Takafua's tech fall lifts No. 5 Cardinals to win at No. 4 Clackamas

OREGON CITY, Ore. — With the match on the line, North Idaho College freshman Tominiko "TJ" Takafua didn't just get confident.

He got the job done.

Takafua, from Sunnyvale, Calif., beat Maddox Griggs by technical fall 22-5 at 285 pounds as the fifth-ranked Cardinals beat No. 4 Clackamas 21-20 in a matchup of top-five teams in the NJCAA on Friday.

"These are always the big matches and one of the best rivalries in college wrestling," NIC coach Derrick Booth said. "Anytime you can go there and get a win, it's huge. It doesn't always look pretty. But to get a win like that, it's big."

Noah Poe-Hatten, a freshman from Kalispell, Mont., beat Braden Pease 5-1 at 184 for NIC, which trailed 20-10 going into that weight. NIC sophomore Bradley Whitwright pinned Asaiah Kamplain in 6 minutes, 31 seconds at 197.

"We've relied on those guys all year," Booth said. "Noah's had a great year and Bradley knew he needed to get a result. TJ has been rounding into his own and hopefully this will spring him into a strong second half of the season."

NIC returns to action Dec. 17 with a tri-dual with Northwest Kansas Tech, Otero and Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo.

125 — Ane'e Vigil, Clack, d. Kobi Johnson, 10-3. 133 — Zach Lopez, NIC, md. Tim Lopez, 18-6. 141 — Cesar Avelar, Clack, md. Hunter Bidelman, 12-1. 149 — Dante Oliverio, Clack, d. Evan Barajas, 7-5. 157 — Porter Craig, NIC, d. Josh Hannan, 5-1. 165 — Austin Raby, Clack, md. Travis Waldner, 17-4. 174 — Paul Ortiz, Clack, p. Conan Northwind, 3:45. 184 — Noah Poe-Hatten, NIC, d. Braden Pease, 5-1. 197 — Bradley Whitwright, NIC, p. Asaiah Kamplain, 6:31. 285 — Tominiko Takafua, NIC, tf. Maddox Griggs, 22-5.

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