Brackets released for NJCAA national wrestling tournament

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Brackets have been released for the NJCAA wrestling national championships that are set for Feb. 23-24 at the Mid-America Center.

NIACC qualified eight wrestlers for the national tournament at last Sunday's NJCAA Central District tournament in Fort Dodge.

NIACC received second-place finishes from Austin Anderly (141) and Jimsher Sidhu (285) at the district tournament. Ryan Faught qualified at 165 with his third-place finish at districts.

NIACC's Ryan Faught placed third at 165 pounds to earn his second trip to the national tournament.

Qualifying for the nationals as wild cards were Mark Gonzales (125) and Robert Rodriguez (149). Also qualifying for the national tournament as extra wrestlers from the Iowa district were Noah Jackson (157), Tavion Askew (174) and Sedrak Sheppard. (197).

The following are NIACC's first-round matchups:

125

Mark Gonzales (NIACC) vs. Benny Gomez (Muskegon)

141

Austin Anderly (N) received a first-round bye. Anderly faces the winner of Craig Stallings (Harper) and Jason Goff (Camden) in the second round.

149

Robert Rodriguez (N) vs. Kenny Astle (Western Wyoming)

157

Noah Jackson (N) vs. Alfred Daniel (RCTC)

165

Ryan Faught (N) vs. Augustus Siaway (Ridgewater)

174

Tavion Askew (N) Dylan Reel (Clackamas)

197

Sedrak Sheppard (N) vs. Zeke Silva (Northeast Oklahoma)

285

Jimsher Sidhu (N) vs. Mark Fischer (Rowan)