RR's Neri takes first in Oklahoma, first Ram to ever win Geary tourney

GEARY, Okla. — Even as an established program, Rams wrestling is still finding school firsts.

On Jan. 9-10, Rio Rancho wrestler Josiah Neri took home the gold in the 120-pound division of the 81st Geary Invitational Tournament, the first time a Ram has ever won at this event.

The weekend featured 28 teams, including top programs from Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. But in a sea of Great Plains talent, it was the Southwest kid who rose to the top.

“Just taking people down, putting legs in, and just trying to ride them out,” Neri said. “The semis and finals matches were close ones, but it's all about grit, trying to get out with the win.”

Neri went 4-0 on the weekend, earning 16 points for the Rams' 10th-place finish in a competitive field. His 5-2 championship victory over Cruz Enderle of Kansas City included a four-point third period, thanks to a reversal and nearfall, to come back and take the top of the podium.

An exciting weekend to make Rams history would leave many ecstatic, but for Neri, he keeps things cool, calm and collected.

“It's really week by week, but it's all about confidence and knowing that you are as good as you think you are,” Neri said. “Kind of waiting to take your shots and knowing that you can get it if you shoot for it.”

Heading into the second half of the season with still big tournaments on the table, Neri looks to use this win as momentum the rest of the way.

“I think it's (the season) been going pretty good. I think I could have wrestled better out in Reno,” Neri said. “But it's all about getting better and learning from mistakes. So I'm just going into this next half of the year with the same motivation, just trying to kind of get it done.”

Along with Neri, Jaxon Moralez also took a spot on the podium with a second-place finish in the 106-pound division. Mohammed Farah finished fourth in the 113, with Jacari Smith taking sixth in the 190 class.

Rio Rancho, as a team, may be on the cusp of hitting its stride. The Rams have had top-place individual finishes in several big-name tournaments, along with taking top-three spots as a team, such as their third-place finish at the Las Cruces Invite in December.

According to Neri, this is a team you should not sleep on.

“I think our team can make it big,” Neri said. “We got a lot of people that people aren't really looking out for, but they're on the come up, and I like to shout out Eli Archibeque, Jaxon Moralez and Mohammad Farah. I think they're coming for it all this year.”

Next up: a trip up to Colorado, where the Rams will compete in the “Top of the Rockies” tournament at Centaurs High School.

“I'm just really looking to push the pace on people (in Colorado),” Neri said. “Trying to pick my shots, find the right angles, it's just all about getting better while I'm out there.”

The tournament is set for Jan. 16-17 in Lafayette, Colorado.