The UNK Wrestling team qualified all ten for nationals for the second time in school history to win Super Region VI in Colorado.
UNK, which has won five of the last six super regions, competed against a field that had six top 30 teams.
Coach Dalton Jensen said the team’s success is a testament to Kearney’s support for wrestling.
“This program means everything to this community, and we take pride in representing Kearney on the national stage,” Jensen said. “We’ve built a tradition of excellence, and this group of guys has worked hard to uphold that standard.”
To bring another trophy home, Jensen said the Lopers must stay disciplined and wrestle with intensity.
“We have to be sharp in every match and stick to what’s gotten us here,” he said. “The competition is tough, but we’re confident in our preparation and excited for the challenge.”
Saturday evening proved to be very successful for the Lopers. UNK dominated the 12-team regional in Gunnison, Colo., racking up 155 points, well ahead of 23rd-ranked Colorado Mesa’s 109. The Lopers’ total is the second-best in program history, behind only the 175.50 points scored by the 2021-22 squad. That team went on to win the national title, and this year’s group looks ready to do the same.
The Lopers saw multiple top-ranked teams in Division II including Western Colorado (T-13th), Adams State (T-18th), Colorado School of Mines (23rd), and Colorado Mesa (T-24th).
UNK had six regional champs, plus two runners-up and two third-place finishers. The top three in each weight class across the six regions advance to nationals.
Fourth-ranked Trenton Munoz and second-ranked Zach Ourada both had fights with adversity to claim their spots in nationals. Munoz won 15-12 in overtime in his opener and followed that up with a 7-3 and 4-2 decision to take third at 165.
Several Lopers are making their first trip to nationals, including redshirt freshman Cael Robb, 12th-ranked Jacobi Deal, and 12th-ranked Jacari Deal. Robb finished second at 157 pounds after a dominant 16-1 tech fall. Jacobi upset second-ranked Cole Hernandez of Western Colorado, 2-1, and then won the 174-pound final in overtime, 4-1. His brother Jacari took second at 184 after a key 7-6 semifinal win.
The Lopers are the only division two school sending all 10 to Indianapolis, while the number one ranked St. Cloud State is only sending eight. MIAA conference foe and fourth ranked Central Oklahoma is only sending six.
UNK’s veterans made sure to take care of business, too. Top-ranked heavyweight Crew Howard stayed undefeated with three pins, while fifth-ranked Jackson Kinsella took down ranked opponents in both the semifinals and finals. Graduate student Nick James edged 11th-ranked Dean Noble of Western Colorado, 11-10, in the 149-pound semis before pinning Chadron State’s Torry Early at 5:32 in the final.
The Lopers are in a position for another national championship run, which they last won in 2022. The NCAA Division II Championships are set for March 14-15 in Indianapolis.
