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CEDAR FALLS, IOWA – The seventh-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team went 2-1 on the first day of the 2024 NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Duals Friday in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Lopers (7-3) beat 25th-ranked Glenville State of West Virginia, 33-9, but dropped several close matches to fall to second-ranked Lander of South Carolina, 20-13, in the quarters. A long day ended with a 26-11 win over fifth-ranked Lake Erie College of Ohio in the consolation second round.
On Saturday at 9 a.m., UNK will face 12th-ranked Upper Iowa at 9 a.m. and, with a win, will reach the third-place match. The other side of the bracket has 10th-ranked McKendree (Ill.) facing 15th-ranked Mary (N.D.).
Against the GSU Pioneers, seventh-ranked Nick James (Kearney) got by Sean Johnson, 6-5, at 141-pounds thanks to an early reversal and takedown with 18 seconds left. Johnson tallied four points in the closing seconds to almost comeback. UNK closed with five straight wins including falls by redshirt sophomores Tyler Collins (Wray, Colo.) and Trenton Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) at 165 and 174 pounds. Munoz was down 3-0 early but a reversal led to a fall at 1:54 with Collins up 5-0 at the time of his second fall of the year. Finally, two-time All-American Billy Higgins (Omaha Skutt) made a triumphant 2023-24 debut with a 19-3 tech fall at 184-pounds.
The Lander Bearcats, ranked number one for most of the year, had a pair of 4-1 overtime victories (133 and 157 pounds) as well as 4-1 and 6-4 decisions at 197 and 285 pounds. James did get past ninth-ranked Isham Peace, 4-1, thanks to takedown with 51 seconds remaining while Higgins had an early takedown to win, 4-2.
Against the Lake Erie Storm, Munoz led the way and finished 3-0 on the day thanks to an upset of top-ranked James Penfold. Munoz recorded two takedowns, an escape, riding time and penalty point to beat the two-time All-American, 9-4. James also went 3-0 as he scored four points in the final 35 seconds to rally past 10th-ranked Corey Gamet, 5-4. Finally, Collins had another bonus point win with senior Jacobi Deal (Clayton, N.C.) bumping up to 184 pounds and recording a 20-5 tech fall. He currently is ranked ninth at 174-pounds.
#7 Nebraska Kearney 33, #25 Glenville State (W.V.) 9
National Duals First Round
| Weight | Summary | UNK | GSU | |
| 125 | #6 Zach Ourada over Hunter Ross (Glenville) (Dec 8-2) | 3 | 0 | |
| 133 | #5 Gavin Quiocho (Glenville) over Drew Arnold (Tech Fall 15-0) | 0 | 5 | |
| 141 | #7 Nick James over Sean Johnson (Glenville) (Dec 6-5) | 3 | 0 | |
| 149 | John Burger over Ethan Hardy (Glenville (Maj 13-5) | 4 | 0 | |
| 157 | #11 Guy Deleonardis (Glenville) over Nic Stoltenberg (Maj 11-2) | 0 | 4 | |
| 165 | Tyler Collins over Brady Ross (Glenville) (Fall 4:09) | 6 | 0 | |
| 174 | Trenton Munoz over Drake De La Cruz (Glenville) (Fall 1:54) | 6 | 0 | |
| 184 | Billy Higgins over Isaiha Casto (Glenville) (Tech Fall 19-3) | 5 | 0 | |
| 197 | #5 Jackson Kinsella over Nicholas Johnson (Glenville) (Dec 7-0) | 3 | 0 | |
| 285 | #2 Crew Howard over Gavin Shamblin (Glenville) (Dec. 5-1) | 3 | 0 | |
| Team Score: | 33 | 9 | ||
#2 Lander (S.C.) 20, #7 Nebraska Kearney 13
National Duals Quarterfinals
| Weight | Summary | UNK | LU | |
| 125 | #2 James Joplin (Lander) over #6 Zach Ourada (Dec 8-3) | 0 | 3 | |
| 133 | Kaden Kuenzi (Lander) over Drew Arnold (Dec 4-1; SV-1) | 0 | 3 | |
| 141 | #7 Nick James over #9 Isham Peace (Lander) (Dec 4-1) | 3 | 0 | |
| 149 | John Burger over Seth Brower (Lander) (Dec 4-1) | 3 | 0 | |
| 157 | Jack Tangen (Lander) over Nic Stoltenberg (Dec 4-1; SV-1) | 0 | 3 | |
| 165 | #1 David Hunsberger (Lander) over Tyler Collins (Tech Fall 22-6) | 0 | 5 | |
| 174 | Trenton Munoz over Gage Barnett (Lander) (Maj 19-9) | 4 | 0 | |
| 184 | Billy Higgins over Jack Bond (Lander) (Dec 4-2) | 3 | 0 | |
| 197 | #10 Anthony Yacovetti (Lander) over #5 Jackson Kinsella (Dec 6-4) | 0 | 3 | |
| 285 | #4 Juan Edmond-Holmes (Lander) over #2 Crew Howard (Dec 4-1) | 0 | 3 | |
| Team Score | 13 | 20 | ||
#7 Nebraska Kearney 26, #5 Lake Erie (Ohio) 11
National Duals Consolation Second Round
| Weight | Summary | UNK | LEC | |
| 125 | #6 Zach Ourada over Anthony Sagaris (Lake Erie) (Maj 16-3) | 4 | 0 | |
| 133 | Ryan Wehner (Lake Erie) over Drew Arnold (Dec 5-0) | 0 | 3 | |
| 141 | #7 Nick James over #10 Corey Gamet (Lake Erie) (Dec 5-4) | 3 | 0 | |
| 149 | #4 Christian Small (Lake Erie) over John Burger (Dec 7-2) | 0 | 3 | |
| 157 | Jack Haskin (Lake Erie) over Nic Stoltenberg (Tech Fall 19-1) | 0 | 5 | |
| 165 | Tyler Collins over Josh Howey (Lake Erie) (Maj 14-1) | 4 | 0 | |
| 174 | Trenton Munoz over #1 James Penfold (Lake Erie) (Dec 9-4) | 3 | 0 | |
| 184 | Jacobi Deal over Jordan Barnet (Lake Erie) (Tech Fall 20-5) | 5 | 0 | |
| 197 | #5 Jackson Kinsella over Brylan Clouse (Lake Erie) (Dec 5-3) | 3 | 0 | |
| 285 | #2 Crew Howard over Dylan Norris (Lake Erie) (Maj 14-4) |
