January 15, 2004

Wrestling 11^th in Poll

Lopers to Face Central Oklahoma in National Duals

            Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team slipped three spots to 11^th in the latest top 25 poll, which was released last night.

            North Dakota State is still the nation’s top ranked team and is followed by Central Oklahoma, Pittsburgh-Johnstown, UNO and Western State. Other ranked RMAC teams include Adams State (7th), Fort Hays State (15th), Chadron State (19th) and San Francisco State (20th). 

            Individually, four Lopers are ranked. Kansas junior Bryce Abbey is still 2^nd at 125 lbs., Fremont junior Aaron Dalton (165 lbs.) and Lyman sophomore Jeff Sylvester (197 lbs.) remain 6th at their respective weigh class while Kearney junior Adam Keiswetter, out since late November with injury, is 7^th at 133 lbs.

            Also released yesterday was the first round pairings for the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals, held this weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. UNK (1-5, 0-1 RMAC), which won the duals last year by beating the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in successive duals, will face 2^nd-ranked, and two-time defending national champion, Central Oklahoma. That will begin Saturday at 10:00 a.m. CST.

            Last year, UNK shocked UCO, 21-19, in the semifinals. The Bronchos (7-1) got their revenge on the Lopers by winning, 21-13, later in the year in Cushing Coliseum. The two teams will also face each other later this year in Oklahoma.

            The National Duals website is www.nwcaonline.com/nationalduals.cfm