UNK Wrestling: #3 Lopers Beat Top JUCO Squad

Kearney, Neb. – The third-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team used two falls and two tech falls to get past Fort Hays State Northwest Tech, 34-13, Friday night at Kearney High School.

This "Wrestling Night in Kearney" event, held several times over the years, features the Lopers wrestling alongside boys and now girls varsity teams from Kearney High.

The Tigers, formerly known as the Northwest Kansas Tech Mavericks, are the second-ranked team in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Their lineup includes the top-ranked individuals at both 174 and 184 pounds with the pair hailing from Mongolia and Cuba, respectively.

At 133 pounds, Kansas redshirt junior Hector Serratos rolled third-ranked John Kenney by a 17-1 count thanks to three takedowns and a total of seven near fall points. Two classes higher, Colorado redshirt junior Beau Hostler tallied four points in the second period to win by one with 14th-ranked Trenton Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) up 16-2 in his 165-pound match before recording a fall at 4:47. Next at 197 and 285 pounds, third-ranked Jackson Kinsella (Creston, Ia.) pinned his Tiger at 6:37 with top-ranked Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) having a 20-5 tech fall in an even 5:00. His night included four takedowns and six near fall points. Finally, the Lopers had three falls in four exhibition matches.  

UNK heads to Hays, Kan., Sunday for the annual Bob Smith Open.

#5 Nebraska Kearney 34, #2 Fort Hays State Northwest Tech 13