The long winter break ended Friday for the Ellsworth Community College Panther wrestlers. The rust and the long drive to Miami, Okla. led to a 2-2 split in the NJCAA Coaches Duals at Northeast Oklahoma A&M.

The ninth-ranked Panthers opened with a 21-18 win over Crowley, then dropped a tight 19-17 decision to North Idaho. They bounced back with a 25-14 win over Neosho, then ended the day with a 47-0 loss to sixth ranked NEO. ECC and Iowa Lakes finished tied for seventh after both agreed to not wrestle.

Along the way, the Panthers got winning days from seventh. Darrell Mason (285) went 2-0, as did Trayvonne Jackson (197/285). Justin Grant (174) and Cameron Mayes (197) Jarell Blecher (197) all went 1-0. Dennis McNeal (125/133) and Rozell Baker (184) both went 2-1. Also going 2-1 in his return from injury was defending national champion Cardi Wilson.

For more on the NJCAA Coaches Duals, click here: http://www.timescitizen.com/sports/panther-mat-men-split-coaches-duals/article_584fd016-3636-11ea-83b6-db4eff4b6584.html