Wrestling 3/10/2025 6:30:00 AM

Hawks Soar to Top-3 DIII Finish at NJCAA Nationals

Council Bluffs, IA: The Hawks wrestling team capped off their season on the national stage at the NJCAA National Championships, hosted by Iowa Western Community College at the Mid America Center on March 7th and 8th. Eight Hawks made the trip to Council Bluffs, led by top-ranked Ali Adel at 197 lbs, who entered the tournament as a title contender. Joining him were Joey Sikorsky (125 lbs), Esteban Delgado (133 lbs), Delin Jones (141 lbs), Lennon Steinkuehler (149 lbs), 13th-ranked Pedro Jimenez (157 lbs), 13th-ranked Jacob Crandall (165 lbs), and Emmanuel Mejia (174 lbs). Against top competition from across the country, the Hawks battled to a strong finish, tying with Nassau for 23rd place overall out of 62 teams and securing a third-place finish among NJCAA DIII programs, trailing only Rochester and Niagara.

Adel Battles to 6th-Place Finish
Adel started his tournament in dominant fashion, defeating two unranked opponents—Samuel Murphy (Northeastern Oklahoma-DI) by decision (5-3) and Kolby Scott (Iowa Western-DI) by major decision (13-3). In the quarterfinals, he faced his first ranked test in 8th-ranked Corey Hyatt (Southeast Nebraska-DI) and emerged victorious with a tight 5-4 decision, proving his ability to compete at the highest level.

However, the road got tougher in the later rounds. Adel fell to 4th-ranked Coen Grimm (Iowa Central-DI) by decision (1-4) in the semi-finals, then suffered a pin loss to 6th-ranked Austin Richens (Northwest-DI) in 2:12. In the 5th-place match, he had a rematch against 3rd-ranked Ghee Rachal (Triton-DI), an opponent he had beaten 10-4 just two weeks earlier. This time, Rachal edged him out in a hard-fought 4-2 decision.

While Adel didn't finish as high as he had hoped, his grit and determination throughout the tournament earned him a well-deserved 6th-place finish. His efforts helped cap off a strong showing for the Hawks, who proved they could compete on the national stage.

Sikorsky Has Strong Run
Sikorsky put together an impressive run at the NJCAA National Championships, battling through five matches and notching a top-12 finish in a highly competitive bracket.

He opened his tournament with a statement victory, upsetting 11th-ranked Lucas Stinger (Camden County-DIII) with a dominant 11-1 major decision. The momentum carried him into a tough second-round matchup against 6th-ranked Tyson Wilson (Rochester-DIII), where he fought hard but fell by decision (1-7). Wilson went on to finish 6th.

Determined to extend his tournament stay, Sikorsky bounced back with two consecutive victories in the consolation rounds. He overpowered Andre Giurini (Triton-DI) with a 16-8 major decision, then edged out Nicolas Garza (Umpqua-DI) in a hard-fought 6-3 decision, proving his resilience against high-level competition.

In his final match, Sikorsky battled 4th-ranked Logan Crawford (Northeastern Oklahoma-DI), pushing the eventual 5th-place finisher to the brink in a tight 7-9 decision loss. Though he came up just short of All-American status, Sikorsky's performance showcased his tenacity, skill, and ability to compete with some of the best in the nation.

Through Tough Competition, Five More Earn Wins
Beyond the standout performances of Adel and Sikorsky, five more Hawks secured victories before their tournament runs came to an end. Facing a deep and competitive field, each wrestler showcased grit and determination on the national stage.

Delgado faced an all DI slate, battling tough competition. After falling to the 8th-ranked wrestler in his opening match, he rebounded with a 14-3 major decision win over Evan Coble (Neosho County) before being eliminated in his next bout. Jones took home a hard-fought 6-2 decision over region rival Logan Guerrero (Joliet-DIII), proving his dominance as Jones defeated him at the Great Lakes Districts two weeks ago. However, his tournament ended after back-to-back pinfall losses.

Steinkuehler picked up a victory in his lone DIII matchup before facing two ranked DI opponents, falling to the 7th and 13th-ranked wrestlers in the bracket. Jimenez had one of the toughest draws of any Hawk, squaring off against two top-ranked opponents. He fought hard but fell to the 4th and 7th-ranked wrestlers, bringing his tournament to an early end. Crandall started strong, dominating his opening match, but ran into 4th-ranked competition in his next bout. Unfortunately, he was forced to withdraw from the tournament before having a chance to wrestle back.

Mejia had most difficult path out of the Hawks, opening against top-ranked Otgonbayar Batsuuri (Fort Hays Tech-DI). Mejia battled, but Batsuuri—who would go on to claim the national championship—secured the win by pin. In his second match, he looked to rebound but was unable to advance, suffering another tough loss.

While the Hawks didn't all reach the podium, their performances throughout the tournament reflected their toughness and ability to compete at the highest level. The experience gained on the national stage will only help fuel the program's continued growth.

Leaving it on the Mat
The NJCAA National Championships put the Hawks to the test, and they responded with grit, determination, and standout performances. Ali Adel's finished 6th, while Joey Sikorsky battled through five matches, just missing the podium. Five other Hawks secured victories, proving Harper could compete against some of the nation's best.

With eight wrestlers making the trip and the team finishing 23rd overall and 3rd among NJCAA DIII programs, the Hawks made their presence known on the national stage. Though the tournament brought its challenges, Harper's wrestlers fought hard in every match, capping off a memorable weekend in Council Bluffs.

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Players Mentioned

Ali Adel: 184 lb; Sophomore

Esteban Delgado: 125 lb; Freshman

Delin Jones: 141 lb; Freshman

Pedro Jimenez: 149 lb; Freshman

Joey Sikorsky: 125 lb; Sophomore

Emmanuel Mejia: 197 lb; Sophomore

Lennon Steinkuehler: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ali Adel
: Sophomore
: 184 lb

Esteban Delgado
: Freshman
: 125 lb

Delin Jones
: Freshman
: 141 lb

Pedro Jimenez
: Freshman
: 149 lb

Joey Sikorsky
: Sophomore
: 125 lb

Emmanuel Mejia
: Sophomore
: 197 lb

Lennon Steinkuehler
: Freshman