Kearney, Neb. – The 4th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team capped off an undefeated conference dual season by beating 15th-ranked Fort Hays State, 19-12, Wednesday night in Kansas.

Earlier in the day, UNK (11-3, 7-0 RMAC) beat 7th-ranked Grand Canyon, 25-9. Since 2000, the Lopers now have a 72-11 mark in RMAC duals.

After junior Stephen Weimer (Clovis, Calif.) started the Hays dual with a 7-3 decision at 133 lbs., top-ranked Dalton Jensen (Missouri Valley, Iowa) won by the same score over seventh-ranked, and Nebraska transfer, CJ Napier.

The 7-3 score in favor of the Lopers continued as third-ranked junior Raufeon Stots (Houston, Texas) beat second-ranked Mitchell Means by four points at 149 lbs. This marks Stots third win over Means this season.

Of note, second-ranked Joey Wilson (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) needed overtime, and riding time, to slip past 25-match winner Sam Thoman, 4-3, at 165 lbs. while senior Ross Brunkhardt (Merino, Colo.) saw his four-match win streak snapped by top-ranked Walker Clarke, 3-2, at 184 lbs.

Against the GCU 'Lopes, UNK won seven weight classes with five of the wins coming by decision and by a total of nine points. Jensen and senior T.J. Hepburn (East Hampton, Conn.) tallied bonus point wins to put the Lopers up 19-0.

At 285 lbs., redshirt freshman Kevin Barrett (Boys Town H.S.) recorded his signature win of the season thanks to a 3-1 decision over 3rd-ranked Jordan Johnson. A transfer from Iowa, Johnson came in with a 27-2 mark.

Stots also beat a Division I transfer as he got past 8th-ranked Bobby Ward by a 5-3 score. Ward, who began his career at North Carolina State, drops to 29-6.

Finally,  Brunkhardt won 3-1 at 184 lbs. over Brett Sanchez. This marked Brunkhardt's fourth straight win and fourth straight match in which he scored exactly three points. 

Of historical note, Hepburn now has 110 wins as a Loper, moving him into sole possesion of ninth place. He was tied with Justin Willuweit (108) before winning twice on Wednesday.

UNK returns to Gross Memorial Coliseum next weekend for the RMAC Championships/NCAA West Region