Trojans' Celestin moves to national semifinals

NIACC's Emmanuel Celestin celebrates his 165-pound quarterfinal win with assistant coach Tanner Warden Friday night at the national tournament.

March 7, 2025

COUNCIL BLUFFS - At last season's NJCAA national wrestling tournament, NIACC's Emmanuel Celestin won one match and lost two.

What a difference a year makes.

Celestin (17-8) won three matches Friday at the 2025 national tourament, including a 4-2 victory over Northeastern Oklahoma's Jackson Wilkins in Friday night's 165-pound quarterfinals.

Celestin, who entered the tournament ranked eighth, faces Northwest Wyoming's sixth-ranked Asadbek Fayzullaev in Saturday morning's 165-pound semifinals. Fayzullaev topped Joliet's fourth-ranked Paul Kadlec 7-1 in his Friday night quarterfinal bout.

Pratt's top-ranked Melton Powe and Iowa Central's third-ranked Kaden King square off in the other 165-pound semifinal on Saturday morning.

Earlier Friday, Celestin, who is from Cooper City, Fla., topped Carl Albert State's Cayden Felts 4-1 in the second round. Celestin (16-8) then moved to the quarterfinals with a 7-2 win over Nassau's Joseph Mattei.

Also Friday night, NIACC sophomore Jessey Colas was pinned by Snow's Chandler Thompson in five minutes, 55 seconds in the consolation bracket.