By Corey Meints
Jean Ngoma continued his solid rookie season Saturday with a title at the 35th Art Kraft Memorial Open hosted by Triton College in River Grove, Ill. He was one of four Ellsworth Community College grapplers to place.
Ngoma opened with a bye at 197 then majored Marian University's Andy Warren 12-3. He reached the finals with a 3-2 win over pre-season number-one and defending national champion Andrew Marquez of Indian Hills. Ngoma's finals bout ended early as Indian Hills/ Ryan Darnell injury defaulted at the 3:20 mark.
Nicholas Fischer placed third with a decision and two majors while going 3-1 at 157. He major decisioned Harper's Michael Galloway 16-7 in the medal match.
Joshua Berlin finished fourth at 174. He opened with a bye, then picked up a tech fall before dropping to the consolations. He bowed out of the medal match at 1:51 with an injury.
Tafari Parker was ECC's final placer, taking sixth at 285 with a 2-2 day. His wins were by pin and major.
Gabe Brazzel (141) and Germain Ngoma (149) each won a match but did not place. Brazzel's win came by medical forfeit while Ngoma earned a major decision.
The Panthers are off until Jan. 3 when they travel to Mason City for the NIACC Battle For The Helmet Tournament.
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Art Kraft Memorial
Saturday at River Grove, Ill.
ECC Results
141: Gabe Brazzel (DNP)- TF by Lennon Steinkuehler (Harper) 15-0; Bye; MFF. over Thomas Silva (IHCC); TF by Christian Chavez (Harper) 17-2.
149: Germain Ngoma (DNP)- pin by Jahkari Clark (IHCC) 0:16; MD David Johnson (Triton) 20-6; MFF. over Brady Willman (SW Mich.); TF by Kyron Zoet (Muskegon) 15-0.
157: Nicholas Fischer (3rd place)- dec. Larz Hughes (SW Mich.) 3-2; MD Nicolas Kreger (RCTC) 12-2; TF by Maguire Hoeksema (Harper) 22-6; MD Michael Galloway (Harper) 16-7.
174: Joshua Berlin (4th)- Bye; TF Robert Lee Tucker (Blackburn) 17-2; MD by Cinsere Clark (IHCC) 12-2; inj. def. to Tyson Poyer (Harper) 1:51.
197: Jean Ngoma (1st)- Bye; MD Andy Warren (Marian) 12-3; dec. Andrew Marquez (IHCC) 3-2; inj. def. over Ryan Darnell (IHCC) 3:20.
285: Tafari Parker (6th)- TF by Naasir Edmonds (IHCC) 18-2; Bye; pin Chaz Underwood (SW Mich.) 2:26; MD Terrence Garner (Triton) 12-0; dec. by Justin Brown (IHCC) 4-1 SV1.