Clackamas Cougars Claim Another Region 18 Title; Sanchez Named Coach of the Year

The Clackamas Community College wrestling team brought home another Region 18 Championship on February 15th in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, securing their spot at the upcoming NJCAA National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Head Coach Brett Sanchez, who was voted Region 18 Coach of the Year for the second time in three years, praised his team’s resilience and focus heading into the postseason.

“We feel as healthy as we can be going into Regionals to build momentum and accomplish our goals in the postseason,” said Sanchez. “Everything we did during the season doesn’t necessarily mean anything now—it’s about what you do in these next two tournaments that defines success for our program.” 

The Cougars capped a strong regular season with a 14-2 dual meet record, a National Duals Runner-Up finish, and entered the postseason ranked #2 in the nation. At Regionals, they delivered once again—qualifying nine of ten wrestlers for the NJCAA Championships, including six champions, one runner-up, and two third-place finishers.

“I’m proud of our guys and how we competed, but we know we need to be sharper in certain areas to bring home that first-place trophy in Iowa,” Sanchez added. “I know these guys are ready to make the adjustments and finish the job.”

The Cougars will travel to Iowa on March 5th to compete at the NJCAA National Championships, March 7–8. Fans can watch live on the NJCAA Network and follow brackets on FloWrestling.