LeClere looking for IIAC title

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Nick LeClere is starving, and it has nothing to do with cutting weight.

The top-ranked 165-pound Coe senior is starving for competition after missing more than the last month of the season with a knee injury.

LeClere will get a nice home-cooking when Coe hosts the Iowa Conference Wrestling Championships on Friday at Eby Fieldhouse. The NCAA Division III Championships qualifying tournament begins at 10:30 a.m.

LeClere hasn't wrestled in a competitive match since defaulting in the finals of Cornell's Matman Invitational on Jan. 14. He sprained a medial collateral ligament in his knee that match, and spent about three weeks inactive, slowly making his way back to practice and running.

"Having that time off the mat has made me hungrier than I would have been because not only am I looking for to be a conference and national champ, but I'm looking forward to getting on the mat in general," LeClere said. "I'm really hungry to get back at it."

The knee has fully recovered, according to LeClere. He has tested it in practice and said he feels as strong as he has  all year. It might be the best he has been in his career.

"I feel 100 percent," said LeClere, who will wrestle with a brace as a precaution. "The knee is fine."

Coe Coach John Oostendorp said time off was needed for recovery. LeClere has prepared himself for the postseason.

"He's doing well," Oostendorp said. "He'll be ready to go."

An injury can be devastating, especially when it occurs in a wrestler's final season. LeClere possessed the confidence that he would return, saying that if the injury had been suffered at the national tournament he would have been able to continue, but they shut it down to avoid further damage. He also suffered the same injury with more damage to the other knee before the season. He missed a month and a half then, and had a good gauge for the latest setback.

"I was used to it," LeClere said. "I knew how it was supposed to feel and how it felt at the time. I compared it and it wasn't as bad."

LeClere endured a knee scope and reconstructive surgery to his anterior cruciate ligament during his second season at the University of Iowa before transferring to Coe. He only wrestled in a couple events that year. He was better equipped to handle the situation and learned to stay positive.

"All injuries are frustrating," LeClere said. "Yeah, that helped me tremendously, knowing how to focus my attention and focus it on the injury as opposed to the mat and getting better as soon as possible."

Prior to the injury, LeClere had posted a solid season with a 19-2. His default to Cornell's Joe Hambleton is his only loss to a D-III opponent, and the other came in the opening tournament to Conrad Polz of Illinois. He is a two-time All-American and was a national runner-up last year. Although he's reached the NCAA finals, he has yet to advance out of the IIAC semifinals, placing fifth last year and third as a sophomore.

The bracket includes No. 2 Landon Williams of Wartburg, fifth-ranked Hambleton and Luther's No. 6 Garrett Bonte. He will have a challenge trying to climb that conference podium.

"I've had probably the worst luck at this tournament the last two years," LeClere said. "I caught myself last year looking ahead to the finals. Two years ago, I was looking ahead to nationals. ... Instead of looking ahead, I'm going to slow down, enjoy every match and take them one at a time."

The pursuit of a conference title doesn't supply inspiration, according to Oostendorp. LeClere has the desire to be the best whenever he competes.

"He's motivated every time he steps on the mat," said Oostendorp, noting LeClere is more confident than ever in his training. "I really like where he's at right now."

LeClere has rebounded for the national tournament. He was seeded sixth last year, but lost a one-point decision to former University of Dubuque foe Josh Terrell. A runner-up finish was a good accomplishment, but LeClere looks back at the missed chances to capture gold.

"I don't feel satisfied," LeClere said. "I had my opportunities and didn't capitalize on them."

Oostendorp saod Leclere is constantly working out. His worth ethic, which helped him return, is a signature of the Kohawks' program under Oostendorp. It has propelled Coe to three straight top-five finishes and its current ranking of third by the National  Wrestling Coaches Association D-III poll. LeClere fit right in to the Kohawk culture.

"You really enjoy seeing those types of young men in your program where they go above and beyond what you ask of them. The more kids like that you can get in your program the better off you're going to be," Oostendorp said. "They set a good example to everyone around him. When you create that environment for success, what it takes to be a winner, a champion, that's where the kids help elevate each other."

The Kohawks will have to wrestle at their highest level yet if they have any chance of toppling Wartburg and prevent the Knights from winning their 20th straight IIAC team title.

Top-ranked Wartburg could have seven top-seeded wrestlers, and are heavy favorites in a field that includes No. 6 Cornell, No. 10 Luther and 21st-ranked Dubuque.

"They're always going to be a good program," Oostendorp said. "They prove that year-in and year-out. We're still continuing to get better, but until you knock them off they will continue to be at the top."

The IIAC has 29 wrestlers in the NWCA national rankings. Five are in the 125-pound weight classes, and all are ranked from second through sixth. The 197-pound bracket should have four ranked wrestlers, including two-time national champ and two-time Midlands Champions medalist Byron Tate of Wartburg.

The conference has 32 national berths on the line. The top three finishers at each weight will advance with the coaches selection one wild-card qualifier. The final qualifier will be chosen by the NCAA Division III Wrestling Committee next week.

"This is such a neat tournament. You're going to have first-round matches that are going to be very competitive," Oostendorp said. "That's a testament to our conference and how we keep raising the level of it."

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, coached by former University of Norther Iowa All-American and Cedar Rapids Regis and Xavier wrestling coach Dave Malecek, will host the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships for the second straight year at the La Crosse Center Mar. 9-10.