WILLMAR -- Two-time defending national champion Iowa Central Community College will be at Ridgewater College Sunday for the NJCAA Region 13 national qualifier.
The Tritons, ranked No. 1 in Division I, are one of eight teams, including the Warriors, who will be trying to advance individuals to the national tournament Feb. 21-23 in Rochester.
The other teams include No. 7-ranked North Iowa, No. 16 Ellsworth (Iowa) and Iowa Lakes.
The tournament will also determine the MCCC state champion amongst Ridgewater, Rochester, Minnesota West and Itasca. The Warriors won the dual-meet title with a 4-0 record and are ranked No. 4 in Division III.
There are many returning All-Americas in the draw, including national champion Matt Burns of Iowa Central, ranked No. 2 at 149 pounds. Ridgewater's Brandon Schunk is a returning All-America.
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The tournament begins at 10 a.m. The semifinals are projected to around noon with the finals, third place and fifth place matches at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Ridgewater coach Tom Beyer lists his starting lineup as follows:
125: Jon Tatro, freshman (Minnewaska)
133: Brandon Schunk, sophomore (Wabasso)
141: Jared Hotakainen, freshman (New York Mills)
149: Greg Skerik, sophomore (Bemidji)
157: Mike Qurada, sophomore (Wabasso)
165: Scott Thompson, sophomore (Benson)
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174: Trent Molacek, freshman (Willmar)
184: Open
197: Andrew Larson, freshman (Belgrade)
Hwt: Peter Christians, freshman (Minneapolis)
