UNK wrestlers seeded first at NWCA duals

Friday, January 11, 2008

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The No. 1 ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team is the top seed at this weekend's NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Hosted by the University of Northern Iowa, the event will be held Saturday and Sunday at the UNI Dome.

The dual tournament features NCAA Division I, II and III schools, along with brackets for NAIA schools, junior colleges, club and women's programs.

The Lopers (5-0) will face the Carson-Newman Eagles (Tenn.) in round one. The match will begin Saturday at 9 a.m.

The winner of this dual will face either 8th-seed Western State or Wisconsin-Parkside at 1 p.m.

The winner of this dual advances to the semifinals Sunday at 11 a.m.

The loser will have to wrestle again on Saturday (5 p.m.).

Two wins by UNK and the Lopers would likely face 4th-seed Minnesota State-Mankato in the semifinals.

The top seeds on the other side of the bracket are Nebraska-Omaha (No. 2) and Central Oklahoma (No. 3).

UNK won this event last year, getting a pin from heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev to beat UNO, 20-19, in the finals. The Lopers also won the event in 2003, again beat the Mavericks in the finals.

In the latest national rankings, UNK (158) remains No. 1 with UNO (150) rising five spots to No. 2. UCO remains third (141) with Minnesota State dropping two spots to fourth (139) and Adams State remaining fifth (128).

Individually, seven Lopers are ranked with Dlagnev (No. 1), senior Jeff Rutledge (No. 4/141 pounds) and sophomores Kelsey Empting (No. 2/197 pounds), Ryan Etherton (No. 8/149 pounds) and Taylor May (No. 4/165 pounds) maintaining their rankings.

Finally, junior Joe Ellenberger moved up three spots to 2nd at 157 pounds with sophomore Marty Usman moving into the rankings, coming in 6th at 174 pounds.

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