COUNCIL BLUFFS - Four Iowa Central wrestlers secured spots in the semifinals here Wednesday at the NJCAA National Championships.
Bret Minor, Keaton Geerts, Jose Rodriguez and Jorden Pryor all made it to the final four in their respective weight classes, inching one step closer to claiming titles.
The semis will hit the mat at 10:30 a.m. Thursday from inside the Mid-America Center with consolations to follow. Wrestling continues throughout the day leading up to the start of the final session at 6:30 p.m.
Minor had one of the biggest wins of the day, topping defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Blake Gonzalez of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the quarters at 141 pounds. Minor scored three escape points in his match to earn the win.
"Just all about performing when the lights are on," Minor said. "This is what Coach (Luke) Moffitt and Coach (Troy) Bennett have trained us for.
"(Against Gonzalez) it was just all about wanting it more. He was the defending national champ and I wanted more than anything to knock him off. All the glory to God and I can't wait to go have some more fun (Thursday)."
Geerts continued his winning ways with a major decision over Jake Richardson of Clackamas at 165 pounds, 12-2. The University of Northern Iowa transfer also won by fall and technical fall during the early rounds.
Rodriguez, a returning All-American and the top-seed at 174, picked up his third pin of the tournament, this time finishing off Jeremiah Voliva of Labette in 4:37. His other two falls came in the third period.
Pryor moved into the semis at heavyweight with a commanding 18-5 major decision over Noah Broderson of Rochester in a match that included over three minutes of riding time for the Triton. Pryor also had two other falls on the day.
Aidan Harris reeled off four consecutive wins after losing in the first round, including a 7-6 victory over Clarence Lee-Green of NIACC.
Phil Smith Jr. and Andrew Gamble each suffered setbacks in the quarters and lost consolation round matches, seeing their tournaments end.
Yoseph Yilma, Jesus Gutierrez and Hugo Harp also had their tourney runs come to an end.
Iowa Central has 83 points, which places them fourth. Western Wyoming leads with 103.5 points and has all 10 wrestlers still alive, including three in the semis. Clackamas is second with 95 and Pratt third with 88.5.
-By Dana Becker