黑料百科

The 黑料百科 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 wrestling teams capped off successful seasons with yet another record performance at the NJCAA Wrestling National Championships in Council Bluffs on March 5-6. Four wrestlers earned national titles, and the women鈥檚 team finished as national runners-up to mark the best finish in the program鈥檚 short history.

Terry Pack, head coach of the men鈥檚 team, led his team to a record fourth-place finish in just the third year as a program.

鈥淚 think the plan was to come in and try to put out a product that not only graduated kids, but won national titles,鈥� Pack said. 鈥淟ast year, both teams were in the top five, and the year before both teams were top 10. So, I think we鈥檙e getting to where we need to be.鈥�

When Keith Smith became the program鈥檚 first two-time national champion this year, it meant a lot to Pack.

鈥淚 think it shows kids that everything is possible,鈥� Pack said. 鈥淜eith came in, he had some academic issues and it took him a while to get his stuff together, and here he is winning two national titles.鈥�

Smith wrestled Shehabeldin Mohamed from Indian Hills for his title. He recorded a takedown in the first period and never looked back, winning 5-0 to claim the 157-pound title.

鈥淐oach Pack has had a huge impact on my growth and development,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a great coach, I like the way he coaches. I had a good two years with him.鈥�

The men鈥檚 team had six All-Americans, with nine wrestlers making the quarterfinals. Ayson Rice advanced to the semifinals in the 149-pound class, Victor Lamar also made the semifinals in the 197-pound class, and Ira Jenkins made the finals in heavyweight.

The women鈥檚 team saw a thrilling end to their season as well, with three wrestlers being crowned national champions.

Freshman wrestlers Emma Albanese and Billie Bonwell both fought their way to championship matches, Albanese at 117 pounds and Bonwell at 160.

鈥淚 definitely feel like the tournaments that we did leading up to this prepared us mentally and physically,鈥� Albanese said after making it to the quarterfinals. 鈥淚 feel like there鈥檚 a lot of pressure because I鈥檓 a freshman. I have an expectation to win.鈥�

That expectation was rewarded with a 61-second victory in the championship after outscoring Laila Mirza of Carl Albert State 13-2.

Bonwell鈥檚 match came down to the final moments. She earned two points as time expired to defeat Murray State鈥檚 Gabby Akers 4-3 and claim the Bobcats鈥� second individual women鈥檚 title of the tournament.

Martha Hinneh, a sophomore, stepped into a leadership role for the young squad after winning a national title last year.

鈥淚 really had to step up,鈥� Hinneh said. 鈥淚鈥檓 sort of a loner, but I know that I am a national champion and I have to take that captain role to make sure all of them are prepared. But they made it easy for me, they鈥檙e a great bunch of wrestlers, I鈥檓 proud of each and every one of them.鈥�

Hinneh became the first female wrestler from 黑料百科 to win back-to-back national championships when she defeated Iowa Western鈥檚 Audre Herron in the final bout 3-1.

Fifteen Bobcat women qualified for the national championships, and 11 were named All-Americans.

After a historic season that saw program records broken, women鈥檚 wrestling Head Coach Jake Hamilton was recognized as NJCAA Coach of the Year.

鈥淎t the end of the day, I wouldn鈥檛 be here without their hard work, discipline and dedication,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淭his one goes to them, not me.鈥�

Damon Bennett
Activities Information Director
402-437-2077
dbennett@southeast.edu