Next weekend, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) will host its annual wrestling championships at the Mid-America Center. It will be their fourth year holding the event in Council Bluffs.
Council Bluffs’ own Jeremy Capo, director of athletics at Iowa Western Community College, is the tournament director for the event.
“The Midwest, and Iowa in particular, is known for its rich wrestling traditions from the Iowa Hawkeyes and Dan Gable to Cale Sanderson and the Iowa State Cyclones,” Capo says. “The state of Iowa will be greatly represented in the championships.”
There will be six Iowa institutions competing, many of which Capo believes have a chance at winning individual and team championships. Competitors will come from beyond Iowa, though.
“Teams come to Council Bluffs from all over the country,” Capo explains. “Oregon to New York and everywhere in between with over 300 individual competitors.”
In order to compete, competitors had to finish in the top three of their district wrestling tournaments. These athletes must practice and train daily while taking part in weekly duals and tournaments across the country since wrestling season began in November.
The tournament is open to the public. Adult tournament passes are $45 while an adult session pass is $18. Students can purchase a tournament pass for $30 or a session pass for $10 with a valid student ID. Children three years and younger are admitted for free.
“Spectators can expect to see more than 300 of the top wrestlers from all over the country,” Capo says. “Not only will there be a great representation of wrestlers from America, but there will also be many international wrestlers here as well: all vying for a chance to be the NJCAA National Champion.”
If you have a child interested in wrestling, attending the championship is a great way to introduce them to the sport.
“Championship caliber events are very special to witness live,” Capo says. “The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, right here in Council Bluffs.”
