Trio of wrestlers take fifth at NCC

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Despite a number of injuries leaving the team short-handed, Simpson placed three wrestlers and battled to an eighth-place finish at the 2009 North Central College Wrestling Tournament Saturday afternoon.

Jeff Sand (133), Jordy Ammons (174) and Trent VanDorin (197) all took fifth-place honors for the Storm, which finished with 34 points. Host North Central won the tournament (157.5), followed by Wabash (119) and UW-Platteville (111).

"We had a roller coaster day," head coach Clint Manny said. "Several guys wrestled well, but we still haven't put a full day together. We are gaining valuable experience, though, and the healthy wrestlers are really making leaps forward."

Sand was one of the wrestlers making a leap. Entering the tournament with a 3-7 record at 133 pounds, Sand - a freshman from Waukee, Iowa - went 5-2 on Saturday. After losing to second-seeded John Starzyk of NCC in his second match, Sand rattled off three-straight decisions before losing a tough, 6-3 decision to the tournament's No. 3 seed,m Edel Vaca (Knox). Sand came back in the fifth-place match, winning a 5-3 decision over Bradley Hessebeck (UW-Platteville).

"Jeff wrestled extremely well today," Manny said. "He is a perfect example of a guy who is taking full advantage of his opportunities and getting better every day. I'm very proud of his effort today."

At 174 pounds, Ammons posted a 3-2 record on his way to a fifth-place finish. The junior from Knoxville, Iowa defeated sixth-seeded Taylor Trim (NCC) 9-5 to advance to the wrestleback quarterfinals, where he dropped a 6-3 decision to the No. 4 seed, Gabe Watson (Wabash). He then benefited from a medical forfeit to take fifth.

Van Dorin went 2-2 on the day for fifth-place honors at 197 pounds. A 6-4 decision over Ricky Peiskner (North Central) highlighted the day for the junior out of Eddyville, Iowa.

Next up for the Storm are the Las Vegas Duals on Dec. 20 in Las Vegas, Nev. The duals begin at 10 a.m.