After a layoff of nearly a month the Neosho Panther wrestling team returns to the mat this weekend for the NWCA National Duals in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The National Duals are a 16 team tournament featuring 15 teams ranked or receiving votes in the latest NJCAA poll including 6 ranked in the top 10.
                        
The Panthers enter the tournament ranked No. 15 after moving up a spot in the latest poll. They will open up against Lincoln College who is currently receiving votes. The Linx fell out of the top 20 after being ranked No. 14 in the final poll of the first semester.
 
"They use an interesting formula to establish the brackets for this so consequently our match up with Lincoln is probably two of the better team wrestling each other in the first round," commented Wayne Petterson. "That's ok though because we need to see this level with our new lineup. It will be a good test for our guys right out of the shoot."
 
The Panthers had a dual with Pratt cancelled earlier this month that was planned as the final tune up heading into the highly competitive National Duals.
 
"It was unfortunate we had to cancel the dual last Sunday," commented Petterson. "That was part of our preparation leading up this this by making weight and getting a live match in ahead of time. Our guys have been working hard and with the cancellation we used it as another hard day of training to prep for this meet."
 
After a first semester that saw the Panthers wrestle short-handed, Neosho's lineup returns to full strength with the addition of some wrestlers at key weight classes. The Panthers were forced to wrestle open at 125 pounds all first semester but Dylan Linsenbardt and JJ Johnson give the Panthers two options at the weight. Austin Hood will step in at 133 pounds and his brother Bryce Hood will wrestle at 149 as the Panther bolster their lower weight classes that were very thin all fall. The remainder of the Panther's lineup looks similar to wrestling fans with the exception of Richard Black III that will take over at 285.
 
If the Panthers can get by Lincoln in the opening round they would most likely face No. 3 ranked Iowa Central Community College in the second round. Petterson likes the makeup of his lineup as they prepare to start the second semester and looks forward to the challenge.
 
"With this placement in the first two rounds I like where we are. These are two highly touted programs which I think is good for our guys and will give us a good gauge of where we are at."