February 21, 2008

Wrestling Now Fourth in National Rankings

Six Lopers Ranked; RMAC Has 3 in Top 5

     Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team has slipped one spot to fifth in the latest Wrestling Coaches Association Division II Top 25 poll.

      Nebraska-Omaha (159 points) is the new No. 1 after beating Minnesota State, 32-7, in a dual. The MSU Mavericks (152) had been No. 1in the two previous polls.

      Also ahead of UNK (125) are Adams State (145) and Western State (135). Both the Grizzlies and Mountaineers recently beat the Lopers in duals. Western had been ranked fifth in the last poll.

      Individually, seniors Tervel Dlagnev (No. 1/Hwt.), Joe Ellenberger (No. 2/157 lbs.) and Jeff Rutledge (No. 3/141 lbs.), junior Keenan McCurdy (No. 8/165 lbs.) and sophomore Ryan Etherton (No. 6/149 lbs.) remain ranked and in the same spots they were in the last poll.

      Sophomore Marty Usman moves down one spot to fourth at 174 lbs. after losing to 2^nd-ranked Evan Copeland of Adams State and Jesse Feinsod of New Mexico Highlands. Feinsod goes from being unranked to third in the week's rankings. This weight class is led by another RMAC wrestler, Larry Wilbanks of Western State.

      UNK wrestles unranked Mary (N.D.) and Augustana tomorrow in Sioux Falls, S.D. The complete rankings are HERE.