The Neosho County wrestling team opened the 2013-14 season with a busy week that included three weigh ins in four days. The team responded well as they seemed to get stronger over the busy stretch.
 
The season opened up with a dual with No. 16 Northwest Kansas Technical College on November 1. Returning All-American Tim Prescott started kicked off the Panthers season with a 9-4. After the Mavericks forfeited at 133 pounds, the Panthers had a 9-0 lead that quickly evaporated. Northwest Tech recorded three straight pins to go up 18-9 in the team standings.
 
 Malik Colding picked up a 6-3 decision to end the run and then back to back wins from Austin Warren and Dillon Archer pulled the Panthers back within 3 in the team points. The Panthers needed a win from Tommy Andrews in the final match of the day to force at least a tie, but Tech's Sebastian Sanchez scored a major decision and the Panthers fell in the season opener 25-18.
 
"We were disappointed with our dual against Northwest Tech," said coach Petterson. "The three pins we gave up were the difference for them. We covered that with the team Saturday night and we rebounded nicely on Sunday."
 
The Panthers headed out on the road Sunday for the Dan Harris Open at Baker University. Three different Panthers made it to the championship match as Tim Prescott, Lemuel Johnson, and Austin Warren all scored second place finishes.
 
Three more Panthers recorded third place finished led by Malike Colding who posted a 4-1 record with each of his wins coming by way of the pin, earning the open's trophy for most falls. Also finishing third were Alex Shea and JJ Filipek.
 
"Sunday we came out and showed what we have been seeing in the room [in practice]. The guys fought hard and put up some results. We beat some good kids on the day and lost some very close matches to some very good guys. Now we have those first time jitters out of the way and can go out and wrestle."
 
After a day to recover the Panthers were back at it again Tuesday when they hosted Arkansas Baptist and Wentworth Military Academy.
 
The Panthers opened up with Wentworth Military and handled them easily, winning the dual 46-9 with six of Wentworth's points coming from a Panther forfeit at 149 pounds. The Panthers set the tone early as they won the first three matches with pins. Tim Prescott recorded his in the second period, Lemuel Johnson's came in the 1^st, and Alex Shea pinned his man in the 2^nd.
 
The final match of the opening week saw the Panthers square off with Arkansas Baptist College. Neosho was nearly perfect in the match as the blanked the Buffaloes 51-0. The Panthers won three of the matches by forfeit, and only one of the other matches wrestled went the distance.
 
Kaden Kretzer started the dual with a pin only 41 seconds in. Leumuel Johnson topped that feat as he pinned his man only 20 seconds in. Alex Shea also recoded a pin at 149 pounds as he ended the match 2:32 in to the first period. At 157 pounds, Ty Swartz also recorded a first period pin at the 2:27 mark.
 
The 165 pound match was the first that made it to the 2^nd period, but Malik Colding ended it only 27 seconds into the 2^nd. After three straight wins by forfeit, Tommy Andrews closed out the day with a 4-1 decision.
 
The Panthers are now 2-1 on the season in duals. The next action for the squad will be November 13 when they travel to Miami, Oklahoma to take on the No. 7 ranked Norsemen of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
 
Weekly Results

November 2:
Northwest Tech 25  Neosho 18
125  Tim Prescott Neosho Dec. Cameron Wezar 9-4
133  Lemuel Johnson Neosho won by forfeit
141  Tyler Hinton NT won by fall Alex Shea Neosho 6:48
149  Elijah Davis NT won by fall Jared Suppes Neosho 1:08
157  Jared Pratt NT won by fall Isaac Salinas Neosho 2:48
165  Malik Colding Neosho dec. Tyler Cattey 6-3
174  Bryce Carr NT dec. JJ Filipek Neosho 9-8
184  Austin Warren Neosho dec. Dominic Beharano NT 6-2
197  Dillon Archer Neosho dec. Miguel Montelongo NT 10-6
285  Sebastian Sanchez NT maj. dec. Tommy Andrews Neosho 15-4
 
November 3
Dan Harris Open (Baker University)
125  Tim Prescott  2-1  2^nd   
125  Kaden Kretzer 0-2   
133  Lemuel Johnson  2-1  2^nd
141  Alex Shea  3-1 3^rd
157  Ty Swartz  1-2 dnp 
157  Isaac Salinas  0-2 dnp
165  Malik Colding 4-1  3rd    Most Falls trophy 4 falls      
174  JJ Filipek  2-1  3^rd
184  Austin Warren  2-1  2^nd
184  Issac Bolivar  1-2 dnp
197  Dillon Archer  2-2  4^th
285  Tommy Andrews  0-2  dnp
 
November 5
Neosho 46 Wentworth Military 9
125 Tim Prescott NC pinned Antonio Garcia WM 2^nd period 4:29
133 Lemuel Johnson NC pinned Jacop O'Neal WM 1^st period 2:08
141 Alex Shea NC pinned Dalton Mulligan WM 2^nd period 4:07
149 James Taylor WM won by forfeit
157 Ty Swartz NC won my major decision Alex Davis-Carter WM 10-1
165 Malik Colding NC won by forfeit
174 JJ Filipek NC won by forfeit
184 Isaac Bolivar NC won by forfeit
197 Dillon Archer NC won by forfeit
285 Brian Duncan WM won by decision Tommy Andrews NC 4-2
 
Neosho 51 Arkansas Baptist 0
125 Kaden Kretzer pinned Corey Meyers AB 1^st period 0:41
133 double forfeit
141 Lemuel Johnson NC pinned Antonio Green AB 1^st period 0:20
149 Alex Shea NC pinned Joe Quan Richardson AB 1^st period 2:32
157 Ty Swartz NC pinned Tyler Brown AB 1^st Period 2:27
165 Malik Colding NC pinned DeQuelon Gray AB 2^nd period 3:33
174 JJ Filipek NC won by forfeit
184 Isaac Bolivar NC won by forfeit
197 Dillon Archer NC won by forfeit
285 Tommy Andrews NC won by decision Sir Jason Monroe 4-1