The Norsemen wrestling team represented by ten National Qualifiers will leave at 8 am Wednesday morning for Council Bluffs, Iowa in search of a second National Championship in the last three years since the sport returned to the NEO campus.
 
The current edition of NEO wrestling features two Norsemen ranked number one in their weight classes in addition to six other members being ranked throughout the year in the top eight.  The 2016 team has been ranked the number one junior college team in the country during the season heading into the tournament this Friday and Saturday.
 
According to Head Coach Joe Renfro, "Rankings mean nothing; you have to earn that number one ranking by winning the national tournament.  We are going to Iowa with the idea that NEO will come home with ten All-Americans". Assistant coach Siegmann added, "We will tell them on Monday, February 29, 2016, whether you did it or you didn't in our team meeting.  There will only be one team champion leaving Council Bluffs on Sunday morning".
 
Leading the NEO "Men with an Attitude" is returning National Champion Jacobe Smith, 174 lbs. sophomore, Muskogee, Oklahoma (36-2). Jacobe will be trying to make it three consecutive years that an NEO wrestler has won the national title at 174 lbs. In 2014, Payne Hatter won the title at 174 for NEO. Smith won it last year and has gone undefeated this year against junior college opponents with his only two defeats coming at the hands of Oklahoma State starter Chandler Rodgers.
 
Looking to win his first National Title will be number one ranked Blake Andrews, sophomore, 285 lbs. Grapevine, Texas (42-5). Blake is a transfer from NCAA Division 2, Ouachita Baptist, where he won 29 matches last year.  He leads the team in victories this season and Andrews has not lost to a junior college opponent this season as well.
 
Five other wrestlers will be representing NEO for the final time in their careers. All of these Norsemen wrestlers have also been ranked nationally this year.  Mitchell Sellers, sophomore, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, 141 lbs. (26-10); Kristian Holguin-Mendez, sophomore, 149 lbs. from Sapulpa, Oklahoma (29-11) and a returning All-American, finishing third last year; Dawaylon Barnes, sophomore, 157 lbs. from Muskogee, Oklahoma (33-7); Jacob Hill, 184 lbs. redshirt sophomore, from Augusta, Kansas (31-14); and Josh Latham, sophomore, 197 lbs. from Chickasha, Oklahoma (23-7).
 
Three freshmen will also be part of the "Band of Brothers" wrestling to become All-Americans. 133 lbs. Curtis Burnett, Independence, Kansas (29-15); Logan Terrill, 125 lbs. from Ark City, Kansas (22-16); and Saul Ortiz, 165 lbs. from Wichita Northwest HS, Kansas (20-13).
 
Schedule of wrestling at the Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Friday - February 26, 2016 Session I: 9:30AM - 3:00PM - Doors Open @ 8:30AM
                                            Session II: 5:00PM - 8:00PM - Doors Open @ 3:30PM
Saturday - February 27, 2016 Session III: 10:30AM - 12:00PM - Doors Open @ 9:30AM
                                                Session IV: 5:00PM - 7:00PM - Doors Open @ 3:30PM
 
The tournament will also be broadcast live on Flo Wrestling.