Marlin’s charge stopped in national finals

DES MOINES — After winning four state high school titles, Jake Marlin of Creston nearly captured a national championship in his first season of collegiate competition.

North Iowa Area Community College’s Marlin (25-6) dominated four matches on his way to the 141-pound title match last weekend at the NJCAA national championships held at the Jacobson Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

In the finals, regional rival Jason Alfau of Iowa Central, who had split two previous matches with Marlin during the season, had the only offensive points of the match in a 5-2 victory.

During a strong late-season run, Marlin had beaten Alfau 10-5 in the finals of the North Central District tournament. That avenged an 11-9 loss to Alfau in the Jan. 30 dual meet.

Alfau used a well-crafted strategy in the finals to nullify the explosive scoring shown throughout the tournament by Marlin, who redshirted at the University of Iowa last year before transferring to NIACC.

Marlin got to the finals on the strength of a one-minute fall and two technial falls of 17-1 and 22-3, then a solid 4-0 decision in the semifinals Saturday morning over sixth-ranked Clay Archer of Northeast Oklahoma.

Defensive match

Alfau, a one-time state champ in Georgia and a state runner-up in both Georgia and Florida as a prep, repeatedly fought off Marlin’s attacks in Saturday night’s finals. After a 0-0 first period, he had a quick counter off a Marlin shot to take a 2-1 lead in the second period after Marlin scored first on an escape.

Marlin escaped again to make it 2-2 entering the third period. But unlike the semifinals, Marlin was unable to apply a tight ride in the third period and Alfau escaped to go ahead by one, 3-2, with 1:50 left.

As the match clock wound down, Marlin made a desperation throw attempt to gain the lead. Alfau was ready with the counter for his second takedown and the clinching 5-2 margin.

“It was a well-deserved win. He wrestled a smart match,” said the unranked Marlin of the ninth-ranked Alfau. “He didn’t wrestle me the same as he has before. There were a couple of times when I should have finished on my feet. I was close a lot of times.”

Iowa Central coach Luke Moffitt said his wrestler had learned from the 10-5 district loss and was more active and ready to seize opportunities.

“The keys were hand position and hustle in not giving up the takedown when Jake was bringing the heat,” Moffitt said. “They’re both really good wrestlers. J.J.’s really good at fighting off takedowns. The first takedown was kind of a flurry, both guys were getting after it and he (Alfau) got to the legs. The last one came when Jake had to try to throw.”

NIACC finished third in the team standings for the program’s best finish under coach Steve Kelly and the highest in the program’s history since the 1973 championship team. Nosomy Pozo (149) and Yoanse Mejkias (157) captured their second national titles in the two matches after Marlin’s bout at 141.

Kelly said Marlin made a good bid to make it three national crowns in a row, but Alfau was up to the task.

“Jake kept attacking,” Kelly said. “He left it all on the mat. It’s not like he can say he should have pushed a little harder. He was getting to the leg, but he just couldn’t get the corner turned. The other guy stayed squared up and was good enough to slow us down. I know it was frustrating for Jake that he couldn’t get things going.”

Unranked run

Besides three defeats in tournaments that included four-year schools, including NAIA power Grand View, Marlin suffered dual losses against Ellsworth’s Saidyoku Kakhramanov and Iowa Central’s Alfau. He was seeded fourth in the North Central District Tournament, but rolled to the title with wins over No. 1 Andres Gonzalez of Iowa Lakes and Alfau.

He likewise looked unstoppable in the early rounds of the national tournament, much like his last competitive season as a champion for Creston/O-M when he set a state record for career pins. (That record was surpassed this year by Union’s four-time champ, Max Thomsen.)

“Jake is wrestling really solid now. He’s focused,” Kelly said after Marlin’s semifinal victory. “He’s having fun, that’s the main thing. He’s very driven.”

Marlin’s wins and bonus points helped NIACC hold off North Idaho for third place with 113 points. North Idaho finished with 109. With 158.5 points, Iowa Cenral finished well ahead of runner-up Clackamas (Ore.) with 131.5.

It was the Tritons’ sixth national championship and first since 2010. Iowa Central won five in a row from 2006 to 2010.

For Kelly and his NIACC team, the 2015 tourney was a big step in regaining a lofty position on the national stage. The best previous finish for Kelly, in his sixth season, was 10th place.

“I still want a national title,” Kelly said.

Marlin would be eligible for a second season at NIACC, or could transfer to a four-year school. He said Saturday night he has not decided any future plans yet.

Team scoring leaders — 1. Iowa Central CC 158.5; 2. Clackamas CC 131.5; 3. North Iowa Area CC 113; 4. North Idaho College 109; 5. Northeast Oklahoma 95.5; 6. Muskegon College 75.5; 7. Ellsworth CC 71; 8. (tie) Iowa Western CC 63.5 and Neosho County CC 63.5; 10. Nassau CC 62.

Jake Marlin’s matches

141 pounds

First round — Jake Marlin (NIACC) tech fall Kerin Rameriz (Harper College), 17-1 (4:05).

Second round — Jake Marlin (NIACC) pinned Michael Malles (Triton College), 1:00.

Quarterfinals — Jake Marlin (NIACC) tech fall Andrew Beck (Pratt CC), 22-3 (6:36).

Semifinals — Jake Marlin (NIACC) dec. Clay Archer (NE Oklahoma), 4-0.

Championship — Jason Alfau (Iowa Central) dec. Jake Marlin (NIACC), 5-2.