UNK Wrestling: #2 Lopers Fall to #1 NAIA Grand View

The Grand View (Ia.) Vikings, the top-ranked team in the NAIA, won a series of close matches to get past second-ranked Nebraska Kearney, 21-13, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

Grand View moves to 11-0 while the Lopers fall to 9-3. From Des Moines, the Vikings have now taken four of the five all-time match ups with UNK

"Like any close dual, it's going to come down to a handful of one-exchange matches. That's what happened and it leaned their way today," said Loper head coach Dalton Jensen. "Same thing happened to us a couple of weeks ago against Central Oklahoma. Over the years, we've had duals like this go our way. Reflecting on our trip to St. Cloud State, we won eight of the 10 matches but took four of five of them in one exchange." ​

The day started when fourth-ranked Elijah Cater got a takedown in sudden victory to beat graduate Caleb Coyle (Bennington), 4-1, at 125-pounds. Next, second-ranked Gabe Gonzales gave GVU a 6-0 lead after having takedowns in each period to defeat 15th-ranked Zach Ourada (Omaha Skutt), 11-6. Tenth-ranked Joseph Airola (Ward, Colo.) managed a major decision at the next weight with redshirt sophomore Brady Collins (Wray, Colo.) using a takedown with 27 seconds left to win at 149 pounds, 3-2.

However, UNK's lead was short lived as the Vikings won the next five matches. That included top-ranked Cam Robinson holding off fourth-ranked Trenton Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) at 165 pounds, third-ranked Kris Ketchum managing a last second takedown to edge ninth-ranked Otgonbayar Batsuuri (Mongolia) and top-ranked Garavous Kouekabakilaho blanking top-ranked Jackson Kinsella (Creston, Ia.), 2-0, at 197 pounds.

"It was a good weekend to get in a lot of matches and have guys that typically don't see the (varsity) lineup step in and take advantage of the opportunity," said Jensen. "Today, facing a Grand View team is the test we need especially with UCO coming up again in a couple of weeks. It's all part of our plan and process and sometimes that plan and process mean you have to take losses now."

Finally, top-ranked Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) was up 1-0 over Dmarian Lopez before sticking him at 5:31 UNK is at the SportsPlex next Saturday with both the varsity and a team of reserves battling Western Colorado, Adams State and MIAA member Ouachita Baptist (Ark.).

"It'll be a good opportunity for 20 plus guys to compete here in Kearney," said Jensen. "And then will wrapup up our MIAA schedule and get ready for the postseason. It comes quickly."