NIACC's Minto, Valdez claim national titles
COUNCIL BLUFFS - NIACC's Christian Minto is a two-time NJCAA national champion.
The top-ranked Minto claimed the 165-pound title Saturday night with a 14-5 major decision over Clackamas' second-ranked Steele Starren.
Also, NIACC's second-ranked Jose Valdez claimed the 197-pound national title with a 6-4 sudden victory over Iowa Lakes' top-ranked Massoma Endene. It was the third victory this season for Valdez over Endene.
Minto and Valdez became NIACC's 15th and 16th national champions in the sport of wrestling. Minto is the first two-time champion since Yoanse Mejias (157) and Nosomy Pozo (149) both won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.
It is the fourth time in school history that NIACC has crowned at least two individual national champions. Mejias and Pozo did it in back to back years in 2014 and 2015 and the Trojans claimed three individual champions in 2008 (Albert White -149, DaVaughn Perkins – 157 and Glenn Rhees – 174).
NIACC's Steve Kelly was awarded the 2022 NJCAA scholarship wrestling coach of the year.
NIACC placed fifth in the team standings with 109 points. Clackamas was the national champion with 136.5 points and Iowa Central was second with 127 points.
Minto completed his second straight perfect season. Minto, who has a career record of 51-1, was 16-0 in the 2021-22 season with four pins, one technical fall and four major decisions.
Minto was 13-0 in the 2021 season, including a 13-6 win over Iowa Central's Keaton Geerts in the 165-pound title match.
Earlier Saturday, Minto moved to the finals with a 12-4 major decision over North Idaho's Ledger Petracek.
In the 197-pound title match, the score was tied at 4-4 after regulation and Valdez claimed his national title with a takedown in the first extra session.
Valdez, who placed second at 197 pounds at the 2021 national tournament, moved to Saturday's finals with a victory over Cloud County's Zach Ferris, who nipped Valdez in the 2021 national title match.
Minto's NJCAA national tournament (165 pounds)
Minto won by medical forfeit (no match) over Justin Dougherty (RCSJ-Gloucester); Minto tech. fall Cael Smith (Northeastern), 18-3; Minto dec. Khaitov Mirzo (Ellsworth), 4-2 (3SV); Minto major dec. Ledger Petracek (North Idaho), 12-4; Minto major decision Steele Starren (Clackamas), 14-5.
2021-22 record: 16-0 with 4 pins, 1 technical fall and 3 major decisions.
Career record: 51-1 with 9 pins, 8 technical falls and 11 major decisions.
Valdez' NJCAA national tournament (197 pounds)
Valdez tech. fall Jacob Moore (Camden County), 16-1; Valdez tech. fall Isaiah Lee (Nassau), 16-1; Valdez dec. Tyler Scheurn (Western Wyoming), 9-4; Valdez dec. Zach Ferris (Cloud County), 6-4; Valdez dec. Massoma Endene (Iowa Lakes), 6-4 (sudden victory).
2021-22 record: 17-0 with 1 pin, 3 technical falls and 4 major decisions.
Career record: 37-6 with 6 pins, 4 technical falls and 7 major decisions.
