Salina, Kan. - The season opener for the Panthers of NCCC proved to be a great start to the season for Head Coach Merrick Wiles and staff.  The Panthers met the Trojans in Salina to do battle of national powerhouses in junior college wrestling.  The Panthers came away victorious, 28-15, winning five of the nine matches wrestled.  Neosho received a forfeit at heavyweight.      Colby, the 2003 national runners-up, defeated Neosho last year for the first time in dual competition.  Neosho put together a new team that proved to be better on Nov. 1.  The five Panthers with wins were, Ronnie Smith (125), Mark Frey (133), Nick Johnson (141), Jason Leavitt (149), and Jasper Lockett (197).  Smith, found himself down 6-1 right off the get-go.  Smith came back strong with a serious of cradles and turks to finally get a fall in the second period over Elliott Darden, an undefeated state champion out of North Carolina.    Three-time Maryland state champ, Mark Frey (133) took on Colby's Kyle Patton, who also claimed a couple of state titles himself, in Kansas.  Frey used three takedowns, an escape, and some near-fall to defeat Patton, 9-3.    Sophomore, Nick Johnson (141) stepped in the circle with Tony Lombardi, a Key West, Florida native.  Johnson ended the first period ahead 5-3.  Johnson opened his lead in the second period, only to give up a reversal and three near-fall which put Lombardi within one, 9-8.  Johnson used a takedown and riding time to win the match 12-8.    Freshman, Jason Leavitt (149), made quick work of Colby's Drue Herl by recording a fall in 1:17 of the first period.      At 197, was Neosho's Jasper Lockett who is actually at 184 for the Panthers.  Lockett used three takedowns and a serious of cheap tilts to win by technical fall over Maine Ardrey 19-4.  At heavyweight, Colby forfeited, with Jorge Herrera (285) winning un-contested.    James Schultz (157), lost a close decision to Eric Luedke 6-3.  With a serious of attempted turns by both wrestlers, Schultz was able to turn Luedke with an arm lever, but could not get the fall.  Kenny Brown (174), lost to Zach Luedke in double overtime.  A great wrestling match, the two battled back and forth in regulation.  After the first minute of sudden victory OT, the score was still tied.  With the new overtime rules in effect, the two 30-second tie-breaker periods were wrestled, with both wrestlers scoring an escape, forcing the second 1:00 period on their feet.  Z. Luedke scored the takedown to claim the victory.    Freshman, Paul Lappin (165), had a tough chore ahead of him, by taking on the defending national champion, Muzzafor Abdurakhmnov.  Abdurakhmnov scored six takedowns, before recording a fall in the first period.      At 184, freshman John Sponsel owns the match of the evening.  Sponsel, the back up at 174, was bumped to 184 by Coach Wiles.  Waiting for Sponsel, was Colby's other defending national champion, C.B. Dollaway.  At the end of the first period, Dollaway was ahead 7-4.  In the second, Dollaway moved in front 10-4.  However, in third period, Dollaway was winded and Sponsel made a huge comeback.  Sponsel had Dollaway on his back three different times, almost recording the fall the third time, but time ran out.  Dollaway escaped with a 13-11 win.    With the Panthers off to a 1-0 start, they will try to keep the winning attitude when they take on No. 3 Ellsworth on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 pm.