Wrestling Wins Six Classes at Loper Open
http://www.lopers.com/news/2012/12/8/WREST_1208124634.aspx?path=wrestlingKearney, Neb. – The No. 1 ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team dominated its own UNK Loper Open, placing 18 in the top six and winning six weight classes Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
Around 100 wrestlers took part in the non-team scoring event. Complete results are available at
www.trackwrestling.com. Finishing first were seniors Nick Bauman (285 lbs.), Chase Nelson (165 lbs.) and Raufeon Stots (149 lbs.), sophomore Matt Lenagh (197 lbs.) and redshirt freshmen Daniel DeShazer (133 lbs.) and Chase White (157 lbs.).
True freshman Connor Bolling took second at 125 lbs. with redshirt freshman Colton Johnson falling to White in the 157 lbs. final.
Finally, Lopers to come in third place were junior Mark Fiala (184 lbs.), sophomore Shawn Meyer (285 lbs.) and true freshmen Travis Leiskau (165 lbs.) and Andrew Riedy (141 lbs.).
Ranked seventh nationally, Lenagh (Millard North) had a very impressive showing, pinning his three opponents at 2:52, 4:35 and 3:18. In the 197 lbs. final, he pinned Andrei Melnic of NW Kansas Tech.
It took Nelson (Wichita, Kans.), ranked eighth in the current poll, just 38 seconds to reach the 165 lbs. final as he pinned his first two opponents in 21 and 17 seconds. However, he had to work hard to beat Nebraska's Aaron Studebaker, slipping past the Husker freshman by a 10-9 score.
Stots (Houston, Texas), ranked No. 1 in Division II, also roared into the finals before facing a stiff test. Competing unattached, he used two tech falls and a major to advance to the 149 lbs. final. There, he beat Air Force Prep's Natrelle Demmison by a 3-2 score.
Bauman (Broomfield, Colo.) allowed just two points in his three wins. In the 285 lbs. final, he pinned Nebraska freshman Collin Jensen at 1:34.
At 133 lbs., DeShazer (Wichita, Kans.) used falls at 5:58, 5:42 and 32 seconds to reach the first place match. He needed some extra time to defeat Chadron State veteran Dustin Stodola, winning 4-3 in double OT.
White (Lincoln H.S.) beat wrestlers from Nebraska and Wyoming to reach the 157 lbs. final where he pinned Johnson (Burke, S.D.) at 4:01. Johnson also beat a Husker in his first match of the day.
After receiving two byes, Bolling (Central City) used a 20-5 tech fall to reach the 125 lbs. final where he lost to Nebraska's Tim Lambert. Finally, Leiskau (Houston, Texas) was poised to reach the 165 lbs. final as he led top-seed Mike Klinginsmith of Nebraska 9-2 in the third period.
However, Klinginsmith used a fall at 6:33 to advance and pull out an unlikely win. Leiskau bounced back with two wins, one by fall.