UNK Wrestling: Short Handed Lopers Fall at Grand View, 27-12

The fifth-ranked Nebraska Kearney wrestling team fell to NAIA power Grand View, 27-12, Thursday night in Des Moines.

The top-ranked Vikings, who’ve won 12 of the last 13 NAIA national titles, move to 9-0 in the dual season while UNK falls to 7-5.

The Lopers were more than short-handed as starters Zach Ourada (125 lbs.), Trenton Munoz (165 lbs.) and Jackson Kinsella (197 lbs.) were out due to either injury or illness. All three should return to action soon. Ourada is ranked No. 1 in his class, Kinsella is third with Munoz having spent time in the 165-pound top 15.

At heavyweight, top-ranked Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) bested top-ranked Greg Hagan, 5-2. To avenge a loss to Hagan last year, Howard used an escapes and takedown in third period. Next, North Carolina twins Jacobi and Jacari Deal won at 174 and 184 pounds. Jacari is now 4-0 after getting two takedowns, 7-2, with Jacobi, UNK’s former starter at 184 pounds, getting past top-ranked Alex Reynolds in sudden victory, 4-1. Both wrestlers record an escape in regulation before Deal’s winning takedown.

UNK’s other win also came by a 4-1 score in overtime as junior Hector Serratos (Wichita) got past second-ranked Jackson Cockrell. At the next weight, redshirt sophomore Joseph Airola (Ward, Colo.) wasn’t as fortunate as he lost by just a 1-0 score to top-ranked Carson Taylor. Finally, GV had two falls and a major among its six wins.

Some young Lopers wrestle Sunday at Central Missouri with top-ranked St. Cloud State coming to Buckle Court next Saturday afternoon.