Kearney, Neb. – The fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team, using a make shift lineup, lost a series of closes matches to fall 25-6 at sixth-ranked Central Oklahoma Thursday night in Edmond, Okla.
 
The Loper (4-3) had won three straight over the Bronchos (4-3), including a 31-6 decision two years ago in Edmond.
 
Wrestling its fourth dual in two days, and its eighth dual in less than a week, UNK held out top-ranked Dalton Jensen (Missouri Valley, Ia.) at 141 lbs., second-ranked Joey Wilson (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) at 165 lbs. and eighth-ranked Mark Fiala (Seward) at 174 lbs.
 
In addition, redshirt freshman heavyweight Kevin Barrett (Boys Town) didn't make this road trip due to injury.
 
Despite all that, UNK loss two matches in overtime and five others by a total of seven points. To see complete results and a play by play of each match, click HERE.
 
Picking up wins for the Lopers was second-ranked Raufeon Stots (Houston, Texas) at 149 lbs. and second-ranked T.J. Hepburn (East Hampton, Conn.) at 157 lbs.
 
Heburn, now on a 10-match win streak, slipped past fourth-ranked Cody Dauphin by a 5-3 score thanks to takedowns in the second and third periods. Stots (17-4) beat Ky Corley, 8-6, as he had three takedowns in the second period.
 
Of note, seventh-ranked Stephen Weimer (Clovis, Calif.) fell to Oklahoma mid-year transfer Dustin Reed, 64, at 133 lbs. At 184 lbs., eighth-ranked Ross Brunkhardt (Merino, Colo.) lost 3-1 in sudden victory to second-ranked Tanner Keck with junior Nick Bauman (Broomfield, Colo.), despite wrestling up a class, falling 3-2 in overtime to Cody Dauphin at 285 lbs.
 
This Saturday, several Lopers will travel to Fremont to take part in Midland's open tournament. The varsity will not compete again until Sunday, January 22nd, at the Central Missouri Dual Jamboree.