Kearney, Neb. – The 2nd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team placed nine individuals in the top six at the 3rd Annual UNK Holiday Inn Open Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.
 
The non-team scoring event drew over 400 wrestlers with the field being divided into "Elite" and "Amateur" Divisions. Complete results are available at www.trackwrestling.com. UNK's results are HERE
 
In the Elite bracket, 8th-ranked Mark Fiala (Seward) was fourth at 184 lbs. with junior Matt Oliver (Auburn) sixth at 165 lbs. and sophomore Connor Bolling (Central City) fifth at 125 lbs.
 
True freshmen Ivan DeLeon (285 lbs.) and Hunter Bamford (133 lbs.) had UNK's best efforts of the day, each finishing third. Bamford bested teammate Ryan Bauer (Kearney H.S.) in the third place match with true freshman D'Andre Brumfield fourth at 125 lbs.
 
Finally, Grand Island sophomore Andrew Riedy was fifth at 141 lbs. and Chadron true freshman Chance Bila was sixth at 174 lbs.
 
Fiala reached the 184 lbs. semifinals thanks to a 6-4 sudden victory decision over Igor Gomzin of New Mexico Highlands. After falling by two points to Air Force's Devin Hightower, Fiala needed less than three minutes to pin York's Quentin Becker.
 
In the third place bout, 5th-ranked Kyle Piatt of Western State managed a 4-3 win over Fiala.
 
Bolling won four times on the day, including a fall in 6:05 and an 8-6 sudden victory decision over Tim Peskar of Midland. A few classes high, Oliver used a 7-3 win over Nebraska's Ian Ousely to come in sixth at 165 lbs.
 
Brumfield (Dallas) had the busiest day of any Loper, winning six straight times in the Amateur 125 lbs. bracket. The victories included a teach fall, 15-4 major decision and a 7-3 decision over Air Force's Cassidy Oshiro.
 
At a class higher, Bamford reached the semis thanks to two falls and a 2-0 sudden victory decision. However, the tables turned as Hunter Neighbors of Central Missouri beat Bamford, 4-2, in extra time.
 
Bamford bounced back to win his last two matches, including a 5-1 decision of Bauer. He had reached the semis as well, thanks to two falls and a major.
 
DeLeon (Katy, Texas) used some bonus point wins as well to reach the 285 lbs. semifinals. He pinned his first two opponents in less than 2:30 and then majored Eric Draper of Morningside, 15-2.  

After a 3-1 loss to the massive Mike Lowman of Augustana, DeLeon majored an Air Force Falcon and pinned a Chadron Eagle to finish third.
 
Finally, Riedy (Grand Island H.S.) won four times, two by fall, at 141 lbs.  with Bila (Chadron) reaching the 174 lbs. semifinals.
 
UNK is off until the first week of December.