The Neosho County wrestling team has had a busy start to the 2013-14 wrestling season. After weighing in three times over four days to open the season, they faced back to back weigh ins again this week. Wednesday the Panthers fell to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 30-10, but bounced back to knock off rival Labette 34-15.
The week opened up with a trip to Miami, Okla., to take on the No. 7 ranked Norseman of NEO A&M. The dual opened up with a match featuring the top two wrestlers in the nation at 125 pounds. Returning All-American Tim Prescott dropped a close decision 5-2 to No. 1 ranked Josh Walker.
Lemuel Johnson bounced back to win an 8-4 decision to even the team score at 3-3. Neosho's Alex Shea fell in a shootout 17-12 followed by a fofeit by Neosho at 149 pounds. NEO picked up a pin at 157 pounds to push the lead to 18-3.
The 165 pound match would be yet another close one as Neosho's Malik Colding fell 5-3. Needing to get some momentum back, JJ Filipek won a major decision 15-6 to make the score 21-7. NEO would pick up another narrow decision at 184 pounds as Austin Warren fell 3-2.
Dillon Archer won at 197 pounds 8-3, but a pin by NEO at 285 pounds provided 30-10 final score.
"We knew going into the dual that the competition level was going to be elevated," commented head coach Wayne Petterson. "The team score doesn't tell the story of how good of a dual this was. We gave them six points at 149, and then drop three really close matches. As long as we keep giving efforts like this, we can continue to move forward and improve."
The Panthers wouldn't have time to dwell on the loss as they were right back at it the next night at Labette Community College.
Neosho got off to a quick start looking to bounce back from Wednesday's loss. Tim Prescott won a major decision followed by a pin by Lemuel Johnson only 1:24 in to the first period. Alex Shea followed that with a major decision and the Panthers took a 14-0 lead.
After a forfeit at 149 pounds, Labette pulled within two in the team score with a pin at 157 pounds. That would be as close as the match would be however as the Panthers posted back to back technical falls by Malik Colding and JJ Filipek to pull ahead 24-12.
Austin Warren would drop his second consecutive match by one point as he fell in overtime 4-3. The final two matches were once again dominated the final two matches s Dillon Archer pinned his man early in the second period, and Will Divine won a major decision at 285.
"I saw some very good things from our guys tonight. After a tough match last night, they responded by dominating Labette and doing it on tired legs. We might be the only college in American at all levels that have now done back to back weigh ins twice before Thanksgiving break."
"Done get me wrong, we still have things to work on, but we say some things we have been practicing and they put it to use tonight so that was good to see."
The Panthers will have a couple days to recover before heading back on the road Sunday (Nov. 17) for the University of Central Missouri Open.
Full Results
#13 Neosho County at #7 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
125 Josh Walker NEO dec. Tim Prescott NCCC 5-2 NEO 3 NCCC 0
133 Lemuel Johnson NCCC dec. Josh Ailey NEO 8-4 NEO 3 NCCC 3
141 Michael Williams NEO dec. Alex Shea NCCC 17-12 NEO 6 NCCC 3
149 Lane Lassiter NEO won by forfeit NEO 12 NCCC 3
157 Mark Hobson NEO pinned Ty Swartz NCCC 2nd period 3:43 NEO 18 NCCC 3
165 Casey Powell NEO dec. Malik Colding NCCC 5-3 NEO 21 NCCC 3
174 JJ Filipek NCCC maj. dec. Hayden Reeder NEO 15-6 NEO 21 NCCC 7
184 Nick Meck NEO dec. Austin Warren NCCC 3-2 NEO 24 NCCC 7
197 Dillon Archer NCCC dec. Kenny Cleveland NEO 8-3 NEO 24 NCCC 10
285 Jacoby Brown NEO pinned Tommy Andrews NCCC 1st period 1:33 NEO 30 NCCC 10
#13 Neosho County at #RV Labette Community College
125 Tim Prescott NC won by major decision Joe Disciacca LCC 14-3 NCCC 4 LCC 0
133 Lemuel Johnson NC pinned Kaleb Furr LCC 1st period 1:24 NCCC 10 LCC 0
141 Alex Shea NC won by major decision Marshal Phelan LCC 15-6 NCCC 14 LCC 0
149 Cody Rader LCC won by forfeit NCCC 14 LCC 6
157 Blain Drescher LCC pinned Ty Swartz NC 3rd period 5:19 NCCC 14 LCC 12
165 Malik Colding NC won by tech. fall Max Adair LCC 15-0 NCCC 19 LCC 12
174 JJ Filipek NC won by tech. fall Derrick Gates LCC 20-5 NCCC 24 LCC 12
184 Dorian Spadlin LCC won by decision Austin Warren NC 4-3 OT NCCC 24 LCC 15
197 Dillon Archer NC pinned Dustin Cook LCC 2nd period 4:04 NCCC 30 LCC 15
285 Will Divine NC won by major decision Wesley Atkins 14-2 NCCC 34 LCC 15
