Photo - Austin Lindell

JAMESTOWN – Come off a year where they finished runner-ups in the 2022-23 NJCAA Northeastern Districts, the Jamestown Community College wrestling team will look to build upon their success heading into the new season.

"Last year was a great year for us but we're onto this season," said head coach Kris Schimek. "From when I started here over five years ago, we have been getting better gradually and I will expect us to be even better this season."

The Jayhawks return five wrestlers from a year ago in Alex Chirsty (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia HS), De'Aonte Hutchinson (Baltimore, MD/Edgewood HS), Brock Johnson (Falconer, NY/Falconer HS), Brendon Ramsey (Panama, NY/ Panama Central), and James Rankin (Cleveland, OH/Garfield Heights).

Christy, Johnson, and Rankin will look to get back to the top of their respective weight classes this season, coming off first-place finishes at districts to get the automatic berths into nationals and being named to the 2021-22 Region 3 All-Region Team. Ramsey will also look to build upon last season where he received a wildcard into nationals.

"Having five returners come back and in the lineup is huge for us," Schimek said. "These guys know what to expect when going to these invitationals, opens, duals, etc. and know what it takes to be standing at the top in the end. Not only am I expecting big things, be each guy is expecting big things from themselves this season as well."

Joining the returners this season are the newcomers of Dan Eggleton (Maple Heights, OH/Maple Heights), Donovan Fiscus (Warren, PA/Warren Area HS), Julian Martin (Angola, NY/Lake Shore Sr. HS), Fareed Muhammad (Cleveland, OH/Garfield Heights), Luke Potts (Pittsburgh, PA/West Allegheny HS), Mohammed Mustafa Salimi (Kabal, Afghanistan/Ghazi HS), and Jameson Trusler (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS).

"We have a great group of guys coming in this season," said Schimek. "They all add something to the team that will help us at the backend of the season."

JCC will be on the road for the month of November and the first part of December before hosting a tri-meet on December 10th against Hiram College and Penn State Behrend. In January, the Jayhawks will feel right at home, having three of their four dates at "The Nest" starting with Gannon University on January 14th and closing out with the JCC Open on January 29th.

The Jayhawks will have two more duals in February as they prepare for the NJCAA Northeastern District Championships held at Nassau Community College on February 18th. If all goes well there, JCC will then travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa for the NJCAA Wrestling National Championships held at the Mid-America Center starting on March 3rd.

For full list of schedule and times, visit jccjayhawks.com.