While the State wrestling competition was going on over the weekend in Kansas a pair of former State wrestlers from the Kanzaland area were competing at the top level in Junior College at the NJCAA National Wrestling tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

Former Centralia Panther, Andrew Beck and former Holton Wildcat, Hunter Price both have continued their wrestling careers at the college level and put together strong seasons this year, both qualifying for the National Junior College tournament, competing for Pratt CC and Colby CC, respectively.

Beck in just his freshman at Pratt CC season finish fourth at 141lbs in Regionals to earn a spot at Nationals and came back from Des Moines with a sixth place finish. Andrew started the tournament off with a 5-4 decision win in the opening round and followed that up with a win in 2:41 by injury. That 2-0 start put the former Centralia Panther in the Quarterfinals, were he suffered his first loss of the tournament falling by technical fall 21-3 and moving to the consolation bracket. Beck responded with a pair of wins by technical fall 17-1 and 4-1 decision before falling by major decision 11-3 to move into the fifth place match. In the fifth place match up Andrew took the loss by pinfall 6:43 to finish Nationals 4-3 and earn sixth place.

For Price it was a strong sophomore year at Colby CC, capping off his year on the mats with an eighth place finish at Nationals at 125lbs, after qualify for Nationals by finishing third at Regionals. The National tournament started off bumpy for Price in his first match falling by pinfall in 2:45, but the former Holton Wildcat responded with three straight wins, winning by an 8-5 decision, 10-2 major decision and 9-5 decision, but took a loss by pin (5:23) to move to the seventh place match. In the seventh place match Price fell by pin again (1:17), capping off his tournament with a 3-3 record to take eighth place.

Beck and Price are just two of many Kanzaland area athletes competing at the college level and both continue to showcase great character and skill at the college level as they did in College as they capped off great season with top notch performances.