NIACC's Santee falls in semifinals

NIACC's Zach Santee tries to escape from Northeastern's Antonio Andrade in the 285-pound semifinals.
NIACC's Zach Santee tries to escape from Northeastern's Antonio Andrade in the 285-pound semifinals.
March 2, 2019

COUNCIL BLUFFS - NIACC's Zach Santee run toward a national title came to an end in the 285-pound semifinals at the NJCAA Division I national tournament Saturday at the Mid-America Center.

Santee (13-12) was pinned by Northeastern's top-ranked Antonio Andrade in two minutes, 41 seconds. It was the second time this season that Andrade has pinned Santee.

Santee faces North Idaho's Connor Sullivan in the consolation semifinals Saturday afternoon. If Santee wins, he will wrestle for third and if he loses he will wrestle for fifth.

NIACC's 149-pounder Tony Mendoza advanced to the consolation semifinals Saturday morning.

Mendoza (22-7) won his fifth straight match at the national tournament after dropping his opening-round match. Mendoza stopped Barton's Kolby Drogemeier 9-6 in the consolation quarterfinals.

Mendoza faces Cloud County's Austin Eldredge in the consolation semifinals.

If Mendoza wins the consolation semifinal match, he will wrestle for third place. If he loses in the semifinals, Mendoza will wrestle for fifth place.

NIACC's Brock Luthens dropped a 4-1 decision to Iowa Western's Jacob Ruiz in his 133-pound consolation quarterfinal match.

Luthens (12-9) faces Lackawanna's Nathaniel White in the seventh-place match Saturday afternoon.