Kearney, Neb. – The third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team had three easy wins on the second day of the eighth annual Midwest Duals Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

On Friday a team of Loper reserves went 2-1 against NAIA and junior college competition. Today UNK's varsity dominated Western Colorado (32-9), Northwest Kansas Tech (56-0) and New Mexico Highlands (45-6) to improve to 11-5 on the season. ?

While the WCU Mountaineers pulled a couple of early upsets the Lopers won seven of the final eight classes to stroll to victory. They included back-to-back tech falls by Delaware graduate transfer Anthony Mancini (184 lbs.) and Illinois redshirt sophomore Andrew Demos (197 lbs.), a first period fall by second-ranked and Iowa junior Matt Malcom (165 lbs.) and a 3-0 decision by Colorado junior Sam Turner (149 lbs.). This was Turner's first appearance in the Blue & Gold after being a starter at Wyoming in 2018 and 2019. He joined the UNK program earlier this month.

The Lopers were just four points from a perfect score against the overmatched Northwest Tech Huskies (Goodland, Kan.) as they had five falls, three forfeit wins, and two majors. Demos (1:10) had the quickest pin with Pennsylvania junior Jacob Wasser (157 lbs.) winning by a 17-4 count.

Finally the highlight win against the HU Cowboys came at 141 pounds where 11th-ranked Jonathan Killingsworth (Lincoln SE) got by 12th-ranked Jonathon Trujillo, 5-3, thanks to two takedowns. Mancini had tech fall with Malcom having one of UNK's three falls.

The Lopers host No. 6 Central Oklahoma next Saturday in the Health & Sports Center. First match is set for 2 p.m.