Kearney, Neb. - The third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team had five tech falls to shut out Fort Hays State, 40-0, Friday night in Kansas.

The Lopers finish the regular season 11-4 (3-1) and are now off until February 26 when NCAA Regoinals take place around the country.

Redshirt Junior Austin Eldredge (McPherson, Kan.) and super senior Matt Malcom (Glenwood, Ia.) came into the week ranked 1-2 in tech falls in D2 with 11 and nine, respectively, and didn't waste time adding to their total. Eldredge recorded his seventh straight tech fall at his new weight of 174 pounds with a 16-0 (3:36) effort while Malcom got past Cody Hicks by the same score in only 2:29.

Nationally-ranked Josh Portillo (125 lbs.), Wesley Dawkins (133 lbs.) and Sam Turner (141 lbs.) won by scores of 15-0, 18-0 and 16-0. Next, sophomore Billy Higgins got past eighth-ranked Martin Verhaeghe, 3-1, at 184 pounds thanks to first period takedown with 11th-ranked Hayden Prince (197 lbs.) blanking 12th-ranked Tereus Henry, 7-0, via two takedowns, a reversal and riding time. Finally, seventh-ranked Lee Herrington (285 lbs.) used an early takedown to edge fellow 2021 All-American AJ Cooper, 3-1.