NIACC's Minto advances to semifinals

COUNCIL BLUFFS - NIACC's Christian Minto is two matches away from completing a perfect season.

The top-ranked 165-pounder moved into the 165-pound semifinals at the NJCAA Division I national wrestling tournament Friday night with a 15-3 major decision over Nassau's Paul Illicete in the quarterfinals.

Minto (21-0) faces RCTC's Seth Brossard in the semifinals Saturday morning.

NIACC's 197-pounder Holton Truax (18-5) guaranteed himself all-American honors with a pair of victories Friday night in the consolation round. He pinned Southwest Oregon's Ben Hughes in 2 minutes, 8 seconds and gained a 18-3 technical fall overe Rowan's Curtis Thomas.

NIACC is in 12th place after day one of the national tournament with 37.5 points.

Clackamas leads the team standings with 84.5 points and RCTC is in second with 79.5 points.

In the Friday night consolation round, NIACC's Clarence Lee-Green (125), Brock Luthens (133), Kendall Sandifer (157), Cody Klettheimer (174) and Reldon Miller (184) were all eliminated from the tournament.

Luthens won his first consolation match Friday night over Neosho's Kolton Smith, 4-2, but then dropped a 5-4 decision to Nassau's Anthony Sobotker.

Lee-Green dropped his first consolation match to Southwest Oregon's Joel Avila, 5-2.

At 157 pounds, Northeastern's Sebastian Robles pinned Sandifer in 2:41.

At 174 pounds, Iowa Lakes' Austin Hinzman pinned Klettheimer in 2:44.

At 184 pounds, Itasca's Dalton Bernett topped Miller, 7-5.