JAMESTOWN — It will be another trip out west for the Jamestown Community College wrestling team as six members will be competing in the 2023 NJCAA Wrestling National Championships held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

All six Jayhawks going into the weekend are seeded in the tournament with Brendon Ramsey (Panama/Panama CS) receiving the highest seed at No. 8.

“It’s nice to get the recognition for the guys who are seeded but at the end of the day, we have to go out there and execute,” said head coach Kris Schimek. “We’ve only seen about three or four NJCAA teams this year out of the 60 teams that will be there. You don’t know what other guys do outside of what you see on film and the same goes to our competitors.”

Of the six wrestlers making the trip, four will be making their return to the big stage. Along with Ramsey, Alex Christy (Fredonia/Fredonia CS), Brock Johnson (Falconer/Falconer CS) and James Rankin (Cleveland/Cleveland Heights HS) will all get one last chance to crack the top eight and fight for a national championship.

“I’m expecting a little more maturity from our guys going back to nationals,” Schimek said. “They’ve experienced the bright lights last year and now I believe that they can operate a little more comfortably. There’s less anxiety going into these matches for them.”

The two wrestlers that will be making their first national championship appearances will be De’Aonte Hutchinson (Baltimore/Edgewood HS) and Luke Potts (Pittsburgh/West Allegheny HS).

“The message I have for the guys going for their first time is to soak it all in,” said Schimek. “Enjoy everything once we get their but they have to know that the job is not done yet. Take it one period at a time, one match at a time.”

Ramsey, who won the Northeast District Championship at 133 pounds, will get a bye in the first round and will face the winner of Tuvish Zunnbayan of Harper College or Gabe Fielder of Mott Community College.

Potts received the 14th seed in the 141-pound weight class and will face Jake Thompson of Rochester Community and Technical College.

Johnson also received the 14th seed in the 197 pounds and will face Christian Slack of Snow College.

Hutchinson drew the 16th seed at 125 pounds and will go against Brady Foster of Cloud County Community College.

Rankin also drew the 16th seed at 149 pounds and will square up against David Capron of Triton College.

Rounding out the Jayhawk grapplers will be Christy, who was awarded the 16th seed at 184 pounds, and will face Rotimi Anmashaun of Camden County Community College.

Action begins today at 10 a.m. local time.