January 17, 2004

Wrestling Splits on Day One

Lopers Fall to UCO, Beat SDSU

            Kearney, NE – On the first day of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cleveland, Ohio, the 11^th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team (2-6) fell to second-ranked Central Oklahoma (8-1), 26-15, this morning and then beat South Dakota State, 24-15, this afternoon.

            UNK will wrestle two teams tomorrow. Opponents and times are yet to be determined.

            Early today, UNK and UCO each won five matches but the Bronchos had three pins and a major decision among its victories while the Lopers wins all came by decision.

             UNK won four of the first five matches, including at upset at 149 lbs. At that class, Pennsylvania senior Jeremy Kirk beat sixth-ranked Jerod Goodwin, 8-4, to give the Lopers a 9-4 lead. 

            UCO's come back started at 165 lbs. when top ranked Shawn Silvis won by major decision over sixth ranked Aaron Dalton, 10-2, and then third ranked Jason Tapia got a pin at 174 lbs. Another pin at 184 lbs. pushed the Brochos lead to 20-12.

            Lyman sophomore Jeff Sylvester, the nation's sixth ranked wrestler at 197 lbs., kept the Lopers in the dual as he upset third ranked Kevin Locher, 6-5. However, UCO sealed the dual win with a pin at heavyweight.

            Against the Jackrabbits, UNK got out to a 12-0 lead thanks to wins by Kansas junior Bryce Abbey (125 lbs, Lincoln freshman Joe Ellenberger (141 lbs.) and a pin by seventh ranked Adam Keiswetter (133 lbs.).

            However, SDSU won the next three weight classes, including one pin, to tie things up. The teams traded wins at 174 and 184 lbs. and that setup a pivotal match at 197 lbs.

            Sylvester edged 4^th-ranked Tim Boldt, 2-0, to give UNK a three point lead and then North Platte junior heavyweight Jered Jorgenson then finished the 'Rabbits off with a pin.