Story by NU Athletic Communications
The 22nd-ranked Western Colorado Mountaineers won the tie breaker to get past the Nebraska Kearney “B” team, 22-21, Thursday night in Gunnison.
This was the regular season opener for UNK. It’s a busy weekend for the Lopers as the 18th-ranked varsity is in California to dual San Francisco State (Sat.) and Division I Stanford (Sun.) with younger team members headed to Mitchell, S.D., Saturday for the Dakota Wesleyan Open.
To edge the Lopers, WCU (1-1) scored more points in matches not decided by fall (two), 61-59. Each team also had a tech fall and each won five matches.
UNK tied things up at 20 after redshirt sophomore heavyweight Jake Boley (Colorado Springs) stuck Tommy Tatham in 1:26 and redshirt freshman Tre Daro (David City) had four points in the third period to win at 197 pounds, 11-8.
The Lopers got out to an 11-3 lead as redshirt sophomores Bishop Murray (Topeka, Kan.) and Brody Arrants (Grand Island) had wins by decision with redshirt sophomore Daniel DeRosier (Bellevue East) racking up nine third period points to have a 16-0 tech fall in 6:39.
The Mountaineers moved ahead 20-14 after getting wins from nationally-ranked Patrick Allis (133 1bs.) and Cole Hernandez (174 lbs.) with Ryan Wilson (157 lbs.) and Cole Gray (184 lbs.) rallying from first period deficits to win by decision.