GUNNISON, Colo. – After upsetting No. 13 CSU-Pueblo the night before, Western State Colorado University wrestling pushed No. 2 University of Nebraska Kearney to the brink. The dual came down to five points, as UNK (14-5, 2-1 MIAA) defeated Western 24-19.
 
Western (6-4, 2-1 RMAC) earned bonus points in three of the four matches the Mountaineers won on Friday night.
 
Western's Ronald Wardleigh, the Division II leader in falls, recorded his 11^th pin of the season to begin the dual. Wardleigh pinned UNK's Vlad Kazakov in 4:06 to give the Mountaineers a 6-0 lead.
 
The Lopers would tie the dual at 6-6, winning the next two bouts by decision.
 
Ian Steen would put the Mountaineers back on top, earning his second pin in as many matches. Steen earned a fall over UNK's Tevin Briscoe in the 149-pound match to give Western a 12-6 lead.
 
UNK would take their first lead of the dual, 15-12, after winning the next two bouts.
 
At 174 pounds, Brandon Supernaw earned three points for the Mountaineers to tie the Lopers at 15 points. Supernaw earned a convincing 9-3 decision against Richard Miranda as both teams battled for supremacy.
 
UNK would again go ahead by three points before Western's 197-pounder, Mick Dougharity gave Western a 19-18 lead heading into the final match of the night. Dougharity tilted UNK's Trey Schlender on his way to a 9-1 major decision.
 
The Lopers would win the 285 pound match with a fall and take the dual 24-19, but the Mountaineers proved they could battle with the best teams in the country after heading into the weekend unranked.
 
The Mountaineers will continue the season next Thursday with the Battle in Brownson against Colorado Mesa University.