February 9, 2005

 Wrestling Remains Third

Abbey, Sylvester Still No. 1

            Kearney, Neb. –  The Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team remains third in the latest national rankings.

            UNK beat No. 4 Central Oklahoma last week and then fell at No. 1 UNO.

            The Lopers received 142 points, seven behind new No. 2 Minnesota State-Mankato. UNO received 160 points and all eight first place votes.

            Augustana, one of UNK's two opponents Saturday in Chadron, fell from No. 2 to No. 4 with UCO dropping a spot to fifth.

            Augie has two top ranked individuals in Tom Meester (184 lbs.) and Ryan King (149 lbs.) and two more -- Aaron Graumann (125 lbs.) and Tim Boldt (197 lbs.) -- ranked second.

            Individually, senior Bryce Abbey (125  lbs.) and junior Jeff Sylvester (197 lbs.) remain No. 1 in their respective classes.

            Abbey (Goodland, Kans.) did get upset by UNO's Dustin Tovar on Saturday. Tovar is now No. 5^th in the nation.

            Sylvester (Lyman) got the Lopers only win at UNO and has been No. 1 at 197 lbs. all season long.

            Also retaining their ranking are Fremont senior Aaron Dalton (7^th/165 lbs.), Mitchell sophomore Matt True (6^th/141 lbs.) and Texas redshirt freshman Tervel Dlagnev (2^nd/HWT).

            Dlagnev needs just seven more wins to set a new UNK record for wins in a season. The record of 37 is currently held by Abbey and Frank Kuchera.

            Finally, Kearney senior Adam Keiswetter fell four spots to No. 6 at 133 lbs.

            UNK will meet Augustana at 5:00 p.m. Saturday and then go up against Chadron State at 7:00 p.m.