GUNNISON, Colo.  It was No. 16 Western Colorado's official season opener Thursday night, and at least on this one night No. 6 University of Nebraska Kearney had the better in this top-20 wrestling matchup at Paul Wright Gym, the Lopers downing the Mountaineers, 33-10.

Last season Western defeated UNK, 21-20, with a tiebreak point, but the 2024 match was a bit of revenge for the Lopers.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Neb.-Kearney def. Western, 33-10
Records: Western 0-1, Neb.-Kearney 2-1
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lopers were able to get off to a fast start, earning a technical fall and two major decisions at the opening three weights to forge a 13-0 advantage.
• Western's fortunes changed at 149 pounds when fifth-ranked Dean Noble stepped onto the mat. Noble led 4-0 after the first period and 5-0 early in the second before a wild finish.
• UNK's Brody Arrants shot for a successful takedown near the edge of the mat but Noble quickly earned a deadly reversal. Hardly a second later the match was over with Noble earning a fall just 51 seconds into the second period.
• The Lopers responded with a decision at 157 and a major at 165, but next up for Western was Cole Hernandez, third ranked at 174 pounds, taking on 10th-ranked Kaden Hart.
• Neither Hernandez nor Hart scored in the opening period, but the scoreboard picked up its pace in the second. Starting on the bottom, Hernandez earned the first point with an escape, but soon after it was Hart earning three points with a takedown.
• Hart's advantage was short-lived as Hernandez picked up a point with an escape, took Hart to the mat for three more points, and earned a four-point near fall to end the period, leading 9-3.
• Hernandez would add two more takedowns and a stall-warning point in the third, plus the riding time point at the end of the match, for a 17-5 major.
• Once again, though, Neb.-Kearney bounced back from a defeat and finished the match off with a decision at 184, a major at 197, and a pin at 285.

UP NEXT

• Western gets a recovery day before its next match on Saturday in Paul Wright Gym against visiting New Mexico Highlands University.
• The 7 p.m. match against the Cowboys will be the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams.