Council Bluffs, IA - The RCTC Yellowjackets had a big opening day at the NJCAA Championships that lead to a third place finish when the dust settled on Saturday night. The Jackets had three wrestlers reach the winners bracket quarterfinals on day one which helped to keep them in contention for a third straight national title. RCTC finished the championships with a pair of All-Americans. Cito Tuttle finished as an All-American for the scond straight year with a fifth place finish, while Gunnar Johnson rebounded from an opening match loss to finish in eighth place to earn All-American status.
The Jackets sent nine wrestlers to the Championships with six of them earning at leas one win. At 125 Ryan Tchetter had a good weekend with four match wins. Tschetter won his first two mtches by fall, before falling in the round of 16. He then followed it up with a pair of wins, one by major decision (15-6) and a second by tech fall before falling in the consolation round of 8 to end his tournament. Jake Aho had a great first day winning three straight matches to advance to the quarterfinals including a win over the #8 seed. Aho then dropped his final match in the consolation round of 8 as well. Kley Krause also won three straight matches to advance to the quarterfinals, including a 7-4 sudden victory win in the round of 16. Krause eventually fell in the consolation round of 8 as well. At 184 Deangelo Sardina dropped his opener before winning three straight consolation matches, before dropping a tough match late in the third period of his consolation round of 8 match-up.
The two Jacket All-Americans took two different paths to reach the podium. At 149, Gunnar Johnson dropped a tough opening round match-up 14-4 before going on a roll. Johnson won three straight matches in the consolation bracket (7-3 decision, first period pin, and a 14-11 decision) ro reach the consolation round of 4. He the dropped a decision to the #7 seed before falling in the 7th place match to finish 8th overall and earn All-American.
Citto Tuttle got off to a fast start at 285, winning his opener 17-0 before winning one of the best matches of the tournament in the round of 16. Tuttle downed #11 ranked Kort Wilkinson 3-2 in a tiebreaker. In the quarterfinals Tuttle won a 4-2 decision to advance to the National Semifinals. There he face #2 ranked Austin Richens falling by decision. In the consolation semifinals, Tuttle fell 14-8 to #4 ranked Naasir Edmonds of Indian Hills. In the fifth place match Tuttle made quick work of #9 ranked Ray Griffin of North Idaho winning by fall at :38 seconds of the first period to secure fifth place.
RCTC finished the tournament with 46 points, just behind Champion Niagara with 58.5 and Harper with 58 points.
