#2 Lopers Win Twice at UCM

 The second-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team beat 14th-ranked Central Missouri, 23-10, and Quachita (Ark.) Baptist, 49-0, Friday night in Warrensburg.

The Lopers improved to 13-2 (3-0 MIAA) and now get ready to host No. 1 ranked Central Oklahoma on "Senior Night" next Friday (Feb. 7) at Buckle Court.

Against a vastly improved Mules squad (7-5, 1-1), UNK won nationally ranked matches at 141 and 165 pounds. First, third-ranked Joseph Airola (Wray, Colo.) had five points in the first period and four more in the third to major 10th-ranked James Wright. Next, sixth-ranked Trenton Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) scored the final eight points to get past fifth-ranked Gage Bernall, 8-4. Finally, 15th-ranked Zach Ourada (Omaha Skutt) used a second period reversal to win 2-0 at 133-pounds with 4th-ranked Jackson Kinsella (Creston, Ia.) using a third period takedown to win 4-0 at 197 lbs.

An affiliate member of the MIAA in wrestling, Ouachita (pronounced waa-shee-tuh) couldn't make the trip to Kearney last weekend for a dual tournament. They were already set to dual the Mules tomorrow afternoon, so they added the Lopers to the slate. Tonight, they didn't wrestle their ranked individuals (133 and 285 lbs.). 

UNK fell just 11 points shy of a perfect score as they had two forfeits and eight bonus point wins. Graduate Daniel DeRosier (Bellevue East) had a major at 149 pounds with top-ranked Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) needing only 51 seconds to record another win and fall.