May 19, 2005

Six Join Wrestling

Three Nebraska Natives

            Kearney, Neb. –   Nebraska-Kearney head wrestling coach Marc Bauer announced today the names of five high school seniors and one junior college transfer who will join the Lopers next season.

            They are Kelsey Empting (Ponca City, Okla.), Ryan Etherton (Lincoln East), Cody Lambotte (Rossville, Kans.), Taylor May (Imperial/Tri-County HS), Jake Muirheid (Omaha Millard South) and Derek Ross (St. Francis, Kans.).

            These are the Lopers first recruits of the year.

            "We're looking forward to what this recruiting class can bring to our program. This group fills several big holes that will develop over the next couple years as upper classmen graduate," said Bauer. "This is a tremendous group of talented student-athletes that are a great fit for our program. We foresee them all making an immediate impact within our program and at the Division II level."

            Empting (197 lbs.) was a four-time state placer and a two-time state champion for Ponca City High. Ranked as high as third nationally by W.I.N. Magazine this year, Empting helped his team win the Class 5A state, and dual, titles this past winter.

            He is expected to redshirt as a freshman behind senior, and three-time All-American, Jeff Sylvester.

            Like Empting, Etherton (141 lbs.) was a four-time state placer and a two-time state champion. He won the Class A 103 lbs. title as a freshman and the 145 lbs. title as a senior. Etherton also helped East win three Class A state titles.

            Former Spartans already on the UNK roster include Keenan McCurdy (165 lbs.), Jeff Rutledge (133 lbs.) and Caleb Skiles (149/157 lbs.).

            Lambotte (149 lbs.) is a transfer from Labette Community College (Parsons, Kans.) and will have two years with the Lopers.

            While Lambotte just missed out on qualifying for this year's national junior college tournament, LBCC went on to win the national title.

            May (165 or 174 lbs.) was a four-time state placer for Tri-County, including two state titles.

            Thanks to a perfect senior season at 171 lbs., he is regarded as one of the top recruits out of Nebraska this year and has consistently been ranked in the top 20 nationally.

            Muirheid (125 lbs.) went 40-0 this past year, winning the Class A state title at 119 lbs. His first place finish helped the Patriots win its first-ever state title.

            As a junior, Muirheid was fourth at the state meet. UNK already has one Millard South grad, Joe Ellengerber (157 lbs.), on its roster.

            Finally, Ross (174 lbs.) placed third at the Kansas state championships three times.

            UNK has won five of the last six RMAC/West Region titles and has placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships six times since 1998.