COUNCIL BLUFFS – For the third straight season, NIACC has crowned a national champion in the sport of wrestling.
NIACC’s Shiquan Hall topped Iowa Central’s Zak Hensley 5-3 in overtime Saturday at the NJCAA national championships to win the school’s 12th individual national title as the Trojans tied for fourth with Iowa Western with 90.5 points.
“It feels awesome,” Hall said.”A lot of hard work was put into this.
“Just sticking with it. That’s what got me here, just listening to my coaches and believing in myself.”
Hall, who was fourth a year ago at 133 pounds, became NIACC’s fifth national champion in the last three years. Nosomy Pozo and Yoanse Mejias both won back-to-back national titles in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Hall recalled a conversation he had with NIACC coach Steve Kelly at his first practice as a freshman.
“He told me I could win nationals,” Hall said. “I was like ‘this dude is just selling dreams, man. It’s just one day of practice.’ But look where I’m at.”
Hall said placing fourth at nationals as a freshman motivated him during his sophomore year.
“I kept my medal in my jacket so I could remember that feeling,” Hall said. “It was awesome being an all-American. I’m proud of that accomplishment, but I knew I could do better.”
And one year later, he did.
In Saturday’s title match, Hensley, who entered the national tournament ranked second, was given a stalling point penalty late in the match allowing Hall to tie the contest at 3-3 and force overtime.
Hall, who was ranked third, picked up a takedown early in the overtime period to claim the national title.
“It’s one of those deals where it’s a pressure situation and the kid comes through,” Kelly said. “it was a process for both him and me. I remember telling him a couple of months ago – ‘Shiquan, let’s make this happen.’ And he did.”
Kelly called Hall the most athletic wrestler he’s ever coached.
“Just sheer athletic ability,” the coach said. “It’s just teaching him.
“He’s a very good wrestlers and he’s still got room to grow.”
Hall (15-4) and Hensley split a pair of matches earlier this season. Hensley pinned Hall in 6:37 in the North Central district final and Hall topped Hensley 10-5 in a dual meet this season.
Hall said the third match between the two rivals came down to strategy.
“The second and third matches became Xs and Os and tic-tac-toe,” Hall said. “Wrestling is a chess match.”
Note: Hall had a career record of 45-14 with eight falls, four technical falls and 12 major decisions … Northeast Oklahoma A&M won the national title with 152.5 points … Iowa Central was second with 128 points and Ellsworth was third with 98 points.
– By Kirk Hardcastle, NIACC sports information
ROAD TO A TITLE
Championship – Shiquan Hall (N) dec. Zak Hensley (Iowa Central), 5-3 (OT)
Semifinals – Hall (N) dec. Eduardo Penha (NW Wyoming), 5-3.
Quarterfinals – Hall (N) dec. Kyle McGregor (Niagara), 5-2.
Second round – Hall (N) tech. fall Nicholas Arroyo (Springfield Tech), 20-3.
First round – Hall received a first-round bye.
NIACC’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
1970 – Joe Hatchett (190)
1971 – Hatchett (190)
1972 – Tom Garcia (134)
1973 – Bob Fouts (heavyweight)
2008 – Albert White (149); DaVaughn Perkins (157); Glenn Rhees (174)
2014 – Nosomy Pozo (149); Yoanse Mejias (157)
2015 – Pozo (149); Mejias (157)
2016 – Shiquan Hall (133)
