Abbey, Sylvester Lead Wrestling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 14, 2003

Abbey, Sylvester Lead Wrestling

Lopers Have Nine in Top Six

Kearney, NE – The 8^th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team placed nine individuals in the top six in its own UNK Runza Loper Open Saturday at the Health & Sports Center. The annual non-team scoring event attracted 11 teams from four different states.

Bryce Abbey was tabbed as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament. For the third time this year, Kansas junior Bryce Abbey (125 lbs.) and Lyman sophomore Jeff Sylvester (197 lbs.) each won their respective weight classes. Abbey was tabbed as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament, an award he shared last year with teammate Frank Kuchera.

North Platte junior Jered Jorgensen was runner up at heavyweight and was one of three Lopers to place in that weight class. Fremont junior Aaron Dalton (174 lbs.), in his first action of the year, and McCook freshman Nate Reicks (HWT) each placed fourth with David City senior Donnie Moravec (HWT) and Wyoming true freshman Zach Malcolm (184 lbs.) finishing fifth.

Finally, Pennsylvania senior Jeremy Kirk (149 lbs.) and Oklahoma true freshman Caleb Young (174 lbs.) were sixth.

Abbey, the nation’s second ranked wrestler at 125 lbs., went 4-0 on the day. He reached the finals thanks to a fall, major decision and a tech fall. He beat UNO’s Dustin Tovar, 7-2, in the finals to move to 16-1 on the year.

Sylvester, ranked sixth in the country, continued to dominate the opposition as he had two pins and one tech fall en route to a 4-0 day. In the semifinals, he beat Ben Strandberg of UNO, 7-2. Slyvester then pinned Wynn Fangmeier of Dana at the 3:43 mark to claim the title. The Morrill graduate is 15-1 on the year with a team-high 11 pins.

Jeff Rusher of Chadron State, ranked 2^nd in the nation at 197 lbs., was upset in the first round but came back to finish third.

Dalton, ranked sixth in the country at 165 lbs., wrestled up a weight class as he has been out with a broken hand. He went 3-2 on the day and lost by just one point in the third place bout.

UNK competes against at the Nebraska Duals December 22^nd in Lincoln.