CENTERVILLE, IOWA -- Seven Ellsworth CC wrestlers extended their seasons Sunday with their performances in the NJCAA North Central District Championship.  The ECC qualifiers will battle in the NJCAA National Championship in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mar. 4-5.

The Panthers had one wrestler make it into the finals -- Mirzo Khayitov at 165 pounds.  Khayitov trailed in his finals match with NIACC's Christian Minto, the defending national champion at 165, by a 6-4 score before Minto recorded a fall with just three seconds left in the match.

Two ECC wrestlers wound up 3rd in their weight class -- Nathan Lendt, a returning All-American, at 149 pounds and Diego Isiordia at 157.  Lendt dropped a semifinal round matchup with NIACC's Deville Dentis, 4-2, after posting a dual meet win against Dentis in January.  Isiordia won a 15-6 major decision for one of his district meet victories.

Kaden Karns also advanced to the national tourney by finishing 4th at 125.  Karns posted an upset by winning a first-round decision against Indian Hills' Chris Busutil, a national qualifer last year.

Ryan Graves at 141 and 184-pounder Ethan Miller both finished 5th and Isaiah Laguna earned a wild-card berth at nationals after he was 6th at 197.

NIACC won the team title with 125 points, edging Iowa Central by 3 points.  Iowa Western was 3rd with 116.5 followed by Indian Hills with 116 and Ellsworth with 82 points.  Iowa Lakes was 6th in one of the strongest districts in the nation.

ELLSWORTH QUALIFIERS FOR THE NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

KADEN KARNS - 125

RYAN GRAVES - 141

NATHAN LENDT - 149

DIEGO ISIORDIA - 157

MIRZO KYAYITOV - 165

ETHAN MILLER - 184

ISAIAH LAGUNA - 197