UNK Wrestling: #4 Lopers Clipped by #1 Huskies, 20-19

Kearney, Neb. – The top-ranked St. Cloud State Huskies used a fall, two major decisions and an overtime victory to slip past fourth-ranked Nebraska Kearney, 20-19, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the first-even dual between the two schools on campus; the previous four meetings were at the National Duals. SCSU (10-0) has now taken all five match ups with the Lopers (7-6) heading to Minnesota next year.

“This (dual) is great for our sport. Good atmosphere, a lot of fans, a lot of great wrestling and some upsets,” said Loper head coach Dalton Jensen. “We are right there. In a dual, every match counts and we’re probably a little stronger tournament team. Missing Zach may have been the difference in this dual, but we want to get him healthy and keep everyone else healthy going down the stretch and heading into the postseason.”

Minus second-ranked Zach Ourada (Omaha Skutt) at 125 pounds due to injury, UNK still almost pulled the upset. However, second-ranked Dominic Murphy recorded a takedown with 10 seconds left in the first tie breaking period to edge fifth-ranked Jackson Kinsella (Creston, Ia.) at 197-pounds. 5-2. That made the team score 20-13. To start the dual, the Huskies recorded an 18-5 major, added a 51 second fall three classes later and picked up more bonus points after ninth-ranked Bryce Fitzpatrick posted a 10-2 major at 184-pounds.

“We pulled more upsets today and, overall, this dual rose our stock. I think (St. Cloud) is a team we’re going to have to beat to win a National Title. In those individual match ups, we may have to beat them in NCAA semifinals or finals so to see them in late January is important,” said Jensen.

At 197 pounds, both wrestlers had escapes in regulation with Kinsella adding one early in the first tie breaking period. However, Murphy got the key takedown and then Kinsella, starting in the neutral position, didn’t score over the final 30 seconds. Redshirt senior Jacobi Deal (Durham, N.C.) upset second-ranked Bryce Dagel at 174 pounds, 4-1, after getting a takedown at the 50-second mark of sudden victory. He had to fight off two shots in the third period to force extra time.

Next, redshirt junior Hector Serratos (Wichita) also pulled an upset as he majored eight-ranked Sam Spencer, 8-0, at 133-pounds. His day included two takedowns and nearly three minutes of riding time. At 165 pounds, redshirt junior Trenton Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) got past third-ranked Nick Novak, 5-3, by scoring the final five points. He also benefited from two video reviews, one giving him a penalty point and the other confirming it wasn’t an SCSU takedown. Finally, ninth-ranked Joseph Airola (Ward, Colo.) used an escape and 1:49 of riding time to blank 13th-ranked Aleyus Craig with top-ranked Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) moving to 17-0 after a fall at 6:08 of 5th-ranked La’Ron Parks. He was already up 4-0 at the time of the fall.

“Hector went out and shout out a ranked kid, Trenton beat a (2023) national champion and Jacobi got a win over a second-ranked guy. Big wins for them and a huge confidence boost,” said Jensen. “I’m pleased how we competed top to bottom. Our effort was great, and we rose to the challenge of competing against the best team in the country.”

UNK remains home as the Central Missouri Mules come to Buckle Court next Friday.