NTL WRESTLING: NEB FALLS TO WILLIAMSON IN BACK AND FORTH MATCH (January 8, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — In a back and forth match it came down to forfeits as Williamson edged NEB, 35-30, during NTL wrestling action Thursday.

The Panthers were missing stalwart Mason Alexander, who was out with an illness, and couldn’t overcome three forfeits on the night.

“The boys wrestled good, so I’m proud of them,” said NEB coach Curt Cole. “You know, a loss sometimes you can still be proud of. They bounced back from Towanda, even though we had a loss.”

They won six of the nine matches wrestled on the mat, and kept it close with the Warriors throughout despite giving up two forfeits to start the match.

Hunter Comstock (127), Connor Eastabrook (152), and Asher Kolesar (189) all had falls for NEB, with Alex Gomez (145) getting a tech fall.

Ben Ellis (215) won a 17-7 major decision, while Kale Howland (160) pulled out a 3-1 win over Anthony Baker in the match of the night.

“Kale did very well,” Cole said. “Not downplaying anything, but he’s one of the ones that’s on the mend from behind sick, and he gutted it out. I’m very proud of how he had the effort tonight.”

The match opened with a double forfeit at 107, followed by Williamson’s Zander Wilson (114), and Xander Stafford (121) both getting forfeits.

Comstock got NEB on the scoreboard with a 32 second fall over Kolton Putt for a 12-6 score.

At 133 Hunter Simonds would pin NEB’s Maddex Rooker in 1:21, then at 139 Williamson’s Kohen Vandelinder pinned William Chappell in 1:21 for a 24-6 lead.

NEB rallied with three straight wins, beginning with Alex Gomez racking up an 18-1 tech fall in 3:09 over Ryder Dacheux. 

Gomez led 9-0 after the first period, then used two near fall points, a takedown, and four more back points to get the tech during the second.

Eastabrook then pinned Williamson’s Memphis Brockway in 57 seconds to cut it to 24-17.

It was a scoreless first as Baker fought off a Howland blast double. Howland rode Baker for much of the second period, with Baker getting out with 15 seconds on the clock.

Howland tied it up early with an escape of his own to start the third. From there the two continued to size each other up.

During a scramble they both had chances to for the takedown, but it was Howland coming out on top with 31 seconds left. From there he held Baker down for the decision to cut it to 24-20.

Williamson’s Steven Olson ended that run as he scored a 17-2 tech fall over NEB’s Russell Martin in 1:48, with Martin wrestling up two weight classes.

Kolesar got the Panthers back rolling again with a fall over Riley All in 3:51 for a 29-26 score.

Ellis then gave them a brief lead thanks to his 17-7 major decision over Harlow Little. Little led 4-2, but Ellis picked up and put him to his back for a quick seven points to take a 9-4 lead after the first period.

Ellis got a takedown in the second, then followed that up with four near fall points for a 16-4 lead.

In the third Ellis made it 17-4 with an escape. As he looked for the tech Little came back with a takedown for the 10-point different.

NEB went up 30-29 but at 285 Williamson’s Luke Sottolano took the forfeit to give the Warriors the win. It was Sottolano’s 100th career win.

NEB (9-3) travels to Central Columbia on Tuesday.

WILLIAMSON 35, NEB 30
107: Double Forfeit
114: Zander Wilson (W) fft
121: Xander Stafford (W) fft
127: Hunter Comstock (N) fall Kolton Putt, :32
133: Hunter Simonds (W) fall Maddex Rooker, 1:21
139: Kohen Vandelinder (W) fall William Chappell, 1:21
145: Alex Gomez (N) tech. Ryder Dacheux, 18-1, 3:09
152: Connor Eastabrook (N) fall Memphis Brockway, :57
160: Kale Howland (N) dec. Anthony Baker, 4-1
172: Steven Olson (W) tech. Russell Martin, 17-2, 1:48
189: Asher Kolesar (N) fall Riley Rall, 3:51
215: Ben Ellis (N) maj. Harlow Little, 17-7
285: Luke Sottolano (W) fft

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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