Kearney, Neb. – The eighth ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team picked up four wins in the Lone Star Duals by beating Newman University of Kansas, 28-12, Texas A& M, 45-6, Marion Military of Alabama, 37-6, and Ouachita Baptist University of Arkansas, 26-22.
Nebraska-Kearney improves to 6-2 on the season in duals.
Newman University Dual:
Nebraska Kearney 125 pound junior Jordan White (Lincoln) would score the first points of the dual by getting 7-1 decision over Jarod Stephenson.
After White's win the Lopers would win the next six of eight matches, by getting three decisions, major decision, and pin, to win the dual 28-12. Neither team had 133 pound wrestler make weight.
In three meeting now Nebraska Kearney has outscored Newman, 123-14.
Texas A& M Dual:
The Lopers made quick work of the Aggies in their second dual by winning all but one match. Just like in the dual with Newman there was no match at 133 pounds.
UNK got three victories via pin by 157 pound junior Bruce Zurek (Comstock), fifth ranked 165 pound junior Joey Wilson (Half Moon Bay, CA), and by third ranked 285 pound senior Ben Hohensee (Monett, MO).
Second ranked 149 pound junior T.J. Hepburn (East Hampton, Conn.) got a major decision against Ryan Garner, and 184 pound sophomore Ross Brunkhardt (Merino, Colo.) won his bout by tech fall against Austin Whatley.
Marion Military Dual:
UNK picked up its third dual win by getting four major decisions, tech fall, and pin to beat a junior college from Alabama.
Marion Military got its only points of the dual at 133 pounds via forfeit by Nebraska Kearney.
White picked up his fist major decision of the year in a win over Jordan Goodwin, while 149 pound junior Dalton Jensen (Missouri Valley, IA) picked up is first tech fall of the season against Michael Giorgio 22-3.
Ouachita Baptist Dual:
After back to back easy wins against Texas A& M and Marion Military, UNK won a tough battle against Ouachita Baptist, a first-year Division II program.
OBU scored the first nine points of the dual at 125 and 133 pounds on a decision and forfeit.
UNK would pick up key bonus points by getting back to back pins from Jensen at 141 pounds and Hepburn at 149 pounds to take small 12-9 lead over OBU.
The Lopers and the Tigers would split the last six matches of the dual 3-3.
The Tigers won matches at 157 pounds on a pin by Bobby Williams with 4:16 into the bout against Zurek to grab 15-12 lead.
UNK would get there first of three wins at 165 pound on a major decision by Wilson over Jake Simpson 12-3, to take back the lead 16-15.
Ouachita Baptist 174 pounder Aaron Butler got 9-7 decision over Drew Comito to take the lead again 18-16.
Nebraska Kearney got another major decision and bonus point from 184 pounder Brunkhardt over CJ Hays, 12-2, to lead 20-18, heading into the 197 pound bout.
OBU got there last win and lead from their 197 pounder Gabe Musser majored Mike Swanson, 9-0,to lead 22-20.
Final match of the dual would come down to Hohensee and Taylor Poe. Hohensee would make Poe, his fourth pin of the season in 2:59 minutes to win the match and dual for the Lopers by the score of 26-22.
On the day five grapples went 4-0 in the dual, they where Jensen, Hepburn, Wilson, Brunkhardt, and Hohensee, while White and Comito went 3-1 for the dual.
Nebraska-Kearney wrestles at Chadron State College on Thursday night.
