Harper qualifies nine wrestlers to nationals

Harper will send nine wrestlers to the NJCAA championships later this month after a strong showing in the Central District Championships last weekend at Triton College in River Grove.

The Hawks, ranked 18th in the nation, came up 15 points shy of No. 11-ranked Muskegon College (Mich.) in the final team standings.

The two leading programs had head-to-head matchup in six of the 10 weight classes, with each team winning three times.

Blake Tisza has perhaps been Harper's most consistent competitor this season. He added to that pattern by taking home the title at 157 pounds with a victory over T.J. Barnes of Muskegon. Other Hawks to win championships were Sean Dulom (149) and Donte Winfield (285).

Harper's Jake Bellis defeated Lesle Williams on Lincoln College (Ill.) for the 125-pound championship, and the Hawks' Greg Jacquez made the title bout at 165 pounds but fell to Devon Jackson of Muskegon.

Chance Shea (185) and Duke Bogicevic (133) also made title bouts, and Harper's Jon Denikas (174) and Kerin Ramirez (141) advanced to nationals with wild-card berths.

The national championships will be held Feb. 27-28 at the Jacobson Exhibition Center in Des Moines, Iowa.