Photo courtesy of Jamestown CC Athletics On Saturday at the Northeast District championships, seven Jamestown Community College wrestlers, including four weight-class champions, qualified for the NJCAA Wrestling Championships to be held March 5-6 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

For the second season in a row, Jamestown Community College placed second at the Northeast District Wrestling Championships, finishing with 79 points.

The Jayhawks will be sending seven wrestlers to the 2022 NJCAA Wrestling National Championships held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, March 5-6.

The wrestlers who will be dawning the green and gold on the national stage are: 133-pounder Brendon Ramsey (Panama/Panama Central School), 141-pounder Joey Pillittieri (Falconer/Falconer Central School), 149-pounder James Rankin (Cleveland/Garfield Heights High School), 157-pounder Andrew Bungar (Hermitage, Pennsylvania/Hickory High School), 174-pounder Ross Abram (Eden/Eden Central School), 197-pounder Brock Johnson (Falconer/Falconer Central School) and 285-pounder Alex Christy (Fredonia/Fredonia Central School).

Rankin got the Jayhawks their first first-place finisher on the afternoon after he received a bye in the first round. In the championship match, Rankin faced Nik Voelker of Niagara County CC. Rankin did what he had to do, grinding out a 4-2 decision victory.

Abram kept the momentum going, picking up a quick fall over Justin Halbert of SUNY Ulster, needing 48 seconds to do so in their semifinal match. Moving on to the championship match, Abram kept things moving, defeating Warren McDougald of Niagara County CC by an 8-0 major-decision victory.

Johnson was the third Jayhawk to place first and started the journey with a fall over Matt Ash of Niagara County CC, doing so in 3:43 in their semifinal match. In the championship match, Johnson seemed to be behind the 8-ball against Isaiah Lee of Nassau CC. In the second period, Lee looked to get the fall, but a quick reversal by Johnson put him into position to get the fall. Johnson did just that, getting the win at the 4:19 mark.

Christy capped off the first-place finishers for Jamestown CC, receiving a bye into the championship match. Christy faced a familiar foe in Ameer Ladd of Niagara County CC. Christy held his composure throughout the match, earning the 1-0 decision.

Other Jayhawks who received automatic berths into nationals were second-place finishers Ramsey and Pillittieri. Bungar received a wild-card berth into the big dance.

Hunter Teboe placed third in the 184-pound class with De’Aonte Hutchinson (Baltimore/Edgewood High School) and Michael Babbage placing fourth in their respective weight classes.

Rankin, Abram, Johnson and Christy were also named to the NJCAA Region 3 All-Region Team, placing the highest in their respective weight class throughout the region.

The seven national qualifiers will now train before making their way to Iowa early next month.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

JAYHAWKS CRUISE PAST TRIBUNES

ROCHESTER — To close out the regular season, the Jamestown Community College women’s basketball team secured the season sweep over Monroe CC Saturday afternoon 75-45.

The Jayhawks (12-13, 3-3 Region 3) were led by guard Kymi Nance (Dunkirk/Dunkirk High School), who scored 23 points off the bench, going 8 for 13 (61.5%) from the floor and a perfect 4 for 4 from the charity stripe. Forward Hannah Hicks (Cleveland/Cleveland Heights High School) had another double-double, scoring 10 points to go along with 14 rebounds. Guard D’Auzhanay Harden (Erie, Pennsylvania/Erie High School) went for 16 points while guard Zalika Stevens (Ajax, Ontario, Canada/Thornlea Secondary School) added 10 points.

The teams were deadlocked at 8-8 in the first six minutes of action but 3-pointers by guard Sydney Burk (Jamestown/Southwestern Central School) and Nance helped the Jayhawks close out the quarter on a 14-0 run to go up 22-8.

Jamestown CC carried the momentum over into the second quarter, scoring the frame’s first 14 points to take the run to 28-0. The Tribunes did score the final six points of the half as the Jayhawks took a commanding 39-16 into the break.

Jamestown CC held a lead by as many as 33 points on numerous occasions throughout the fourth quarter.

The Jayhawks went 30 for 57 (52.6%) from the field and 7 for 13 (53.8%) from beyond the arc. The Tribunes went 17 for 59 (28.8%) from the floor.

On the glass, Jamestown CC grabbed 40 boards while Monroe CC grabbed 27 rebounds.

The Jayhawks will play the Tribunes once again, this time in the Region 3 semifinals at Niagara County Community College on Saturday. Tip is set for noon.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

GRAY POURS IN 26

ROCHESTER — In their final regular-season game, the Jamestown Community College men’s basketball team fell to Monroe CC 105-78 on Saturday afternoon.

The Jayhawks (2-25, 0-9 Region 3) were led by forward Traden Gray (Frewsburg/Frewsburg Central School), who scored a career-high 26 points, going 11 for 14 (78.5%) from the floor and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. Guard Elgin Oliver (Monroeville, Pennsylvania/Gateway Senior High School) added 12 points to go along with six assists. Forward Gonzalo Luque (Madrid, Spain/Instituto Ortega y Gasset) led the team on the glass, grabbing nine rebounds.

Jamestown CC came out firing in the first half, opening up a game 8-2 behind 3-pointers from guard Jafar Yahuza (Staten Island/Port Richmond High School) and Josiah Ransom (Orange Park, Florida/Helena High School). The Tribunes responded, scoring 19 of the game’s next 24 points, including 10 unanswered to lead 21-15.

Monroe CC saw its lead grow to double-digits but the Jayhawks quickly cut it back to a two-possession game after a 3-pointer from Gray to trail 32-26 with 6:12 left in the first half.

The Tribunes did take the momentum into the half, up 52-37.

The Jayhawks went 29 for 64 (45.3%) from the floor while the Tribunes went 42 for 78 (53.8%) from the floor. Monroe CC also held the edge on the boards, grabbing 42 rebounds to Jamestown CC’s 29 rebounds.