KEARNEY, Neb. — Facing the stacked lineup of national power Nebraska-Kearney, the Newman wrestling team managed to win a pair of exciting bouts and hang with the No. 5 Lopers at many spots in a 40-9 loss Saturday night.
Junior Dustin Reed provided the fireworks in the most anticipated bout of the night, rolling up five takedowns against fellow national qualifier and D2wrestle.com's No. 6 wrestler at 125 pounds in Connor Bolling. The 12-5 decision was Reed's second over Bolling this season after topping him 5-4 in the UNK Loper Open semifinals.
After having a rough time getting through perhaps the toughest part of the UNK lineup, senior Colton Duhr and junior Noel Torres battled against a pair of opponents who were each ranked No. 2 in Super Region 4. Duhr trailed just 2-1 late in the second period in an eventual 6-1 loss to Chase White at 157, while Torres picked up a third-period takedown to make it 8-5 before Devin Aguirre took an 11-6 decision at 165.
Sophomore Kyle Ryan kept his MIAA dual record unblemished and earned the first pin of his Newman career by sticking Zach Stodden in just 2:12.
In a battle of regionally-ranked grapplers at 174, UNK's Calvin Ochs took control early and held on to it in a 9-1 major over freshman Heath Gray.
No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney 40, Newman 9
125: No. 2 Dustin Reed, NU dec. No. 6 Connor Bolling 12-5.
A pair of first-period takedowns got Reed off to a fast start and build up riding time that he would end up getting to nearly three minutes by the end of the match. Bolling managed just five escapes to make up his five points.
133: No. 1 Daniel DeShazer, UNK pinned Jake Gentzler 1:08.
Genztler managed an escape after being taken down by the two-time national champion, but DeShazer was able to complete the fall after the next takedown.
141: Keith Surber, UNK pinned Garrett Whitson 0:13.
Surber managed the quick fall to extend the Lopers' lead.
149: Destin McCauley, UNK pinned Forlanda Parker 2:27.
Parker was able to fight off his back twice after a first-period takedown, but wasn't able to fight off McCauley for the entire period.
157: Chase White, UNK dec. Colton Duhr 6-1.
The two went back and forth in the first period before White managed to get the opening takedown with 23 seconds on the clock. Duhr slipped out with 45 seconds left after starting the second period on bottom, but White snuck another takedown in before the horn that gave him just enough breathing room.
165: Devin Aguirre, UNK dec. Noel Torres 11-6.
Aguirre got in for the first points of the bout with a minute gone in the first period, with Torres managing the escape a minute later. A four-point move by Aguirre in the second period helped boost his lead, but an escape late and then a takedown in the third by Torres made it 7-5 before Aguirre was able to pull away.
174: Calvin Ochs, UNK maj. dec. Heath Gray 9-1.
Ochs was able to secure the opening takedown with 32 seconds off the clock, and a quick escape after choosing down to start the second gave him a 3-0 lead, and takedowns in each of the next two periods were enough to grab the bonus point.
184: Kyle Ryan, NU pinned Zach Stodden 2:12.
After a short feeling-out period, Ryan made a big move on his opponent, turning the opening takedown into a quick pin.
197: Romero Cotton, UNK pinned Dalton Weidl 1:23.
Weidl earned two escapes in the first period against the three-time national finalist, but the third takedown worked for Cotton, who turned it into the fall.
285: Luke Peterson, UNK won by forfeit.
