KEARNEY, Neb.  Western Colorado wrestling will make its annual trip to the University of Nebraska at Kearney Midwest Duals, joining nine other squads – including six others also ranked in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's (NWCA) top 25 – at the event hosted Saturday by the Lopers in the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

Western, tied for 23rd in the rankings, opens the day taking on top-ranked University of Central Oklahoma in Round 1, then follows with a bout against host UNK, ranked No. 3, before closing the event against No. 17 Fort Hays State (Kan.) University in Round 3.

WESTERN HEADING INTO THE DUALS

• The Mountaineers were most recently in action at the 32nd Tracy Borah Duals (Jan. 7) , sweeping their home event with four victories by an average score of 35-10.
• Western began the day with a 38-12 win over Simon Fraser (B.C., Canada) University, winning eight bouts, winning two by falls and two by technical falls.
• Round 2 at the Duals saw the Mountaineers dominate University of Findlay (Ohio), 39-9. Western notched seven wins during the match, including six straight beginning with an Alex Alvarez pin at 133 and ending with a pin by Cole Hernandez at 174.
• The next round pitted the Mountaineers against San Francisco State in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match. Western earned the win with a 28-12 defeat of the Gators. SF State won the opening two bouts, but Western took control of the match with wins at 141 (major dec.), 149 (major), 157 (dec.), 165 (tech. fall) and 174 (fall).
• The final match of the day put Minot (N.D.) State on the mat with the Mountaineers, who completed the day's sweep with a 35-9 win over the Beavers. Again, the middle of the lineup was unstoppable as Alvarez at 133 started a string of six consecutive wins that culminated at 174 in Hernandez' fourth first-period pin of the day.
• Hernandez is ranked ninth in the NWCA 174 rankings, while Jason Hanenberg – who registered four wins at the Borah Duals, three coming by way of pins – is ranked fourthin the 149 rankings.

ATTENDING TEAM NOTES

• Along with UNK, Central Oklahoma, Fort Hays State and the Mountaineers, also competing at the Duals are No. 8 Adams State University and No. 20 Northern State (S.D.) University, along with the University of Central Missouri, Colorado School of Mines and Newman (Kan.) University.
• Ranked (NWCA) wrestlers in matches against Western include:
  • UNK: 141 – Nick James (No. 5), 174 – Austin Eldredge (No. 3), 184 – Billy Higgins (No. 1), 285 – Lee Herrington (No. 1)
  • Cent. Oklahoma: 125 – Studd Morris (No. 9), 133 – Dylan Lucas (No. 8), 141 – Nate Keim (No. 8), 149 – Brik Filippo (No. 9), 157 – Gabe Johnson (No. 3), 165 – Ty Lucas (No. 7), 174 – Anthony DesVigne (No. 10), 184 – Alex Kaufman (No. 11), 197 – Dalton Abney (No. 2), 285 – Shawn Streck (No. 2)
  • Fort Hays State: 174 – Cade Lindsey (No. 4), 197 – Tereus Henry (No. 4)

LOOKING AHEAD
The Mountaineers leap back into RMAC competition with their next competition, hosting No. 8 Adams State at Paul Wright Gym on Friday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.