Plainsmen Have Antidote for Rattlers

Jan. 28, 2019, Sterling, Colo. — The Plainsmen wrestling team traveled to La Junta, Colo. this past weekend to dual against the Otero Junior College Rattlers. This contest was a Region IX conference match-up, so it was important that the Plainsmen came out on top. These two teams have not seen each other all season, so neither team had any advantage over the other. 

The first match was for the 125s and Bryson Van Hee won via forfeit, which gave Northeastern the 6-0 lead. In the 133s, Quintel Fuchs was able to pin his opponent in the first 45 seconds of the first period to allow the Plainsmen to go up 12-0. In the next three weight classes, 141, 149 and 157 each received a forfeit and gave Northeastern a sizable 30-0 lead. 

The next bout was Josh Betts in the 165s who was able to pin his Rattler opponent at the 3:36 mark to extend Northeastern's lead 36-0. Braeson Lewis represented the Plainsmen in the 174s and won by a 15-0 tech fall. Northeastern had sealed their victory at 41-0, but there were still three more match-ups left. In the 184s, Hayden Wempen won by pin in the first period to make it a 47-0 score. Logan Malouff wrestled in the 195s, but was defeated by a 13-5 major decision. With the score sitting at 47-4, Oscar Soto was the last man to wrestle for the Plainsmen in the heavyweight division. Soto's match went the full three periods, and he won in a 5-1 decision, boosting Northeastern to the 50-4 victory. 

Northeastern will head to Powell, Wyo. to compete in the Apodaca Duals beginning Friday, Feb. 1.