Loper wrestlers go 1-1 in season-opening duals

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The sixth-ranked University of Nebraska at Kearney wrestling team opened the season going 1-1 in dual meets Sunday afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Lopers beat new MIAA member Ouachita Baptist, 42-4, and falling to Arkansas-Little Rock, ranked 20th in Division I, 36-10.

UNK's junior heavyweight Crew Howard and sophomore 125-pounder Zach Ourada went 2-0. Howard, ranked No. 1 in Division I, pinned both opponents in the first period, ith Ourada, the 2024 Division II Rookie of the Year, pinned his Ouachita Baptist foe and won by a 12-0 major decision over UALR.

In the win over Ouachita, UNK had nine bonus-point wins with Joseph Airola (141 pounds), Trenton Munoz (165) and Jacobi Deal (184) winning by technical fall.

Brody Arrants (133), Cael Robb (149), Kaden Hart (174) and Jackson Kinsella (197) winning by a major decision.

The Lopers head to the Dakota Wesleyan Open on Nov. 9.