REGION 18 WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Over that hump ... NIC sophomore Cater knocks off defending NJCAA champion for 125-pound title

COEUR d'ALENE — In the NJCAA semifinals as a freshman, North Idaho College's Elijah Cater couldn't pass the test of Clackamas wrestler Ane'e Vigil, falling by a 4-1 decision.

What a difference a year makes.

"It's usually down to the third period and whoever gets the last takedown," Cater said. "And it's usually him."

In the rematch on Sunday at NIC's Christianson Gym, Cater scored a takedown in the third period, then held on late in their 125-pound championship match, winning the Region 18 Tournament championship with a 5-3 decision.

"I've been trying to believe what my coaches have been preaching," said Cater, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. "Just being aggressive and I'm starting to see the small improvements in that lately. Today, I just let it all out because it all paid off today."

Cater, from Silas High in Tacoma, Wash., was runner-up to Vigil, who won the 125 NJCAA title last year, at regionals last year.

"It's been a goal of mine since I came out here," Cater said. "For that to come true today, it's really awesome. It gives me a little boost going into nationals knowing that I can beat him."

"He's had some close matches against him, but can never seem to get over the hump," NIC coach Derrick Booth said. "To get it when it mattered today was huge for him. Anytime you can take out the defending national champion in that weight class, it's a big deal."

For NIC's Samuel Silveria, a sophomore from Modesto, Calif., getting back on top was a battle in itself.

"I've got a small tear in my (right) LCL," Silveria said. "When I twist my knee, it hurts a little bit, but I can still lift people up."

Silveria won the 149-pound title Sunday, beating Wylie Stone of Snow by major decision 19-4. Silveria, ranked No. 4 nationally, beat No. 2 Josh Hannan of Clackamas in the semifinals.

"Hopefully, I'll be the top seed at nationals," Silveria said. "It feels good to be back wrestling. I'm not quite in the shape I want to be. But I just want to be the toughest one in each match and take them one at a time right now."

"He's just a gritty wrestler," Booth said. "He's going to give you everything he's got when he puts his foot on the line. We're excited for him moving forward."

NIC's Ray Griffin, a freshman from Pleasant Grove, Utah, wasn't even sure if he'd wrestle again at this time last year.

Fast forward a year, Griffin is a regional champion, beating Hunter Tibdeou of Big Bend 8-5 for the 285-pound title.

"It's definitely great," Griffin said. "I've got to give all my thanks to my lord and savior Jesus Christ. I was not in a good spot for a long time, and who knew that a kid that only got his GED and didn't make it to state and here I'm going to the national tournament. It means so much to me and my amazing teammates."

"I've got some unfinished business and I'm trying to reclaim what I lost in wrestling," Griffin said. "(NIC assistant coach) Cooper (Thomas) has taught me everything, and I've given my life to (assistant coach) Bryce Parson and head coach Derrick Booth. They didn't have to take me in, but it means so much to me. They believed me and put me in tough matches. It's been hard work every day, and we did it."

NIC qualified nine of a possible 10 wrestlers in total to nationals on Sunday. Hoyt Hvass, a freshman from Lewiston High, was third at 133 pounds, sophomore Ethan Boulton (fourth at 141), freshman Jacob Hubby (second at 157), freshman Gabe Lake (second at 165), sophomore Hunter Gonzales (fourth at 174) and sophomore Chandler Loveless (fourth at 197) also advanced.

Clackamas, with six regional champions, won the team title with 120.5 points, followed by NIC, which won last year for the first time since 2013, with 90.5. The top five finishers at 133- and 149-pounds advanced, with the top three advancing at 184 pounds. In all other weights, the top four advance.

NIC, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, was ranked sixth in the most recent NJCAA poll on Jan. 10. Clackamas was ranked third. Defending NJCAA champ Western Wyoming of Rock Springs, Wyo., is first.

The NJCAA Championships are March 7-8 at the Mid-American Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

TEAM SCORES – 1, Clackamas 120.5. 2, North Idaho 90.5. 3, Snow 89. 4, Big Bend 56.5. 5, Southwestern Oregon 38.5. 6, Umpqua 21.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

125 – Elijah Cater, North Idaho, d. Ane'e Vigil, Clackamas, 5-3. 133 – Gavin Bauder, Clackamas, p. Simon Cervantes, Big Bend, 3:35. 141 – Cesar Avelar, Clackamas, md. Jacob Finlinson, Snow, 13-3. 149 – Samuel Silveria, North Idaho, tf. Wylie Stone, Snow, 19-3. 157 – Henry Dillingham, Clackamas, p. Jacob Hubby, North Idaho, 2:33. 165 – Caleb Marx, Snow, p. Gabe Lake, North Idaho, 4:14. 174 – Nakoa Fouret, Clackamas, p. Mario Deanda-Lopez, Southwestern Oregon, 2:21. 184 – Julian Gorring, Clackamas, d. Chandler Thompson, Snow, 7-1. 197 – Nate Ronan, Clackamas, d. Kenneth Phillips, Snow, 2-1. 285 – Ray Griffin, North Idaho, d. Hunter Tibodeou, Big Bend, 8-5. 

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

125 – Dagen Lamano, Snow, d. Nicolas Garza, Umpqua, 3-0. 133 – Hoyt Hvass, North Idaho, p. John Paul Lavarias, Umpqua, 3:17. 141 – Ryo Horikawa, Southwestern Oregon, md. Ethan Boulton, North Idaho, 13-3. 149 – Josh Hannan, Clackamas, p. Alexander Barajas, Big Bend, 2:56. Josiah Wickard, Snow, d. Hakuilua Paaluhi, Southwestern Oregon, 8-5. 165 – Kyle Robbins, Clackamas, p. Jaden Lopez, Big Bend, :56. 174 – Dax Wood, Big Bend, d. Hunter Gonzales, North Idaho, by medical forfeit. 184 – Drake Wood, Big Bend, p. Emanuel Miller, Southwestern Oregon, 2:19. 197 – Chandler Loveless, North Idaho, md. Mac Laird, Big Bend, 11-2. 285 – Dillon Sorenson, Snow, d. AJ Wedge, Umpqua, 4-1. 

FOURTH-PLACE MATCHES

125 – Nicolas Garza, Umpqua, d. Cayden Long, Southwestern Oregon, no contest. 133 – John Paul Lavarias, Umpqua, d. Jordan Free, Snow, no contest. 141 – Ethan Boulton, North Idaho, p. Aiden Meikle, Big Bend, 2:32. 149 – Alexander Barajas, Big Bend, d. Karsten Jensen, Southwestern Oregon, 9-5. 157 – Hakuilua Paaluhi, Southwestern Oregon, p. Carter Scappini, Umpqua, 4:05. 165 – Jaden Lopez, Big Bend, d. Wayde Walton, Southwestern Oregon, no contest. 174 – Hunter Gonzales, North Idaho, d. Rylan Stevens, Snow, no contest. 184 – Emanuel Miller, Southwestern Oregon, d. Steven Warren, Umpqua, no contest. 197 – Mac Laird, Big Bend, tf. Hunter Hammer, 19-4. 285 – AJ Wedge, Umpqua, d. Logan Clayburn, Southwestern Oregon, no contest.

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