Wrestling tops Augustana, FHSU
Posted by Administrator on Feb 25 2009
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Photo by Justin Buchanan
Senior Keenan McCurdy of Lincoln works over his opponent from Augustana. McCurdy and the Lopers were victorious 25-16.

By Garrett Ritonya
Antelope Staff

The UNK Wrestling Team won their 17th and 18th duals of the year as they pinned down No. 13 Fort Hays State, 26-9 and No. 14 Augustana, 25-16 Friday afternoon in Cushing Coliseum.

The No. 5 Lopers finished the regular season 18-5 overall in duals and 7-1 in the RMAC.

This is UNK's fifth straight year with at least 10 dual wins. During that five-year span, the Lopers have accumulated a 78-23 dual record.

For UNK, junior Marty Usman of Arlington, Texas, racked up his 39th victory of the season by winning both of his matches. Usman, once ranked number one at 174-pounds, is now ranked number three in his weight class. With these two victories, he is within one victory of becoming one of only three Loper wrestlers to surpass the 40-victory mark on a season.

"Obviously Marty has been a huge part of this team and its success, and it's clear to see that reaching the 40-win mark is a huge accomplishment," said Head Coach Marc Bauer. "He has competed in one of the top weight classes in the nation and has surpassed expectations."

Senior Paul Sutton of Wahoo defeated the seventh and eighth ranked wrestlers in his weight class to maintain his position at 184-pounds. Those victories for Sutton brought his season total to 28.

Other Lopers to reach milestones were senior Keenan McCurdy of Lincoln and junior Derek Ross of St. Francis, Kan., who each recorded their 15th falls of the season.

Ross has been wrestling at 285 for the entire season, despite giving up some major pounds to most of the wrestlers he has faced.

On Feb. 28, UNK will host the RMAC/West Regional Championships in the last tournament before the NCAA Division II Championships in March. This will be the first time UNK has hosted the event in nine years.

Eleven teams in the regional, and the top four wrestlers from each weight class will advance to the national tournament.

"I am really confident with where we are at as a program right now," Bauer said. "Our team definitely has their work cut out for them, but I am excited to see what happens."