College wrestling: Harper takes 20th at nationals

Posted March 03, 2017 12:00 am

By Jonathan Cregier

The National Junior College Athletic Association's wrestling national championship tournament took place last weekend in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where the 18th-ranked Harper College program came away with a 20th-place finish.

Harper was one of only two non-scholarship programs to finish in the top 20.

The Hawks were led by sophomore 125-pounder Ian Muller.

After a second-round loss to Justin Folley (Ellsworth), Muller found himself in the fifth-place match and defeated Brennen Doebel (NIACC) by fall in 2:08. Muller was the only Harper wrestler to earn All American honors.

District champion Lincoln (Ill.) placed fourth with 88.5 points in its final NJCAA national championship meet. The program will compete at the NAIA level beginning next season.

Next season, Joliet Junior College will become the third North Central Community College Conference member to offer wrestling.

This is the Wolves' second go-round in the sport. JJC disbanded the program in 1987 and won a national title in 1964.

The school they split the title with that season, Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., brought back its program this season and took home a 23rd-place finish from nationals.

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