Kearney, Neb. – The 9th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team had a good second session to sit in eighth place with 24 points after the first day of the NCAA Division II Championships in Omaha, Nebraska.

The two-day meet is being held at Sapp Fieldhouse on the University of Nebraska-Omaha campus.

During the Friday morning session the Lopers went 3-3 in round one, scoring three points and in a tie for 14th-place. The Lopers then went on to win seven matches in the evening session to record 21 team points and work their way up to six spots.

Host Nebraska-Omaha, with seven wrestlers in semifinals, has scored 57 points to have a commanding lead over St. Cloud State (32.5), Augustana, S.D. (29.5), and then a tie between Gannon of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin-Parkside (27.5).

Senior Marty Usman (Arlington, Texas), ranked first at 174 lbs., went 2-0 on to advance to the semifinals.

Sophomores Justin McKain (Sutherland) and T.J. Hepburn (East Hampton, CT.) lost opening round matches but each stayed alive by winning two consolation matches Friday night.

Regardless of what happens Saturday, UNK will finish the meet with five All-Americans.

Usman got by sixth ranked Ben Becker of Minnesota State Mankato, 9-2, and fifth ranked Aaron Denson of Nebraska-Omaha, 2-0. Improving to 42-1, Usman got an early takedown to beat Denson.

At 165 lbs., senior Taylor May (Imperial) picked up a win in the first round over third ranked Kyle Keane of Pitt-Johnstown, 4-2. May then wrestled second ranked Travis Eggers of Upper Iowa and lost 6-3. A flurry of activity late in the match gave Eggers the win. 

May wrestled Justin Grant of CSU-Pueblo in second round consolation and won 7-5. May previously beaten Grant 5-3 on February 10th.

At 184 lbs., senior Derek Ross (St. Francis, KS) beat his first round opponent, sixth ranked Jeff Havelka of Findlay (Ohio), 8-2. That allowed Ross to become the 12th Loper with 100 career wins.

Ross was then defeated, 5-2, by Shane Mallory of East Stroudsburg (Pa.). Ross picked up his second win of the day by defeating Brady Anderson of Mary (N.D.), 9-4.

Hepburn, who was ranked fourth at 149 lbs. coming into the meet, was pinned by Travis Elg of Minnesota State Mankato in a time of 5:51. Hepburn was ahead 4-1 at the time of the fall.

Hepburn bounced back to pin Ryan McIntyre of Pitt-Johnstown in 4:34 and then decisioned eighth ranked Latta Collick of Newberry (S.C.), 5-2.

McKain (197 lbs.) lost in the first round to eighth ranked Shane Nolan of UNC-Pembroke, 3-2. After the win over Diem, he upset sixth ranked Lucas Munkelwitz of St. Could State 5-4 in double OT. 

Finally, at 133 lbs. senior Joey Morrison (Lincoln) was pinned by second ranked Cody Garcia of UNO in 42 seconds.  Garcia recorded a tech fall in a previous meeting with Morrison this season.

In first round consolation, Morrison wrestled fourth ranked Sheridan Moran of Newbery (S.C.). Moran picked up the 6-5 decision over Morrison.

Morrison finishes the season with 32-14 record and 14 pins.