Wrestling | 11/11/2017 8:58:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The 20th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team used six bonus point wins to beat San Francisco State, 26-19, and Division I Fresno State, 19-17, Saturday afternoon in California.

These were the first two duals of the year for the Lopers.

To begin the day, UNK got a forfeit win at 125 pounds and a major decision by Kearney sophomore Trey Schlender at 197 pounds to edge the Bulldogs. Today was Fresno's first official action since dropping wrestling back in 2006.

Schlender racked up six near fall points in the first period to blast Richie Brandt, 9-0. While AJ Nevills scored three late points to slip past Maryland senior heavyweight Kevin Barrett 12-11, UNK picked up the next six team points as Broken Bow true freshman Clayton Glendy made weight to win at 125 pounds.

Juniors Isaac Deaton (184 lbs.) and Zach Stodden (174 lbs.) and sophomore Jonathan Killingsworth (141 lbs.) all won by decision to score the other nine points.

Against the host Gators, Schlender (16-0; 2:41) and Killingsworth (18-3; 5:28) made quick work of their opponents. Schlender had three four-point near falls in the opening period with Killingsworth having two. Finally, Deaton won by major decision (15-4) and Stodden won by forfeit.

At the Grand View Open in Des Moines, three of the six Lopers attending placed in the top four. Lincoln High graduate and redshirt freshman Wesley Dawkins won twice to place second at 133 pounds with Colorado sophomore Vladyslav Kazakov fourth at this weight. He won four times, twice by fall.

Several classes higher, Geneva sophomore Jarrod Hinrichs rebounded from an opening round loss to win five straight matches and finish third at 285 pounds. He had a fall at 6:32 in the consolation third round and then majored an Iowa State Cyclone.

Next Saturday, UNK hosts its annual open tournament at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.