The NEO wrestling team opened up their dual meet season at home Thursday evening (11/5/2015) with a shutout victory over Neosho CC, from Chanute, Kansas 46-0. The Norsemen are ranked #14 in the NJCAA pre-season rankings and Neosho came in ranked #19.

The match was highlighted by three pins, two forfeits, and a major decision win by NEO.  NEO 285 lb. sophomore Blake Andrews, Grapevine, TX. started the action with a first period pin. At 125 lbs. Bolivar, Missouri redshirt freshman Logan Myers-Webb recorded a major decision win 11-3.  This was followed by two second period pins at 133 lbs. by Derick Shrum, Jay, OK. sophomore, and at 141 lbs. by Mitchell Sellers, Talequa, OK sophomore. At 149 lbs. freshman Dustin Hayden, Johnstown, CO. was locked up in a close match when he secured a takedown and riding time at the end of the match to win 10-7. Sophomore Kristian Holguin-Mendez, Sapulpa, OK, currently ranked #2 in NJCAA pre-season continued the NEO roll with a 9-4 victory. 

At 165 and 174 Neosho brought two of their best wrestlers to battle the NEO onslaught. At 165, NEO Sophomore Dawaylon Barnes, Muskogee, OK. defeated #8 NJCAA ranked Colton Looper 4-3 with a closing takedown and riding time to secure the victory. Then in what proved to be the most exciting match of the evening, at 174, NEO freshman Riley Betchan, Perry, OK. defeated NJCAA #3 ranked sophomore Darick Jones in overtime with a takedown to win 10-8.

NEO closed out the dual meet victory with forfeit wins at 184 lbs. from redshirt sophomore Jacob Hill, Augusta, KS. and 197 lbs. sophomore Josh Latham, Chickasha, OK.

NEO travels to Owasso, Oklahoma on Sunday for the first annual Oklahoma Outlaw Open involving NEO, Oklahoma State, University of Oklahoma and a handful of other entries.  The wrestling begins at 9am in the Owasson HS gymnasium.