KEARNEY BASKETBALL RETURNS TO FACE NORFOLK:
After a week-long rest for the Kearney basketball teams – including multiple snow days mixed in – the Bearcats face off against the Norfolk Panthers in doubleheader action at Kearney High School tonight.
The Kearney boys aim to keep their winning ways going at 10-4 on the year coming off their victory over Omaha Bryan, while the Bearcat girls aim for their first win since Jan. 5 having lost their last three now at 8-7.
Pregame coverage begins at 5:45 PM with the Kearney Girls and Norfolk. Tip-off is set for 6 PM. Listen to the game on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com with Austin Jacobsen on the call.
HUSKER WRESTLING HEADS TO IOWA:
After two conference victories this past weekend, the Nebraska wrestling team (6-2, 2-0 Big Ten) will hit the road and face Iowa on Friday in Iowa City. Action is slated to begin at 8 p.m. and will air on BTN.
The Hawkeyes (10-0, 3-0 Big Ten) will be the fourth ranked opponent the Huskers have faced this season. Iowa is fresh off a 27-9 win over Northwestern on Jan. 13, a meet which saw the Hawkeyes win eight of ten bouts, including five of the seven matchups featuring top-25 rated wrestlers from both schools.
NU’s dual against Iowa will potentially feature six matchups between ranked wrestlers. Six Huskers enter the weekend ranked in the top 25, including returning All-Americans No. 1 Peyton Robb (157) and No. 2 Mikey Labriola (174). The All-American duo boasts an undefeated dual meet record (16-0) and has scored 60 dual meet points for the Big Red this season.
Iowa has won 13 consecutive duals dating back to the 2022-23 season.
LOPER WRESTLING HOSTS MIDWEST DUALS:
The second-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team hosts the annual Midwest Duals this weekend at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.
High School teams compete today with colleges and youth clubs hitting the mats on Saturday. Fans not in attendance can watch via FLO Wrestling.
UNK faces Northern State (9 a.m.), Western Colorado (10:30 a.m.) and Adams State (12 p.m.) on Saturday. Junior varsity duals vs. NSU and ASU have been added to the schedule and will take place at the same time as the varsity.
UNK WRESTLING RANKED THIRD NATIONALLY:
The Nebraska Kearney wrestling team is now ranked third in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II rankings.
This is a tournament powering ranking index where teams get points based on where individuals are ranked in their respective weight class. A number one ranking is worth 20 points, second is 16 points, third is 13 points etc. Thus, the Lopers tallied 63 points with MIAA rival Central Oklahoma (77) and Lander of South Carolina (66) just ahead. UNK was second in the last rankings.
UNK faces No. 8 Adams State, No. 20 Northern State and No. 23 Western Colorado Saturday in the Midwest Duals at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.
STORM TRAVEL TO FACE LANCERS:
The Tri-City Storm travels to Liberty First Credit Union Arena tonight for a rivalry matchup against the Omaha Lancers. The Storm will return home to the Viaero Center tomorrow night to host the Lancers.
Puck drop for tonight’s road game and tomorrow’s home game is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
Tri-City (14-13-0-3) enters tonight’s road game against Omaha following last Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss on the road to the Lincoln Stars.
Omaha (10-16-4-2) has dropped five of its last six games entering this weekend’s rivalry series against Tri-City.
LOPER SOFTBALL PICKED EIGHTH IN MIAA:
The Nebraska Kearney softball team is picked eighth in the 2023 MIAA preseason softball coaches’ poll.
The poll is voted upon by the league’s 14 head coaches and they cannot vote for their own team.
This is the highest preseason ranking the Lopers have received since joining the conference with the 2012-13 year. UNK has been picked 10th several times in its MIAA tenure.
The 2022 season saw UNK go 25-27 and reach the MIAA Tournament for the first time., upsetting top seeded Central Oklahoma.
The Lopers start the “spring” on Friday, Feb. 3, at the annual Lubbock Sports College Classic.
FORMER HUSKER ERIC LEE JOINS LOPER FOOTBALL STAFF:
Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Eric Lee Jr. will serve as a graduate assistant coach and work with the Loper secondary.
The former ‘Husker defensive back most recently was the Head of Football Operations at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif. Serving as UNL Football Camp instructor during his playing days, Lee Jr. worked in the private sector after graduation.
Lee Jr. spent five years (2015-19) at Nebraska, redshirting as a freshman and then appearing in 38 games over the next four seasons. He finished his career with 65 tackles (39 solo), two interceptions for 38 yards and one touchdown, five pass breakups and a blocked kick.
RHULE NABS ANOTHER FORMER FIVE STAR:
The Huskers added another big piece this week in former five-star and Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert.
The former No. 1 tight end in the country from the class of 2020 visited Lincoln last weekend. He was one of three Bulldogs the Huskers hosted, along with edge rusher MJ Sherman and tight end Brett Seither.
Sherman committed to the Huskers on Monday after his visit, while Seither chose to stay closer to home and committed to Georgia Tech. Gilbert becomes the 10th transfer player the Huskers have added to its roster.
The 6-foot-5, 248-pound Gilbert was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team after catching 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns in eight game while at LSU. He then transferred to Georgia, playing sparingly as part of back-to-back national champion teams.
NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY:
AFC – #4 Jacksonville Jaguars @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs – 3:30 PM
NFC – #6 New York Giants @ #1 Philadelphia Eagles – 7:15 PM
SUNDAY:
AFC – #3 Cincinnati Bengals @ #2 Buffalo Bills – 2 PM
NFC – #5 Dallas Cowboys @ #2 San Francisco 49ers – 5:30 PM
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Girls Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 6 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 5:45 PM
- Boys Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 7:45 PM
- KGFW Pregame at conclusion of KHS GBB
- Girls Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 6 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
- Women’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 5 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 6:45 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney High Girls Basketball v. Norfolk (5:45 PM – 7:45 PM)
- Kearney High Boys Basketball v. Norfolk (7:45 PM – 9:45 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
- Wrestling: @ Centennial Conference – 10 AM
- Girls Basketball: v. Aquinas – 1:30 PM
- Boys Basketball: v. Aquinas – 3:30 PM
- UNK:
- Wrestling: v. Northern State – 9 AM
- Wrestling: v. Western Colorado – 10:30 AM
- Wrestling: v. Adams State – 12 PM
- M/W T&F: @ NW Missouri State Open – 12 PM
- Women’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 1:30 PM
- Men’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 3:30 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Polar Dog Invite @ Concordia – 10 AM / 1 PM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
- Women’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 1 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2:45 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Men’s Basketball @ Penn State (12:15 PM – 4 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Maryland (12:45 PM – 4 PM)
