Plainsmen place 18th at NJCAA National Championships; Stoll, Brenton earn All-America honors

Northeastern Junior College men’s wrestling closed its season on the national stage with a strong team showing, placing 18th at the NJCAA National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Plainsmen sent seven wrestlers to the tournament, collecting 15 individual match victories and producing two All-Americans in 165-pounder Tom Stoll and 174-pounder Billy Brenton.

Stoll, seeded No. 16 at 165 pounds, put together one of the most notable runs of the weekend for Northeastern. He won four matches to reach the national semifinal round, highlighted by a crucial quarterfinal victory by pin that secured his place on the podium. Stoll’s semifinal bout came down to the wire, with the Plainsmen standout narrowly falling in a 7-8 decision that ended his bid for the finals but kept him in the hunt for a top-eight finish.

Despite the heartbreak of the one-point semifinal loss, Stoll finished the tournament by locking up sixth place at 165 pounds. The result capped a breakout national performance for the sophomore, who not only outwrestled his seeding but also delivered one of the team’s most important wins with his quarterfinal pin. His All-America finish added significant points to the Plainsmen’s team total and set a high bar for the program’s middleweight contingent.

Brenton’s path to the podium at 174 pounds took a very different route but was just as impactful for Northeastern. Unseeded entering the tournament, Brenton dropped his opening match and was forced to battle entirely through the consolation bracket. From there he responded with five straight victories, stacking win after win to climb back into All-America contention and ultimately secure an eighth-place finish at 174.

Brenton’s run through the consolations provided critical momentum and team points, especially given his position as an unseeded wrestler in a deep weight class. Each victory extended his tournament and kept Northeastern in the team race, as he navigated elimination matches with consistency and resilience. His All-America honor gave the Plainsmen a second podium finisher and underscored the depth of the roster in the upper-middleweights.

Across all weights, the Plainsmen’s seven national qualifiers combined to win 15 matches, reflecting both the quality and competitiveness of the lineup. While individual brackets ultimately determined the final placements, the collective effort pushed Northeastern into the top 20 nationally and provided valuable championship experience for the returning wrestlers and coaching staff. Head coach Colby Duncan and assistant coach Cian Apple guided a group that showed it could compete with the nation’s best in multiple weight classes.

With two All-Americans, an 18th-place team finish, and multiple wrestlers gaining national tournament exposure, Northeastern Junior College leaves Council Bluffs with a solid foundation for future seasons. The performances of Stoll and Brenton in particular offer a roadmap for the program’s continued growth, demonstrating how strong postseason runs at key weights can elevate the Plainsmen on the NJCAA stage.