NIACC's Valdez earns ICCAC weekly honor
MASON CITY - NIACC sophomore Jose Valdez was selected as the ICCAC wrestler of the week for the week of Jan. 3-9.
Valdez claimed the 197-pound title at the Central College's Under Armour Invitational on Saturday. Valdez (6-0) won four matches in the Trojans' first competition in the 2022 calendar year.
Valdez is the second NIACC wrestler to win the ICCAC weekly honor this season. NIACC's Christian Minto was the ICCAC wrestler of the week for the week of Dec. 6-12.
At the Under Armour Invite, Valdez, who is ranked second at 197 in the latest NJCAA rankings, pinned Iowa Wesleyan's Elias Cordero in 1:58, took an 11-3 major decision from Thomas Johnson (unattached-Minnesota State) in his first two matches.
Valdez, who was the NJCAA national runner-up at 197 pounds in 2021, moved to the finals iwth a 4-0 win over Briar Cliff's Matthew Montgomery and edged Central's Gage Linahon in the title match.
NIACC returns to action Saturday at the Worthington Open in Worthington, Minn.
