Harper wrestles to Great Lakes District championship
UPDATE: COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA - Three schools and 23 wrestlers represented Region 4 at the 2022 NJCAA Wrestling Championships from March 4-5. Great Lakes District champion Harper College racked up 45.0 points to finish 12th overall, one-half point behind Rochester Community & Technical College for the honor of top finish for a non-scholarship program. Triton College placed 20th overall with 22.5 points, and Joliet Junior College ended the weekend with 9.5 points to sit alone in 30th.
The Hawks' Demarco Lee (197) was awarded the prestigious Joseph A. Rockenback Sportsmanship Award and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors after placing fourth in the nation.
PORT HURON, MICH. - With champions in half of the weight classes, Harper College was the clear-cut winner at the 2022 NJCAA Great Lakes District Wrestling Championship hosted by St. Clair County College on February 19. The Hawks amassed 149.0 points to out-distance themelves from second place Triton College at 121.0 point and claimed their fourth consecutive district title. (NOTE: There was no district tournament in 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic.) Other Region 4 members Joliet Junior College placed fifth with 65.5 points, followed by Bryant & Stratton College in sixth at 63.0 points, and Morton College in tenth with 8.5 points.
All ten Hawks wrestlers qualified for the upcoming NJCAA National Championships, highlighted by five district champions. Martrece Smith (141), Brenden Parks (157), Gio Jackson (181), Demarco Lee (197), and Jordan Williams (285) all stood atop the podium, while two others finished runner-up. Dan Loprieno was awarded the Great Lakes District Coach of the Year.
Triton College recorded three district champions with Elon Rodriguez (133), Drake Campbell (149), and Alonzo Smiley (165) leading the Trojans, who qualified nine wrestlers for nationals. Joliet Junior College will send four wrestlers to national, including district champ Luqman Masud (125).
The 2022 NJCAA Wrestling Championships are March 4-5 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
| Team | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harper College | 149.0 |
| 2 | Triton College | 121.0 |
| 3 | Muskegon Community College | 112.5 |
| 4 | Henry Ford College | 66.5 |
| 5 | Joliet Junior College | 65.5 |
| 6 | Bryant & Stratton College | 63.0 |
| 7 | Ancilla College | 40.5 |
| 8 | Mott Community College | 39.0 |
| 9 | St Clair County Community College | 36.5 |
| 10 | Morton College | 8.5 |
2022 NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship Meet Results