GUNNISON, Colo.  Mountaineer wrestling welcomes the Lopers from No. 18 Nebraska-Kearney to Paul Wright Gym for 22nd-ranked Western Colorado's home opener.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE MATCH

• The Mountaineers – who placed fourth in the team standings at last winter's NCAA Division II Championships -- began the current season on the road with a match at Division I and 20th-ranked Air Force followed the next morning with the Colorado School of Mines Rookie Open.
• Behind early wins from Patrick Allis (133), Dean Noble (149) and Ryan Wilson (157), Western had inched in front of the D-I Falcons, 10-9, after five weights.
• Cole Hernandez (174) later captured another victory for the Mountaineers, but Air Force rallied with wins in the other four weights for a come-from-behind 27-13 triumph.
• At the Rookie Open, Noah Kasprowicz won his way through the 141-pound bracket to capture the title, and Robert Estrada and Sage Harrison were able to join him on the podium.
• Estrada placed third at 125, and Harrison was eighth at 197.
• In the NWCA preseason individual rankings, Hernandez is third in 174 and Allis is seventh at 133.

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY HEADING INTO THE MATCH

• The Lopers will be opening their 2023-24 season against the Mountaineers.
• Last season, UNK earned a 27-16 win over Western at the mid-season Midwest Duals, but finished behind the Mountaineers at nationals, placing eighth.
• UNK's No. 18 national ranking is backed by five wrestlers who are ranked in their respective weight classes: 141 – Nick James (7th), 149 – John Berger (12th), 174 – Trent Munoz (10th), 184 – Billy Higgins (4th), and 285 – Crew Howard (10th).

UP NEXT
Western will participate in the Nebraska-Kearney Younes Hospitality Open on Saturday, November 18.