Two Northland Community & Technical College wrestlers have qualified to compete in the 2014 NJCAA National Wrestling Championships that begin Friday, Feb. 28 and continue Saturday, March 1 in Spokane, Wash.
Automatic qualifying spots were awarded to the top five finishers in each weight class at the 10-team NJCAA North Central District in Spencer, Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 16. Qualifying for the Pioneers were Jordan Engen, second place at 165 pounds, and Craig Williams, third place at 184 pounds.
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Wrestling was reinstated as a men’s varsity sport at Northland in fall 2013 after a 40-year hiatus, making Engen and Williams the first Pioneer wrestlers to qualify for nationals in more than 40 years.
“Jordan and Craig proved during the district tournament that they can compete with anyone in the NJCAA,” said head coach Scott DCamp. “They are both wrestling with a lot of confidence.”
Engen, currently ranked eighth in the NJCAA at 165 pounds, will open the national tournament with a first round bye and face the winner of Zach Revier of Ridgewater College and 12th ranked Tyler McClean of North Idaho Community College.
Williams opens the tournament against Kolbjorn Skaflestad of Southwestern Oregon Community College.