Wrestlers advance to national championships March 6-7

The HFC Wrestling Team competed in the 2020 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Wrestling North Central District on Feb. 22 at Triton College in River Grove, IL. As a result, four wrestlers – Donte Rivera-Garcia, Scott Torres, Elijah Kidder, Dean Elder – will advance to the NJCAA Wrestling Championships March 6-7 in Council Bluffs, IA.

“Every year, Hawks wrestlers have earned the right to compete at the national championships in Iowa. This year, we’re hoping to come back with at least one All-American,” said HFC wrestling coach Grant MacKenzie.

Of the seven teams that competed at the 2020 North Central District – Triton College; Harper College in Palatine, IL; Joliet Junior College in Joliet, IL; Ancilla College in Donaldson, IN; Muskegon Community College; and St. Clair County Community College – HFC came in fifth place with a total of 74.5 points.

Individual results include:
• Rivera-Garcia placed 2nd in the 125-lb. weight class (in a second tie-breaker)
• Torres placed 4th in the 133-lb. weight class
• Kidder placed 4th in the 149-lb. weight class
• Elder placed 2nd in the 184-lb. weight class

The HFC Wrestling team has had a superior season. On Jan. 25, the team won the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) State Championships, MacKenzie was named MCCAA Coach of the Year, and Rivera-Garcia was named MCCAA Wrestling Freshman of the Year.

“I’m very proud of my student athletes,” said MacKenzie. “They have given exemplary performances throughout the season and during the post-season.”