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March 12, 2026

Triton College’s Damari Reed Captures Third Place, All-American Honors at NJCAA Championships

photo of Damari Reed havibg his arm raised by referee

Triton College wrestler Damari Reed placed third in the NJCAA Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa, after securing six wins in the tournament. Photo by Joseph Giitter.

RIVER GROVE, Ill. — Triton College’s Damari Reed of Chicago earned third place at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Wrestling Championships on March 6–7 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, finishing the tournament with a 6-1 record and securing NJCAA All-American honors.

Reed becomes the 94th NJCAA All-American in Triton wrestling history and the 294th across all sports at the college. His third-place finish marks the program’s highest individual national placement since Travis Hammons won a national title in 2007. Anthony Schickel (2024) and Tyree Johnson (2017) also finished third in their respective years.

“Of course, I came to the tournament wanting to win the national title,” said Reed, who transferred to Triton this season. “But finishing third is something to be proud of. At the end of that match I had nothing left and had to soak it all in. I’ve never made it this far in college.”

Seeded ninth at 157 pounds, Reed opened the tournament with two wins over opponents he had faced earlier in the season, defeating Monty Hall of Carl Albert State College by a 9-2 decision and Maguire Hoeksema of Harper College by a 6-1 decision.

In the quarterfinals, Reed faced top-seeded Keith Smith of Southeast Community College, who went on to win the national title. The loss moved Reed into the consolation bracket, where he needed multiple wins to reach the podium.

“Damari and I had a really cool moment in the tunnel,” said Triton head coach Chris Butz. “We both knew the goal of being national champion was gone, so I told him, ‘Just give me one.’ The next match was all that mattered. He refocused and pinned his opponent in 12 seconds.”

Reed’s quick pin of John DeLaRosa of Nassau Community College advanced him to the second day of competition. He capped his run with a 9-5 decision over Jacob Goodwin of Pratt Community College to claim third place.

“At the end of the second period, coach pointed to his head to remind me to stay focused,” Reed said. “I saw him lose focus for a split second and took advantage.”

Triton sent six additional wrestlers to the national tournament, each earning at least one victory. Everett McClelland (197 pounds) went 3-2, while Keygan Jennings (133) finished 2-2. Bennett Eichert (174), Dylan Eimer (125), Fabian Salazar (149) and Fabian Salazar (165) each went 1-2.

The season marked the first for Butz as Triton’s head coach after being hired last summer. With most of the roster expected to return next season, including Reed, Butz sees the program building momentum.

“I have high standards, but my assistants reminded me to look at the bigger picture,” Butz said. “We had a strong finish to the season, and that’s a good place to start building toward bigger and better things.”

For more information about Triton College wrestling, visit tritonathletics.com.

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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820

ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE:
Triton College is a public institution of higher education dedicated to student success. Recently recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 200 community colleges in the nation, Triton offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers, transfer to four-year universities, and thrive in a global economy. Guided by our mission—Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community—Triton serves nearly 17,000 students annually on its 110-acre campus in River Grove, Illinois. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities that empower students and strengthens the communities we serve. Triton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of The Illinois Community College Board. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community college districts. Learn more at triton.edu.