Six Pioneers earn spot to Nationals

The SMC Wrestlers competed in the 2012 NJCAA Regional Wrestling Championship Tournament at Thaddeus Stevens College in Lancaster, Pa. on Sat. Feb 11.  Six SMC Wrestlers Qualified for the 2012 NJCAA National Wrestling Championship Tournament in Rochester Minn.  on Feb 24-25.
 
133lb  Damien Kennerly
157lb  Kenan Jackson
165lb  Trent Williams
174lb  Mikey Clevenger
184lb  Mateo Rojas
Hwtlb  Keyshon Flores  (2X Qualifier)
 
As the SMC wrestlers entered the semi final consolation round we still had 8 wrestlers that were wrestling to go along with one already quaified for the championship final round. " It proved to be a very dramatic finish as the tournament battled to it's conclusion with 8 of the origional 10 SMC Wrestlers were wrestling in the "go to" match along with one guaranteed qualifier."
 

Team results  2/11/2012
 
NJCAA EASTERN DISTRICT II TOURNAMENT
 
GLOUCESTER                           139
NASSAU CC                              133.5
MIDDLESEX CC                          112
DARTON                                     78.5
THADDEUS STEVENS                   50.5
SMC                                           40
BERGEN CC                                  17

"It's fantastic to have six national qualifiers in 10 categories," SMC first-year head coach Rob Sater said. "We almost had nine. I'm extremely happy. We tied a school record and that's a great thing. The kids did a fantastic job and they're looking forward to trying to become All-Americans (by finishing in the top eight)." said Coach Sater

The six qualifiers ties a SMC wrestling team record for qualifiers in one season.