MIAA/Jordyn Bredenberg

UNK, with Six All-Americans, Leading Tight Race

3/13/2026 9:01:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The third-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team will have six All-Americans and leads after the first day of the 2026 NCAA Division II Championships in Sioux Falls.

The two-day meet started Friday (March 13) morning at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. The third session begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. with finals set for 7 p.m.

UNK didn't lead until the end of the day, and it's as tight as race as it has been in a long time; the Lopers (48.0), No. 7 Wisconsin-Parkside (46.5), No. 10 Lander, S.C. (44.5), No. 6 McKendree, Ill. (44.0) and No. 2 Central Oklahoma (43.5) all have reached 40 points with five others between 31-37. UNK, Parkside, Lander and McKendree all have four semifinalists with UCO and Grand Valley (Mich.) State at three apiece. UNK Wrestling at 2026 NCAA's

The Lopers had seven qualifiers and six will wrestle tomorrow with four in the semis. They are second-seeded Crew Howard (285 lbs.), third seed Otgonbayar Batsuuri (174 lbs.), fifth seed Trenton Munoz (165 lbs.) and fifth seed Joseph Airola (141 lbs.). Battling back Friday night to stay alive and now aiming for third are fourth seed Jackson Kinsella (197 lbs.) and fifth seed Kaden Hart (184 lbs.). Finally, ninth seed Zach Ourada (Omaha Skutt) won twice but bowed out at 133 lbs. after falling to two higher seeds.

Howard (Creston, Ia.), named the Tournament's Elite Scholar Athlete prior to the second session, easily reached the semis after two majors. He's won 20 in a row but now battles unbeaten and two-time Division I qualifier Zach Glazer of St. Cloud State. The one and four seeds remain on the other half of the bracket.

Airola (Ward, Colo.) and Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) needed late takedowns in the third period to both reach their respective semis. Last year at the NCAA's, Airola edged Colton Stoneking of Fairmont (W.V.) State by a 4-1 score and did again, winning 5-2 this time. Munoz got out of some early trouble, fought off a few more shots and then took down fourth seed Grant MacKay of top-ranked Gannon (Pa.) with a minute to go, 4-1. He'll face unbeaten and top seed Nolan Gessler of Tiffin (Ohio) while Airola battles unsung Ronan Schuelke of McKendree. He rallied from a 10-0 hole to tie up Johnny Lopez (San Francisco St.) in round one and then pinned him. Finally, Batsuuri (Mongolia) had three takedowns to take his quarterfinal match, 14-10, with unseeded Kydyn Lima of SFSU up next.

UNK Wrestling at 2026 NCAA's

Finally, Hart (St. Peters) ran into Central Missouri's Damon Ashworth in the quarters. Trying to avenge an 8-3 regular season loss and follow the lead set by Airola and Munoz, Hart needed a takedown in the third to break a 1-1 tie. However, Ashworth got one with 23 seconds left instead. Hart responded with a 15-0 tech fall to remain alive.

One class higher, Kinsella (Creston, Ia.) ran into a familiar foe as well in McKendree's Logan Kvien. He beat him 4-1 back in January but this time the fifth-seeded Kvien rode Kinsella the entire second period for a 1-0 lead. Kinsella almost returned the favor, but Kvien escaped with about 18 seconds left to win. Kinsella had another tough test in the consoles but won in overtime against another familiar face in St. Cloud's Tyson Myer, 4-1.

133 lbs. – 9th seed Zach Ourada (14-7) scored 2.5 team points

Prelim - Zach Ourada won by decision over Drew Stanfield (Central Missouri) 17-8 (Dec 8-1)
Champ. Round 1 - #5 James Joplin (Lander, S.C.) won by decision over Zach Ourada (Dec 10-6)
Cons Rd 1 - Zach Ourada won by tech fall over Elijah Carrington (Belmont Abbey, N.C.) (TF 6:00; 19-4)
Cons. Round 2 - #6 Jakob Romero (Adams State) won by decision over Zach Ourada (Dec 5-3)

141 lbs. – 5th seed Joseph Airola (16-4) has scored 8.0 team points

Champ. Round 1 - Joseph Airola won by decision over Joey Ortega (Kutztown, Pa.) (Dec 5-0)
Quarterfinal - Joseph Airola won by decision over #4 Colton Stoneking (Fairmont State, W.V.) (Dec 5-2)

165 lbs. – 5th seed Trenton Munoz (25-5) has scored 8.0 team points

Champ. Round 1 - Trenton Munoz won by decision over Kole Marko (Minnesota State) (Dec 6-1)
Quarterfinal - Trenton Munoz won by decision over #4 Grant MacKay (Gannon, Pa.) (Dec 4-1)

174 lbs. – 3rd seed Otgonbayar Batsuuri (19-7) has scored 8.0 team points

Champ. Round 1 - Otgonbayar Batsuuri won by decision over Cole Ritter (Maryville, Mo.) (Dec 9-3)
Quarterfinal - Otgonbayar Batsuuri won by decison over Emilio Arellano (Tiffin, Ohio) (Dec 14-10)

184 lbs. – 5th seed Kaden Hart (17-7) has scored 6.0 team points

Champ. Round 1 - Kaden Hart won by decision over Oliver Byerly (West Liberty, W.V.) (Dec 2-1)
Quarterfinal - #4 Damon Ashworth (Central Missouri) won by decision over Kaden Hart (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Kaden Hart won by tech fall over Cole Casilio (Kutztown, Pa.) (TF 7:00; 15-0)

197 lbs. – 4th seed Jackson Kinsella (20-6) has scored 5.5 team points

Champ. Round 1 - Jackson Kinsella won by major decision over Ethan Farnell (Indianapolis) (MD 12-4)
Quarterfinal – #5 Logan Kvien (McKendree, Ill.) won by decision over Jackson Kinsella (Dec 1-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Jackson Kinsella won in sudden victory over Tyson Meyer (St. Cloud State) (SV-1 4-1)

285 lbs. – 2nd seed Crew Howard (25-2) has scored 10.0 team points

Champ. Round 1 - Crew Howard won by major decision over Jake Powell (Tiffin, Ohio) (MD 15-1)
Quarterfinal - Crew Howard won by major decision over #7 Luke Tweeton (Mary, N.D.) (MD 8-0)

Print Friendly Version