Loper wrestlers off to good start at nationals

Kearney, Neb. – The fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team has scored 40 points and will have five All-Americans after the first day of the 2024 NCAA Division II Championships in Wichita.

The Lopers are aiming for a 22nd consecutive top eight team finish in this tournament. Individually, a top eight finish at each weight class is good for All-American honors. Action resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. with a free live video stream available via the NCAA and track wrestling. 

Coming in with eight qualifiers, that number was quickly reduced to seven when senior John Burger (New Milford, N.J.) couldn’t go at 149-pounds after suffering an injury in the regional third place match. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier, twice for and twice at Limestone (S.C.). 

Fifth-year seniors Nick James (141 lbs.) and Billy Higgins (184 lbs.) are now three-time All-Americans with redshirt sophomores Crew Howard (285 lbs.) and Jackson Kinsella (197 lbs.) and redshirt freshman Zach Ourada (125 lbs.) to be standing on the podium for the first time. James (Kearney) and Higgins (Omaha Skutt) are the 15th and 16th, respectively, three-time AA’s in UNK history.

Finally, picking up three wins and scoring 6.5 points before being eliminated from the tourney were sophomores and Kaden Hart (165 lbs.) and Trent Munoz (174 lbs.). Hart was in the NCAA’s for the first time with Munoz an NAIA and NCAA qualifier.

James reaches the semis for the first time in his career and after he got past MIAA rival Dylan Lucas of Central Oklahoma in the quarters. Seeded sixth, James almost got a takedown to close things out in regulation, but a video review confirmed no points. After a scoreless overtime period, a bloody James got an escape and then rode out the third-seed Lucas to earn his 20th win. He’ll face seventh-seed Tate Murty of Upper Iowa in the semis with the top and fifth seeds on the other side of the bracket. Murty beat James, 8-7, back in January at the National Duals. Previously, James has finished fifth and seven in this class.

Ourada (Omaha Skutt) and Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) weren’t as fortunate as Jamess as both their quarter matches in overtime Third-seed Christian Mejia of McKendree used a reversal to get past Ourada in the first tie breaker, 3-1, with Howard falling to fourth-seed Juan Edmond-Holmes of Lander (S.C.) based on a second of riding time, 3-2, in another tie breaker period. The sixth-seeded Ourada came back to bounce fifth-seeded Logan Seliga of North Carolina Pembroke, 5-2, with Howard having almost three minutes of riding time to roll past Matt Long of Gannon (Pa.), 8-3.

Higgins and Kinsella (Creston), both seeded eighth, had to not only battle the top-seeds in their quarter matches but both opponents were defending national champions as well. They each stayed alive in the consolation round, Higgins beating Cade Mueller of Augustana, 11-6, thanks to three takedowns and a reversal with Kinsella having two takedowns and riding time to easily get past John-Parker Wilson from Newberry (S.C.), 8-4. Previously, Higgins has finished fourth and sixth at 184 lbs.

Seeded fifth, Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) lost in the first round but recorded back-to-back bonus point wins to stay alive. However, he then ran into third-seed Cole Hernandez of Western Colorado and lost to him for the second time this month. The pair met in the regional finals two weeks ago. Finally, Hart (St. Louis) was within a point of second-seed Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) in the first round. While he dropped that match, he came back to have a fall in 4:00 before suffering an overtime loss to eight-seed Aaden Valdez of Adams State, 6-3.

Top 10 Teams

1. #1 Central Oklahoma (59.5 points)
2. #2 Lander, S.C. (54.5)
3. #3 St. Cloud State (47)
4. #5McKendree, Ill. (42.5)
5. #T-4 UNK (40)
6. #7 Wisconsin-Parkside (32)
7. #T-8 Pittsburgh-Johnstown (30)
8. #T-8 Augustana (29)
9. #16 Indianapolis (22.5)
10. #15 Glenville State, W.V. (20)