Historic? Check! Fun night of wrestling? Check! Large enthusiastic crowd? Check! Perfect evening for NOC Wrestling? Oh, so very close!
After a 41-year break in competition, wrestling made a grand reappearance on the Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) campus on Halloween night, with the men’s team putting up a spirited fight but falling just short in a 23-20 loss to Trinidad State College, CO. NOC’s first ever women’s team made their inaugural dual a memorable one as they turned in a spectacular performance in routing Trinidad by a 48-11 score.
In between the women’s and men’s duals, NOC recognized former head coach Bob Zweiacher and the original Maverick wrestling teams. Zweiacher and the wrestlers in attendance were introduced to the appreciative crowd. Current head coach Bryan Kenney presented Zweiacher with a plaque and singlet signed by this year’s team. Included in the past wrestlers in attendance were 2X national champion Karl Lynes and national champion Roger Williams.
Zweiacher started the program in 1968 and was the only head coach until the program was discontinued in 1983. Under Zweiacher, the Mavericks compiled a sparkling dual record of 118-37-2, with seven top ten national tournament finishes, including a 3rd place finish in 1972 and a 4th place finish in 1981.
interview with @noctonkmavsath men’s wrestling (@NOC_Wrestling) coach Bryan Kenney (@thecoachkenney) after the the Mavs hosted Trinidad (CO) in the re-establishment of the men's program. Interview by @Mkirk811 pic.twitter.com/Pj4UyhLOKF
— Oklahoma Wrestling (@o__wrestle) November 4, 2024
Wrestling in front of a large and noisy crowd, The NOC women’s team under head coach Jayden Miller opened the “Maverick Wrestling Monster Mash Showdown” by picking up five falls out of their eight wins to post the historic first win for the program.
Interview with Jayden Miller head coach with@noctonkmavsath women's wrestling (@NOC_Wrestling), victorious in first ever dual with 48-11 win over Trinidad College. Interview by @Mkirk811 pic.twitter.com/SpkG0odO6J
— Oklahoma Wrestling (@o__wrestle) November 4, 2024
Durant gradate Addison Polk goes down in the record books as earning the first win and first pin for the Lady Mavericks. Polk jumped to an 8-1 lead before pinning Allison Layman in 2:57. Nebraska native Jordan Williams displayed an aggressive style of wrestling in following Polk’s lead in winning by fall in 2:05 over Heather Hancock.
Interview with Addison Polk. 1st winner and 1st fall in @NOC_Wrestling women’s wrestling history. Interview by @Mkirk811 pic.twitter.com/b888ioGGL0
— Oklahoma Wrestling (@o__wrestle) November 1, 2024
Billings graduate Carl West made it three falls in a row with a beautiful headlock and fall in just 0:41 over her Trinidad opponent. Following a forfeit win for Lyndey Wilda, Carlaeona Hockert picked up the fourth fall of the night as she jumped to an early lead and then used a tight cradle to takedown and pin Lauren Manuelito in 1:14.
Interview with Carlaeona Hockert (@noctonkmavsath @NOC_Wrestling). Winner by fall as NOC won 48-11 over Trinidad State College. A large and enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the historic 1st for the new program. Interview by @Mkirk811 pic.twitter.com/QdrsDMwXmv
— Oklahoma Wrestling (@o__wrestle) November 5, 2024
Interview with Carla West. Winner by fall in NOC’s (@NOC_Wrestling @noctonkmavsath) 48-11 win over Trinidad College, CO. Interview by @Mkirk811 pic.twitter.com/9Q8E1mO9aJ
— Oklahoma Wrestling (@o__wrestle) November 4, 2024
Doniphan, NE native Miah Kenny added the fifth and final fall of the night as she earned the first takedown 15 seconds into the match and led 8-0 before pinning Alana Juarez in 2:03. Forfeit wins by Mya Galey and Leanna Espino capped the historic win for the Mavericks as they celebrated the 48-11 win.
NOC also picked up two exhibition wins as the energetic Leila Rosas earned a 9-1 maj. dec. win over Kalie Deherrera and McLoud graduate Bridget Bailey finished the night for the women’s team with a fall in 2:02 over Heather Hancock.
Following the win, head coach Jayden Miller was obviously pleased with the effort of the team, complimenting the wrestlers as well as praising the support from the community. Miller stated “I love the community here; they have really embraced the wrestlers. The community is backing us 100%, they are great, everybody here is supporting the kids and that is what matters.”
The men’s team opened with a thriller as South Grand Prairie, TX freshman Ivan Lopez went the distance before pulling out an exciting tiebreaker win. The match went to the tiebreaker, with each wrestler down for 30 seconds and if tied after those two periods, the winner determined by who had more riding time. Lopez was able to escape quickly and rode Jay Everhart for most of the period to win by having 11 seconds more riding time than his opponent. Unfortunately, Trinidad won the next four matches to take a 15-3 lead.
Altus graduate Conner Nunez got the crowd going as he picked up the second win for the Mavs, dominating from the opening whistle, piling up points each period and earning a 17-2 tech fall in 5:38 over Jesus Valeadez.
Following a forfeit win for Xavier Hurtt, Kanden Young, a 2023 NJCAA national qualifier for Cowley College, showed that he is ready for a big year and once again got the crowd roaring as he quickly disposed of Marcel Gordon, winning by fall in 1:18.
With the dual score now tied at 20-20, the dual would come down to the final match between NOC’s Avry Nailon and Trinidad’s Thomas Mayaer. With the crowd on their feet, loudly cheering him on, Nailon came so ever close to pulling out the win, but Mayaer was able to hold him off and seal the win for Trinidad.
Following the dual, Head Coach Bryan Kenney was proud of his team, stating “They fought hard! We obviously start a lot of freshmen, but the guys we put on the mat scrapped all night. There are things as a coach that we can fix, and we will get in the room and work on those things.” Kenney also praised the community, stating “This area is special when it comes to wrestling and having a community that backs us the way they do makes it an awesome place to be coaching and for the guys and girls to be wrestling.”
The Mavericks next home dual is Saturday, November 16 when they host Carl Albert in the “Battle of Oklahoma.” The women’s dual will pit #9 NOC against #2 Carl Albert. Make plans now to attend this exciting dual!
Women’s Dual
NOC – 48
Trinidad State College, CO – 11
103 Melanie Fragua (Trinidad) tech fall Mia Cabera (NOC), TF 10-0, 3:39
110 Addison Polk (NOC) fall over Allison Layman (Trinidad), Fall 2:57
117 Jordan Williams (NOC) fall over Heather Hancock (Trinidad), Fall 2:05
124 Carla West (NOC) fall over Angelica Qunitana Aficial (Trinidad), Fall 0:41
131 Lyndey Wilda (NOC) won by forfeit
138 Carlaeona Hockert (NOC) fall over Lauren Manuelito (Trinidad), Fall 1:14
145 Miah Kenny (NOC) fall over Alana Juarez, Fall 2:03
160 Mya Galey (NOC) won by forfeit
180 Chelsea Rivera (Trinidad) fall over Madison Welch (NOC), Fall 4:15
207 Double Forfeit
235 Leanna Espino (NOC) won by forfeit
Exh. Leila Rosas (NOC) maj. dec. Kalie Deherrera (Trinidad), MD 9-1
Exh. Bridget Bailey (NOC) fall over Heather Hancock (Trinidad), Fall 2:02
Men’s Dual
NOC – 20
Trinidad State College, CO – 23
125 Ivan Lopez (NOC) dec. Jay Everhart (Trinidad), TB-1, 7-6
133 Chanry Morm (Trinidad) dec. Jack Swenson (NOC), 4-1
141 Cameron Moore (Trindad) dec. Absalon Valencia (NOC), 10-5
149 Joseph Salazar (Trinidad) maj. dec. Max Rinehart (NOC), MD 19-11
157 Sebastian Freeman (Trinidad) tech fall Logan Ashford (NOC), TF 18-1, 5:34
165 Conner Nunez (NOC) tech fall Jesus Valadez (Trinidad), TF 17-2, 5:38
174 Erik Mestas (Trinidad) tech fall Asa Pierce (NOC), TF 18-0, 4:06
184 Xavier Hurtt (NOC) won by forfeit
197 Kanden Young (NOC) fall over Marcel Gordon (Trinidad), Fall 1:18
285 Thomas Mayer (Trinidad) dec. Avry Nailon (NOC), 8-4
