch Oremar (Ellsworth), 7:20. Semifinals - Ryne Cokeley (Iowa Central) pinned Niichel (N), 1:06. Consolation semifinals - Niichel (N) dec. Jessie Regalado (Minnesota West), 5-2. Third-place match - Niichel (N) won by medical forfeit over Stephen Mincey (Iowa Lakes).

NJCAA national tournament (149 pounds) (Feb. 27)

Lehman (N) pinned Pedro Martinez (Triton); Bryan Burnett (Labette) dec. Niichel (N), 5-4; Niichel (N) pinned Dominique Evans (NW Tech), 6:32; Andrew Beck (Pratt) major dec. Niichel (N), 9-0.