Kearney, Neb. – The top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team had an outstanding effort at Iowa State's Harold Nichols Open Saturday in Ames, placing eight in the top five.

As a team, UNK racked up 69 victories and had the third most falls (23) in the tournament behind the Cyclones (30) and Illinois (25). Complete results are available at www.trackwrestling.com.

Including the unattached Lopers, senior Raufeon Stots (Houston, Texas) was runner up at 149 lbs., junior Brock Coutu (Griswold, Conn.) was second at 141 lbs., sophomore Matt Lenagh (Millard North) was third at 184 lbs. and Connor Bolling (125 lbs.), Daniel DeShazer (133 lbs.), Mark Fiala (197 lbs.) and Travis Leiskau (165 lbs.) were each fourth in their respective weight class.

Finally, redshirt freshman Chase White (Lincoln) was fifth at 157 lbs.

Ranked number one nationally, Stots went 4-1, recording two majors and a fall to reach the championship bout. There, he fell to Iowa Central's Frank Cagnina, who began his career at Division I Lehigh.

Coutu also won four matches, beating wrestlers from Illinois and ISU in the process. The Illini's B.J. Futrell, ranked fourth nationally in Division I at 133 lbs., managed to pin Coutu in the first period to place first.  

Lenagh, ranked seventh nationally, reached the semifinals where he was beaten by ISU's Cole Shafer. He bounced back with two wins by decision, finishing 5-1.

White also reached the final four of his class and not only beat two Division I individuals but also upset seventh-ranked Jacob Horn of St. Cloud State, 13-3.

A true freshman from Houston, Leiskau won five times as well with both of his losses coming to Cyclones. Another first year Loper, Bolling (Central City) beat St. Cloud's Cody Paulsen in the quarters before suffering setbacks to wrestlers from Northern Iowa and ISU.

Next, DeShazer (Wichita, Kans.) picked up five wins and Fiala (Seward) had three falls and also beat Nebraska's Joe Zimmer, 3-1.

Finally, senior Chase Nelson (Wichita) went 3-0 at 165 lbs. and junior Tim Crocker (Kearney) went 4-2 at 141 lbs.
UNK hosts the 2nd Annual Holiday Inn Open next Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.