Kearney, Neb. – The third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team had one of its most dominant performances in a major tournament as it scored 175.50 points to win Super Region VI Saturday night in Grand Junction, Colo.

This was national qualifying weekend in NCAA Division II. The top three finishers in each of 10 weight classes at six super regional sites (180 wrestlers total) advance to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis March 11-12.

After a long day, UNK totaled nine national qualifiers, eight champions, a second and fourth place finishers and a combined mark of 33-3. That included seven falls, 10 tech falls and four major decisions. The Lopers 175.50 points is a new program record, besting the 148.0 set two years ago, and allows the team to win this tournament for an 18th time and for a fourth year in a row. 

Finishing first were super seniors Josh Portillo (125 lbs.), Wesley Dawkins (133 lbs.) and Matt Malcom (165 lbs.), senior Hayden Prince (197 lbs.), redshirt juniors Austin Eldredge (174 lbs.) and Lee Herrington (285 lbs.), redshirt sophomore Nick James (141 lbs.) and sophomore Billy Higgins (184 lbs.). Coming in second was super senior Sam Turner (149 lbs.) with super senior Jacob Wasser fourth at 157 lbs. 

The impressive day saw James (Kearney H.S.) have four falls in 17:12, Eldredge (McPherson, Kan.) run his tech fall streak to 11 in a row with four in just 17:22, Malcom (Glenwood, Ia.) moving to a team-best 26-2, Prince (Goose Creek, SC) becoming a national qualifier in two different super regionals, Higgins (Omaha Skutt) earning his first D2 national bid and Herrington (Kearney H.S.), Dawkins (Lincoln H.S.), Turner (Colorado Springs) and Portillo (Clarion, Ia.) returning to the NCAA's once again. Finally, Wasser (Kintnersville, Pa.) ends an impressive career that saw him win over 80 matches and be a 2021 All-American.

Top-ranked Central Oklahoma (eight qualifiers), three-time defending champ St. Cloud State (seven qualifiers), 9th-ranked Augustana (eight qualifiers) and 19th-ranked Pittsburgh-Johnstown (eight qualifiers) will be among the top competitors for the National Championship.

NCAA DII Super Regional VI Results for Neb.-Kearney
125 lbs. - #7 Josh Portillo (18-5) placed 1st and scored 18.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Josh Portillo received a bye
• Quarterfinal - Josh Portillo won by tech fall over Quade Smith (Chadron St.) (TF-1.5 5:58 (20-3)
• Semifinal - Josh Portillo won by decision over Parker McBride (CSU Pueblo) (Dec 10-7)
• 1st Place Match - Josh Portillo won by fall over Cody Fatzinger (Western Colo.) (Fall 6:05)

133 lbs. - #2 Wesley Dawkins (12-1) placed 1st and scored 20.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Wesley Dawkins received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal - Wesley Dawkins won by fall over Kobe Lepe (Chadron St.) (Fall 1:29)
• Semifinal - Wesley Dawkins won by tech fall over Riley Prough (Simon Fraser) (TF-1.5 3:31 (16-0)
• 1st Place Match - Wesley Dawkins won by medical forfeit over #6 Jon Andreatta (Adams St.)

141 lbs. - #9 Nick James (19-8) placed 1st and scored 23.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Nick James won by fall over Isaac Garcia (N. M. Highlands) (Fall 4:58)
• Quarterfinal - Nick James won by fall over Randy McDonald (Simon Fraser) (Fall 2:41)
• Semifinal - Nick James won by fall over Grayston Diblasi (Colorado Mines) (Fall 5:37)
• 1st Place Match - Nick James won by fall over Ethan Leake (Chadron St.) (Fall 3:56)

149 lbs. - #2 Sam Turner (16-4) placed 2nd and scored 14.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Sam Turner received a bye
• Quarterfinal - Sam Turner won by tech fall over Josh Tolentino (San Fran St.) (TF-1.5 6:42 (17-2)
• Semifinal - Sam Turner won by decision over Jonathon Trujillo (N. M. Highlands) 13-5 (Dec 2-1)
• 1st Place Match - #4 Noah Hermosillo (Adams St.) won by decision over Sam Turner (Dec 3-2)

157 lbs. - Jacob Wasser (8-8) placed 4th and scored 12.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Wasser
• Quarterfinal - Mason Boutain (San Francisco St.) 16-6 won by fall over Jacob Wasser (Fall 6:45)
• Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Wasser won by tech fall over Dean Neff (Chadron St.) (TF-1.5 4:39 (16-0))
• Cons. Round 3 - Jacob Wasser won by decision over Ryan Wilson (Western Colo.) 12-15 (Dec 5-2)
• Cons. Semi - Jacob Wasser won by fall over Carter Noehre (Colorado Mines) 15-9 (Fall 0:43)
• 3rd Place Match - Mason Boutain (San Fran St.) won in SV-1 over Jacob Wasser (SV-1 3-1)

165 lbs. - Matt Malcom (26-2) placed 1st and scored 19.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Matt Malcom won by tech fall over Aaron Galef (SFSU) (TF-1.5 3:11 (15-0)
• Quarterfinal - Matt Malcom won by decision over Alexander Holguin (Colorado Mesa) (Dec 7-2)
• Semifinal - Matt Malcom won by TF over Magnus McCrackin (Simon Fraser) (TF-1.5 4:55 (18-0)
• 1st Place Match - Matt Malcom won by major decision over #12 Hunter Mullin (WCU) (MD 13-3)

 
174 lbs. - #1 Austin Eldredge (23-4) placed 1st and scored 21.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Austin Eldredge won by tech fall over Aidan Johnson (Hays) (TF-1.5 5:14 (16-0)
• Quarterfinal - Austin Eldredge won by tech over Patrik Leder (Simon Fraser) (TF-1.5 3:30 (16-0)
• Semifinal - Austin Eldredge won by tech fall over Ryan Fidel (Colorado Mines) (TF-1.5 5:00 (18-2)
• 1st Place Match - Austin Eldredge won by tech over Allen Michel (Highlands) (TF-1.5 3:38 (19-3)

184 lbs. - #7 Billy Higgins (17-6) placed 1st and scored 16.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Billy Higgins received a bye
• Quarterfinal - Billy Higgins won by major decision over Dominic Robles (CSU Pueblo) (MD 16-2)
• Semifinal - Billy Higgins won by decision over Nolan Krone (Colorado Mesa) (Dec 7-4)
• 1st Place Match - Billy Higgins won by decision over #9 Martin Verhaeghe (Hays) (Dec 5-2)

197 lbs. - #7 Hayden Prince (19-8) placed 1st and scored 16.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Hayden Prince won by decision over Eli Hinojosa (Chadron St.) (Dec 10-4)
• Quarterfinal - Hayden Prince won by major decision over Rick Feroce (Simon Fraser) (MD 15-3)
• Semifinal - Hayden Prince won by decision over Hunter Tobiasson (Adams St.) (Dec 4-2)
• 1st Place Match - Hayden Prince won by decision over #6 Donald Negus (Colo. Mesa) (Dec 6-2)

285 lbs. - #10 Lee Herrington (20-8) placed 1st and scored 15.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Lee Herrington received a bye
• Quarterfinal - Lee Herrington won by dec over Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser) (Dec 3-2)
• Semifinal - Lee Herrington won by decision over Mason Watt (Chadron St.) (Dec 6-1)
• 1st Place Match - Lee Herrington won by decision over AJ Cooper (Fort Hays) (Dec 4-2)