Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team finished in eighth place at the 34th Annual Virginia Duals Saturday in Hampton.
 
On Friday, UNK lost to 15th-ranked Virginia Tech and beat George Mason (Va.). After upsetting 22nd-ranked Bloomsburg (Pa.) this morning, the Lopers lost to Tennessee-Chattanooga, 24-12, and Arizona State, 32-6.
 
Kearney (5-3) was the only non-Division I team in the "National College" bracket this weekend. On Saturday night, the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers battled second-seeded Edinboro (Pa.) for first place in the tournament.
 
Against the UTC Mocs, a first period fall by senior Patrick Martinez (Hemet, Calif.) at 174 lbs. allowed the Lopers to trail by just three points, 15-12. However, Chattanooga managed to hold off UNK by winning the last three matches by a total of 10 points.
 
Sophomore John Lampe bested Seward senior Mark Fiala (184 lbs.) in overtime, freshman Scottie Boykin scored seven points in the third period to defeat sophomore Romero Cotton (197 lbs.) by three and freshman Dawson Peck scored all five points in the match to beat senior Kelsey Empting (285 lbs.).
 
In the seventh place match, the Sun Devils used a forfeit, fall and two major decisions to roll past UNK. Empting lost another tight battle, 2-1, with sophomore Connor Bolling (Central City) falling by just a 6-4 score at 125 lbs.
 
Junior Tyler Anderson (Clay Center, Kans.) had three takedowns and three near fall points to dominate junior Preston McCalmon at 149 lbs., 15-9, with Martinez having two reversals in a 10-6 win over junior Kevin Radford.  

Finally, Fiala took down 18th-ranked Blake Stauffer right off the bat but fell by three, 5-2.
 
UNK hosts the 1st Annual Midwest Duals next Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. The Lopers will face 3rd-ranked Central Oklahoma (9:00 a.m.), SW Minnesota State (11:00 a.m.), Northern State (2:00 p.m.) and D3 Wisconsin-Whitewater (4:00 p.m.).