Kearney, Neb. – The fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team easily got past Newberry (S.C.) College, 47-3, to place third at the 2022 U.S. Marine Corps/NWCA Multi-Division National Duals Friday evening in Louisville, Ky.

The two-day, double elimination tournament featured brackets in NCAA Divisions II & and III, the NAIA and junior college ranks.

UNK (5-2) was hoping to win this event for a third time (2003 and 2007). However, the Lopers fell to second-ranked and defending national champion St. Cloud State, 19-14, in one semifinal match. The Huskies (8-1) went on to lose to top-ranked and top-seeded Central Oklahoma in the finals by the same score.  

Against the unranked Wolves, who upset both McKendree (Ill.) and Upper Iowa on Thursday, the Lopers used three tech falls, two falls, two majors and two forfeits to move to 2-3 all-time against the school from Newberry, S.C.

Lincoln veteran Wesley Dawkins (133 lbs.) had a fall in just 1:19, Kearney native Lee Herrington (285 lbs.) stuck his Wolf foe in 4:09 with second-ranked Matt Malcom (165 lbs.) recording his fifth tech fall in his last six matches, 20-2. That tally featured 12-near fall points, three takedowns and a reversal.

The back-and-forth dual with St. Cloud saw the Huskies win the last two matches to advance. Second-ranked Noah Ryan (197 lbs.) used a third-period takedown and riding time to slip past senior Hayden Prince (Goose Creek S.C.) by a 6-5 score. Prince tallied three points in the final 14 seconds but riding time was the deciding factor. Defending national champion Kameron Teacher (285 lbs.) then iced things with a 14-4 major decision. To start the day, 11th-ranked Paxton Creese used a third-period takedown and riding time to edge sixth-ranked Josh Portillo (125 lbs.) by a 5-3 count.

Both teams didn't use nationally-ranked individuals; SCSU's Garret Vos (3rd/133 lbs.) and Colby Njos (2nd/157 lbs.) and UNK's Billy Higgins (11th/ 174 lbs.). The Lopers saw Malcom (10-1) and Dawkins (8-0) have major decisions with 10th-ranked Austin Eldredge (McPherson, Kan.) beating 12th-ranked Billy Pitzner, 6-5, at 184 pounds thanks to a four-point near fall to start the final period. This marked the Huskies 77th straight dual win, a new D2 record.

UNK hosts Grand View (Ia.) next Saturday at the Health & Sports Center. The Vikings placed first in the NAIA bracket this weekend and have won nine of the last 10 NAIA national titles.