BEATRICE - Not bad, for a program that was only in its first year.

The men’s and women’s wrestling teams at Southeast Community College gave a strong showing at the National Junior College Athletic Association Championships, March 1st and 2nd  in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The Bobcat women finished seventh out of 18 teams with 115 points, while the men finished 10th in the 55-team field with 75.5 points.

Head wrestling Coach Terry Pack said, “They came in confident and prepared, and you could see that shine through.”

The SCC women had five wrestlers earn All-American honors…highlighted by Eve Herlyn, from Kansas City, Missouri, becoming the program’s first national champion, wrestling at 143 pounds.  She overcame back-to-back concussions to win a national title.  Herlyn defeated Snow Community College’s Abigail Trayhorn 14-8 in the finals.

SCC wrestlers placing in the finals were Talia Lee, of Webster Groves, Missouri in third place at 130 pounds….Kiara Boldridge, of Independence, Missouri, in third at 235 pounds….Nevaeh Leonard, of Yankton, South Dakota, in fourth at 143 pounds; and Jocelyn Ambriz, of Broken Bow, fifth at 170 pounds.

The Bobcat men had two All-Americans with Isaac White, of Cozad, finishing as runner-up at 174 pounds and Jordon Oehme, of Brandon, South Dakota finishiing third at 133 pounds. Ely Olberding, of Fort Calhoun, was sixth at 141 pounds.

The SCC men finished the season with a 13-4 dual record, while the women were 6-1. Pack said going forward, it will be easier to recruit to the program because of the success and support given to the teams.