Long But Productive Day at the Fairgrounds

11/21/2021 11:11:00 AM

Kearney, Neb. – The 2nd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team had 16 placers at the annual Younes Hospitality Open Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

The event is the largest college open tourney in the country, drawing over 600 wrestlers competing on 16 mats for nearly 12 hours.

UNK had 10 in the top six in the "Elite" Division and six more in the top six in the "Amateur" Division. Overall, 30 Lopers combined for 84 wins on the long day.

In the Elite bracket, placing first were super seniors Josh Portillo (125 lbs.) and Matt Malcom (165 lbs.) with redshirt junior Austin Eldredge (184 lbs.) second and sophomores Billy Higgins (174 lbs.) and Nick James (141 lbs.) both third. Next, junior Lee Herrington (285 lbs.) was fourth with senior Hayden Prince (197 lbs.) fifth. Finally, coming in sixth was senior Jonathan Killingsworth (141 lbs.) and juniors Jacobi Deal (174 lbs.) and Jacari Deal (184 lbs.).

True freshman Daniel DeRosier (133 lbs.) led the way in the Amateur bracket by coming in third. Placing fifth was freshmen Brody Arrants (149 lbs.) and Dylan Vodicka (184 lbs.) with first-year Lopers Tyler Collins (157 lbs.), Crew Howard (285 lbs.) and Bishop Murray (125 lbs.) each finishing sixth.

Portillo (Clarion, Ia.), ranked 10th in D2, went 4-0 in the tourney and allowed just four points. He defeated 16th-ranked Cody Fatzinger of Western Colorado, 6-2, in the finals. Malcom (Glenwood, Ia.) reached 100 career wins in his usual dominating fashion. Ranked second in the country, he had two falls, two tech falls and an 8-0 major to move to 6-0 on the year and get to 101 career victories as a Loper. One of his victims was 12th-ranked Hunter Mullin of WCU, 15-0. Not surprsingly Malcom was tabbed as the tourney's M.O.W.

Eldredge (McPherson, Kan.) had back-to-back 16-0 tech falls to start the day before getting past Martin Verhaeghe of Fort Hays, 9-6. In the finals he fell to Colorado Mines veteran Anderson Salisbury, 7-5. Eldredge is ranked fourth in D2, Salisbury seventh and Verhaeghe 13th. Two weights higher, Herrington (Kearney) rebounded from a first round loss to win five in a row which included three by fall. Finally in the Elite bracket, James (Kearney) won six times with Higgins (Omaha Skutt) going 4-1 with the loss coming in sudden victory.

DeRosier (Bellevue East) went 5-1 to place third at Amateur 133 lbs. bracket. He had two falls and a key 5-3 sudden victory decision over Dyson Kunz of D1 Northern Colorado. Next, Murray (Topeka, Kan.) had an 18-2 tech fall among his four wins at 125 pounds with Collins (Wray, Colo.) having five wins at 157 pounds, two by fall. Finally, Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) had two falls in less than 1:01 with Beau Hostler (Broomfield, Colo.) not placing at 149 lbs. but winning five times.

The Loper varsity heads to the D1-laden Cliff Keen Las Vegas Open in two weeks with the rest of the team headed to Crete for the Doane University Open.

Gallery: (11-11-2021) UNK Wrestling 2022 ** Younes Open

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