PRATT, Kan. - Jumping right into Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference action, the number 20-ranked Cloud County Community College wrestling team would earn a come-from-behind 28-21 upset of number 11 Neosho Community College before falling to number eight ranked and host Pratt Community College by a score of 38-6 to split their season-opening double dual hosted by Pratt on Tuesday, January 26th.
With KJCCC action officially getting started on Tuesday, Cloud County now sits at 1-1 overall on the year while Neosho falls to 0-2 after losing both duals while Pratt moves to 2-0 on the year.
Against Neosho:
Opening the year without a 125-pound wrestler, CCCC would give up an open weight class to begin the dual and face a 6-0 deficit that would balloon to 12-0 as number-five nationally ranked Kolton Smith would earn a fall over Cloud County's Toby Gavette at the 4:52 mark to put the Panthers up two matches into the dual. The T-Birds would then respond as freshman Michael Barfuss would land a major upset of number-three ranked Ethan Ewing with a 13-7 victory which would be followed up by a 30-second fall by Jonny Crome over Logan M. McDonald at 149 pounds. Trailing 12-9 heading into 157 pounds, Tristin Hauck would keep the momentum going for CCCC with a 4-2 decision over Jake Knowles to tie the dual at 12 all with freshman Cooper Mosier making a statement in his collegiate debut by picking up a fall at the 1:22 mark over Dalton Misener.
Neosho would battle back to tie things at 18-18 as number-four ranked Tyson Villalpondo would defeat Dakota Garrison at 174 pounds by fall at the 3:20 mark as NCC would go back up by a score of 21-18 as Brian Paxton would drop a 7-4 decision at 184 pounds for the T-Birds. With just two matches left in the dual, 197 pounder Zach Ferris would land a 9-0 major victory over Ryan Muprhy to give CCCC a 22-21 lead with Thomas Orr capping things off at heavyweight with a fall over Logan A. McDonald at the 4:15 mark.
Against Pratt:
Facing an uphill battle against the host Beavers, Cloud County would give up three open weight classes (125 pounds, 174 pounds, and 285 pounds) to spot PCC an 18-0 lead heading into the seven contested matches with the Beavers having two ranked wrestlers in the remaining matches. After a technical fall loss by Gavette at 133 pounds and 14-8 decision defeat for Barfuss at 141 pounds, Pratt would add a second technical fall with Joel Ostrom losing to top-ranked Jake Beeson at 149 pounds and Hauck taking a major decision defeat to Dayton Porsch (15-7). Mosier would manage to get Cloud County on the board with an 8-6 decision over Taidon Wills, but the Beavers would go on to split the final two matches with Paxton falling to Destin Miller by a score of 8-5 while Ferris grinded out a 12-10 sudden victory-2 win over number-seven ranked Bryce Westmoreland.
What's Next?
CCCC is scheduled to wrestle in their 2020-21 home opener this Saturday, January 30th as the T-Birds will host number 23 Otero Junior College for a 12 p.m. dual from Arley Bryant Gymnasium. The Rattlers will feature number five at 125 pounds Mac Martinez as part of their lineup with the dual slated to be their season opener.
