March 9, 2004

Wrestling Looks to Continue National Success

Abbey, Sylvester to Contend for National Titles 

            Kearney, NE – The. Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team will send six individuals to the NCAA Division II Championships this Friday and Saturday in Mankato, Minn.

            Last year, UNK was national runner up, scoring 73.5 points. The Lopers also have three other top 10 finishes since 1998.

            First round pairings, done by a random drawing, have already been determined. Instead of seeding each weight class, this system basically pits a region champion vs. a fourth place finisher in a region, a region runner up vs. a third place finisher in a region etc.

            Three of UNK's qualifiers will take on individuals from Findlay of Ohio. The Lopers lost each of those classes when the Oilers beat UNK, 30-13, at the National Duals in January.

             At 197 lbs, Lyman sophomore Jeff Sylvester (30-6), ranked 2^nd nationally, will take on Findlay's Clint Sailsbury in round one. Sailsbury beat Sylvester, 13-11, in their only matchup this year. In December of 2002, Sylvester beat Sailsbury, 6-2, in Lincoln.  

            With two wins, Sylvester would most likely face No. 1 ranked Kevin Lochner of Central Oklahoma in the semifinals. The two split their two matches against each other this year.

            Fremont junior Aaron Dalton (13-13) will challenge 2^nd ranked Waylon Lowe of Findlay at 165 lbs. Lowe won the 149 lbs. national title last year, beating UNK's Brandon Pfizenmaier. Lowe beat Dalton, 8-1, earlier this year.

            The final Loper-Oiler clash will occur at 141 lbs. where Mitchell redshirt freshman Matt True (22-17) takes on second ranked Joey Simcoe. True lost to Simcoe at the National duals but by only a 5-1 score.

            Kearney junior Adam Keiswetter (133 lbs.) looks to repeat as an All-American but has the toughest draw of any Loper. Ranked 5^th nationally, he will face 8^th-ranked Mitch Waite of UNO in round one. Keiswetter pinned Waite at 3:42 back in February.

            He could then face the nation's 4^th ranked, and then top ranked individual, in the next two rounds.

            Junior Bryce Abbey (32-4) will look to earn All-American honors for the third time at 125 lbs. The 2^nd ranked Abbey will face unranked Jamie Thomas of Shippensburg, Pa., in round one.

            Of Abbey's four losses this year, three have come to No. 1 ranked Jared Haberman of Western State. The two wouldn't meet until the finals.

            Also, true freshman Caleb Young (20-22), of Perry, Okla., will take on sixth ranked Jason Radtke of Gannon, Pa.