January 20, 2005
Abbey on Verge of Milestone
All-Time Leader in Wrestling Wins
Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney senior wrestler Bryce Abbey should enter his name into the Loper record books this weekend.
The native of Goodland, Kans., needs just three wins to become UNK's all-time leader in career victories.
Competing at 125 lbs. throughout his career, with occasional stops at 133 lbs., Abbey is 19-7 this year after going 100-26 over his first three seasons.
Ali Elias, UNK's only four-time All-American, won 121 matches at 150 lbs. from 1989-93.
UNK, ranked fourth nationally, is competing in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Friday and Saturday. The Lopers are guaranteed at least two duals and could have as many as four.
Abbey, a three-time All-American, has been ranked No. 2 in the nation all year long and could get the record in style. More then likely, UNK will face No. 1 ranked UNO in the semifinals.
If Abbey picks up two wins in the first two duals, it'll be a showdown between him and UNO's top ranked Dustin Tovar in the semifinals.
Last March in the NCAA Championships, Tovar upset Abbey, 8-6, in the second round. The two were slated to meet each other in the UNK Open in December but Tovar lost to Loper sophomore Trevor Charbonneau in the semifinals.
This winter, Abbey has wrestled a bit more at 133 lbs. due to injuries in the UNK lineup. Also, six of his seven setbacks have come against Division I individuals.
Below is what Abbey has done in his UNK career.
Year Record (Pins) Notes
2001 32-9 (6) Finished 4th at the NCAA's; RMAC/Region Freshman of the Year
2002 31-12 (2) Finished 3rd at the NCAA's;
2003 37-5 (10) Finished 3rd at the NCAA's; tied UNK record for wins in a season
2004 19-7 (6) Six losses to Division I wrestlers; ranked 2nd nationally
Totals 119-33 (24)
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Contact:
Peter Yazvac
yazvacpa@unk.edu |