Sterling is Alpha and Omega of NCIC wrestling

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Marshall Ary looks for a way out in his fifth-place match at 125 pounds against Chris Towner. (BCR photo/Kevin Hieronymus)

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It was only fitting to have Sterling win the final NCIC wrestling championship.

The Golden Warriors have been the Alpha and the Omega of NCIC wrestling, dominating the league from the beginning to the end.

Saturday’s title, defeating Geneseo, was the 27th and final NCIC crown for the Golden Warriors. Sterling won the very first NCIC title in 1952 and now the last with the folding of the NCIC wrestling conference, thanks to the mass exodus of eight wrestling schools to other conferences next season.

“It’s hard to leave the NCIC because just it’s been around so long,” said Sterling coach Charlie Bishop, a former Dixon Duke. “It’s been one of the longest conferences. I wrestled at Dixon, so I went through this. It really hurts to see the NCIC go. I think the teams are moving on. It’s run its course. I guess it’s time for a change. I hate to see it go, but I guess it’s time for change.”

The Golden Warriors, who recently posted its 800th dual meet victory in school history, won the first six NCIC championships and six of the last nine. The next closest school in NCIC titles is Geneseo with 12 followed by Dixon (9), Rock Falls (7), L-P (4) and one each for Princeton, DeKalb, Streator, Ottawa and IVC (Lincoln).

“To come out here and get the 27th win is exciting, and we’re happy about it,” said Bishop.

Bishop said it was a little rough his first year at Sterling seeing all the Dixon people. "But I’ve adapted well, and Sterling’s really taken me in, and we’ve done well.”

• New horizons: Sterling will join the rest of the NCIC Reagan schools — Dixon, Geneseo, L-P, Ottawa, Streator and Morris to form the new Big Northern Illinois 12 with five members of the Western Sun, including former NCIC rival Rochelle, plus DeKalb, Sycamore, Maple Park Kaneland and Yorkville.

Kewanee will also be leaving the NCIC next school year to join the Three Rivers. Kewanee will be replaced by St. Bede, which recently started up a wrestling program.

• He’s not a heavyweight; he’s my brother: Reiter Bird doesn’t have far to go for some wrestling advice with his father, Jason, a PHS assistant around. On Saturday, he got some extra help from his brother, Ryne, a two-time (2002-03) NCIC champ.

“He gives me some advice, tells me what I should do better and tells me how I should do moves. He’s good help,” he said.

He said he probably listens to his brother more than his dad because “he doesn’t yell at me.”

• Welcome Matt: Former Princeton standout Matt Seidel returned to the NCIC meet as an assistant coach for Morris. He joked when he first began coaching at Morris; he told his wrestlers if they ever lost to Princeton, they’d have to walk home. He said at least of the Morris wrestlers believed he was serious.

Seidel also helps out with the Redskins football program.

• Looking ahead: With the folding of the NCIC wrestling league, the remaining schools — Princeton, IVC, Mendota, Rock Falls and newcomer St. Bede are searching for avenues to replace the void in next year’s schedule for the final weekend of January.

Amy said PHS is considering hosting a dual tournament with six or seven teams, and IVC is looking into a tournament of its own.

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