CHANUTE, Kan. – The Neosho County wrestling team dropped a spot in the latest NJCAA Poll as the spring semester gets under way. The Panthers did see two new wrestlers move in to the individual rankings, giving them 6 in the top 12 at their weight class.
The Panthers top ranked wrestler continues to be returning All-American Tim Prescott. He has been No. 2 in the nation at 125 all season and currently boasts a 13-4 record. Prescott has missed some action lately for the Panthers due to injury, but looks to be back in the lineup this weekend when the Panther head to the NWCA National Duals.
Freshman Lemuel Johnson continues to move up the national rankings with his impressive start to the season. Johnson moved up five spots to No. 3 at 133 pounds behind a team leading 16 wins and 10 pins.
Dillon Archer also moved up in the latest rankings from 12 in the previous poll to No. 9. Archer is currently 15-7 on the year.
A pair of wrestlers moved into the rankings for the first time this season. Sam Son and O'Shea Smith-Traylor each are ranked after sitting out the fall semester with an eligibility issue. Smith-Traylor was dominant in his first match of the year winning by way of a pin.
Alex Shea is the final Panther in the rankings and he held steady at No. 12 in the nation. Shea has also been nursing an injury, but boasts a 14-9 overall record and is second on the team with 9 pins.
"We are sitting pretty good going into the National duals this weekend," said head coach Wayne Petterson. "Getting Sam and O'Shea in the lineup at 157 and 165 will solidify our middle and if we can get Tim and Alex back healthy we will be as close to full strength as we could be."
The Panthers will travel to Des Moines, Iowa this weekend for the NWCA National Duals.
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