Kearney, Neb. – The Gold team won the last five matches to beat the Blue, 39-23, as the 2nd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team began the 2013-14 season Saturday evening in Cushing Coliseum.
 
The intrasquad dual featured 16 matches and the majority were decided by decisions.
 
Down 23-16, the Gold's winning streak began when sophomore Ryan Bauer defeated fellow Kearney High alum Hunter Bamford, 3-1, at 133 lbs.
 
Schuyler sophomore Klay Kasik followed with a 7-2 decision at 149 lbs. and then then Gold team got falls by sophomore Colton Johnson (Burke, S.D.) and seniors Mark Fiala (Seward) and Patrick Martinez (Hemet, Calif.) to win going away.
 
In the preseason national rankings, Fiala is eighth at 184 lbs. and Martinez is fourth at 174 lbs. Among other Loper veterans, fourth-ranked Chase White (Lincoln) posted a 7-4 over Johnson at 157 lbs. and Omaha junior Matt Lenagh won by fall at 184 lbs.
 
UNK starts the regular season next Saturday at the Wyoming Cowboy Open in Laramie.