Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team is ranked second in the first edition of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Top 25.

The rankings are determined by a panel of head coaches from around the country. The majority of D2 programs won't compete until January 2021 but the Lopers did pick up a pair of dual wins over Western Colorado and Colorado Mesa in early December. Those results factored into the current team and individual rankings.

UNK (90 points) sits only behind two-time defending national champion St. Cloud State (108) with Central Oklahoma (80), Lindenwood (65), and McKendree, Ill. (55) rounding out the top five.

Going 2-0 in those duals were Lincoln senior Wesley Dawkins (2nd/133 lbs.), Iowa senior Matt Malcom (1st/165 lbs.), Kansas junior Terrell Garraway (4th/174 lbs.), and Seward redshirt freshman Joseph Reimers (10th/197 lbs.). Dawkins competed at 141 pounds but will drop down a class second semester.

Also ranked in their weight class are Iowa senior Josh Portillo (1st/125 lbs.), Lincoln senior Jonathan Killingsworth (6th/141 lbs.), Colorado senior Sam Turner (5th/149 lbs.), and Pennsylvania senior Jacob Wasser (9th/157 lbs.).

UNK is slated to compete again on Sunday, January 10th, at Iowa State.