Wrestling | 1/21/2015 10:55:00 AM

PARSONS, Kan. – Wrestling their fifth and sixth duals in just 8 days, Neosho split a pair of duals against ranked opponents Saturday. The Panthers were dominant in a 37-9 win over Northwest Kansas Tech before falling in heartbreaking fashion to Labette 24-19.
                       
In the opening dual of the day No. 15 ranked Neosho faced off with No. 18 Northwest Kansas Tech. The Mavericks scored a win in the opening match before the Panthers ran off a string of eight straight wins before a forfeit at 285 ended the run.
 
A trio of Panthers won by fall in the dual including Colton Looper at 165 pounds who earned the pin in just 1:33. Alex Shea at 141 pounds and Ryne Cokeley at 157 pounds each pinned their opponent in the second round.
 
Bryce Hood scored a big win for the Panthers knocking off No. 12 ranked 149 pounder Victor Haro with a 6-4 decision. Sammy Reyes at 184 pounds also scored a win over a ranked foe with a 7-5 decision over No. 11 ranked Bryce Mason.
 
The second dual of the day saw the Panthers square off with rival No. 7 Labette for the second time in just over a week. The dual was a tight back and forth battle with neither team winning consecutive matches except for a forfeit followed by a win at 197 pounds for the Panthers.
 
Labette opened the dual with a 1-0 decision at 125 pounds but the Panthers responded with an 8-2 win by Austin Hood.
 
In what would prove to be one of the key matches of the dual No. 4 ranked Steven Morey pinned No. 3 ranked Alex Shea to give the Cardinals a 9-3 lead. The Panthers would not go down easily as Bryce Hood earned a major decision with a 16-7 win at 149 pounds to cut the Cardinal lead to 9-7.
 
The teams each earned win by decision in the next two matches including a win by Looper over No. 12 ranked Derrick Gates before No. 2 ranked Tyler White of Labette pinned Darick Jones to give Labette an 18-10 lead.
 
After Labette forfeited at 184 pounds, No. 4 ranked Dillon Archer and No. 5 ranked Brandon Ballard squared off in the best match of the day. Archer won the match 11-9 in overtime to give the Panthers a brief 19-18 lead. The Panthers, wrestling open at 285, would forfeit the match as Labette escaped with five point win.
 
"We are coming around as a group and individually," commented Wayne Petterson. "We made some steps up the ladder on our way to the level we think we are capable of. If we continue to begin our matches like we did Saturday our progress will take another step forward.  We are getting ourselves in situations during competition that should help with our experience and preparation for the post season."
 
The Panthers will wrestle their final home dual of the season Saturday when they host No. 16 Colby Community College at 1:00pm. It is 'Stache Out 2015 and fans will receive a free fake mustache at the door.