The Triton College wrestling team wrapped up their best season under head coach
Tim Duggan as the Trojans brought home three All-Americans at the
NJCAA Wrestling Championships held March 3 and 4 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Elon Rodriguez placed fourth at 133,
Anthony Schickel was fifth at 125 and
Connor Svantner was the final Triton NJCAA All-American with an eighth place showing at 157.
The three bring the program's total to 88 NJCAA All-Americans in Triton College wrestling history.
The Trojans were one of nine schools to have a wrestler qualify to nationals in all 10 weight classes. As a team, Triton finished in 13th place overall with 56.5 points. It was the first time since 1986 that the Trojans have reached at least the 50-point mark at a national tournament.
"Our team had real high hopes going in," Duggan said. "We started off well (winning 7 first round matches). But in the round of 16, we lost some really tight matches and had some things that didn't go our way. Still to get three NJCAA All-Americans is quite a step for our program. We set our standards high. Each year we'll continue to get better and know what we'll have to do to fight for a national championship." Â Â
Rodriguez won his first three bouts en route to the national semifinals. He picked up wins by fall over Aydan Sturtevant of Muskegon Community College and Quentin Pauda of Colby Community College. In the quarterfinals, Rodriguez took care of Southwestern Oregon's Mauro Michel by a 2-0 decision. Unfortunately, he lost a 6-0 decision in the semifinals to eventual national runner-up Jason Henschel of Pratt Community College. Rodriguez split his final two matches to take fourth.
"Elon is a great kid, a great competitor," Duggan said. "He worked really hard to finish 42-10 this season. Elon came up big in some matches. Last year at national he lost in the quaterfinalss then in the "blood round." We talked about at the time that he was wrestling defensively and that he had to become more offensive this year and he accomplished that."
Schickel won his two matches to punch his ticket to the semifinals. The sophomore from Oak Forest was seeded fourth and defeated Kaden Karns of Ellsworth Community College by fall (14-1 at 2:06) after receiving a first-round bye. Then in the quarterfinals, Schickel knocked off Kevin Lopez of Nassau Community College by fall (0-0 at 3:16). However, in the semifinals he lost a close 6-4 decision to Jakason Burks of Iowa Western. Schickel's season ended on a winning note by once again defeating Lopez 5-1 in the fifth place bout.Â
For the season, Schickel finished with an overall record of 45-5, including winning four individual titles.
"Anthony can beat anyone at anytime," Duggan said. "125 pounds was stacked (at nationals). Anthony is tough kid and has beaten multiple Division I, II and III wrestlers."
Svantner went 3-1 the opening day of the tournament. He bounced back strong after his quarterfinal loss to defeat Landon Gode of Rochester to earn All-American status.
"For a freshman Connor had a great season," Duggan said. "To come to nationals and battle the way he did was outstanding. He did a great job and was another 40-match winner for us. After he received his All-American award, he came over and told me he is going to win this next year. That's the kind of attitude we want from all our wrestlers."
The seven other Triton wrestlers who competed at the national tournament were:
Billy Tucker (141),
David Capron (149),
Alonzo Smiley (165),
Sherman Dixon (174),
Jeivan Ross (184),
Curtis Ruff II (197) and
Ronald Krewer (285).
During the All-American ceremonies the final night of the tournament, Duggan was named National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
"I knew that I was in the running and what's special about the award is that it's voted by the coaches. I thought that was really nice and to receive such a high honor from the other coaches meant a lot to me."
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