Local wrestler gets 2nd in nationals

After years of wrestling in Little Guy and high school, Kyle Sweedman, 19, of Libby finished second in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association championship on Feb. 25.

“He’s been wrestling his whole life — even in Little Guy,” Sweedman’s mother, Karee Sweedman, said. “It was so awesome to watch him in this tournament. He just worked so hard for this competition.”

The Sweedmans traveled to Rochester, Minn., to see their son compete.

Sweedman graduated from Libby High School in 2010. Currently, he is completing his general-education studies at North Idaho College (NIC) in Couer d’Alene, Idaho.

Sweedman wrestles for NIC as a red-shirt freshman in the 174-pound weight class.

“Wrestling in college is quite a bit different than wrestling in high school,” Sweedman said. “The coaches teach differently in college, it’s more advanced it seems.”

Sweedman competed in the Regional Tournament and placed fourth.

“I didn’t do very well at regionals, I took fourth place,” Sweedman said. “The coaches had to vote me in as a wild card so I could participate in the national tournament.”

As an unranked-national wrestler, Sweedman was acknowledged in the top 12 of his weight class.

“I was nervous because it was nationals, but at the same time I felt pretty good about it and confident in my wrestling,”

In the first round Sweedman won by a 9-2 decision; second round by a 3-2 decision; quarter finals by a pin in 3:47; semi-finals he won by a 6-4 decision, and finished second after he lost by a 3-2 decision.

The NIC team placed sixth overall in the tournament, including recognition for five All-American wrestling titles.

“The guys on my team are really good,” Sweedman said. “When we wrestle together we just make each other better.”

Sweedman would like to pursue a degree in business and possibly enlist in the U.S. Air Force to become a pilot.