Kearney, Neb. – The 3rd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team sent 15 individuals to the Fort Hays State/Bob Smith Open Saturday in Kansas.
 
Four Lopers cracked the top four in eighth-ranked Mark Fiala (3rd/184 lbs.), sophomore Connor Bolling (2nd/125 lbs.) and true freshmen Hunter Bamford (3rd/133 lbs.) and Ivan DeLeon (2nd/285 lbs.).
 
In the non-team scoring tournament, Bolling (Central City) went 3-0 to reach the 125 lbs. finals. Along the way, he recorded a 21-6 tech fall of a Central Oklahoma Broncho and a 4-0 decision of an Oklahoma State Cowboy.
 
Freshman Eli Hale of Oklahoma State nipped Bolling by a 6-5 score to place first.
 
Bamford (Kearney H.S.) went 4-1 on the day, having a fall in 3:12, an 8-0 major decision and a 12-6 decision in the third place match over 2013 All-American Jerry Huff of Adams State.
 
Huff currently is ranked No.1 in Division II at 125 lbs. He has wrestled up a class in the last few tournaments.
 
Next, Fiala (Seward) went 2-0 before losing to OSU's Nolan Boyd in the 184 lbs. semifinals. After pinning Bethany's Trevor Whittaker at 2:58, Fiala defeated Igor Gomzin of New Mexico highlands, 4-2, to finish third.
 
At the UNK Holiday Inn Open in November Fiala beat Gomzin, 6-4, in sudden victory.
 
Continuing to impress, DeLeon (Katy, Texas) had three close wins – 2-1 in OT, 3-2 and 2-1 – to reach the heavyweight finals. There, he lost to Fort Hays State junior Jack Page.

On the young season, DeLeon has a team-best 18 wins.
 
Finally, Wyoming junior Leandro Arias was the busiest Loper, winning five straight matches, four by fall, before losing to Max Ortega of Adams in the 149 lbs. consolation seventh round.
 
To close out the first semester, UNK heads to the York College Open next Saturday.