#4 Lopers Roll Past the #20 Mules, 33-9

Kearney, Neb. – The fourth-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team used two falls, two tech falls and two majors to roll past 21st-ranked Central Missouri, 33-9, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (8-6, 2-0) will continue MIAA action with duals at Newman and No. 5 Central Oklahoma next weekend. The Bronchos edged UNK, 22-14, at the Nationals in early January.

The match of the night came at 184 pounds where North Carolina senior Jacari Deal battled 12th-ranked Damon Ashworth. The eight-ranked Deal erased an early 3-0 hole by getting a takedown of his own in the first period. He then used a third period escape to force overtime at 5-5 and then had another takedown in sudden victory to post his fifth win of the semester. Deal's first win also came in extra time.

At 133 pounds the current MIAA Wrestler of the Week, Hector Serratos (Wichita), gave up an early takedown but, like Deal, rallied. He managed an escape, takedown and built-up riding time in the third period to win 6-3. Next, redshirt freshman Brady Collins (Wray, Colo.) had a first period takedown to blank Ayden Dolt, 5-0, with junior Trenton Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) racking up 10 second period points before a fall at 3:15. Finally, top-ranked Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) is now 19-0 after a 17-1 tech fall in 6:06.

Among four exhibition matches, redshirt freshman heavyweight Jack Allen (Aurora) pinned his Mule foe in 4:15 and sophomore Tate Kuchera (Basset) had a 9-1 major decision at 184 pounds.