UNK Lopers Wrestling Win Second Straight NCAA Title and Sixth National Title Overall скачать в хорошем качестве

UNK Lopers Wrestling Win Second Straight NCAA Title and Sixth National Title Overall

Press Release Courtesy of UNK Athletics- Junior Otgonbayar Batsuuri won the 174-pound national title to help third-ranked Nebraska secure the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship Saturday night in Sioux Falls. Otgonbayar Batsuuri UNK finished with 83.0 points while Wisconsin-Parkside (78.0), McKendree, Ill. (76.5) and league rival Central Oklahoma (76.0) were very close behind. The Blue & Gold previously placed first in 2025, 2022, 2013, 2012 and 2008. The Lopers entered the finals with a 79.0-72.0 edge over UCO. To secure a second straight and a sixth overall national title, UNK needed to win one of three title matches or see the Bronchos lose one of two. Now three-time national champion Gabe Johnson of UCO didn't let that happen at 157 pounds as he won in overtime. Fifth seeded Trenton Munoz (Santa Clarita, Calif.) was up next and trying to pull off a third straight upset. Already beating the fourth and first seeds in the 165-lbs. class, he couldn't get by now three-time champ David Hunsberger of Lander (S.C.). The second seeded Hunsberger recorded a takedown six seconds in to record a 9-4 win. That pitted third seeded Batsuuri (Mongolia) vs. top-seeded Hunter Jump of UCO in the 174-lbs. finals. The two met during the regular season with Jump winning 1-0 in January and Batsuuri leading a February match 3-2 in the third period. However, Jump was about to score and then won via fall at 6:24. A two-time national champion at Fort Hays State Northwest Tech, Batsuuri didn't let things linger this time as he tallied a takedown 17 seconds into the match. He was up 4-1 late in the third before tallying another takedown to win, 7-3. Finally, graduate and second seeded heavyweight Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.) squared off with top seed Doran Crosby of Gannon (Pa.) in the tourney's final match. A two-time NCAA Division I qualifier for Bucknell (Pa.), Crosby edged Howard in last year's third place match, 4-2. He did it again with a takedown in sudden victory, 4-1, to cap a six-year career and finish unbeaten in 2025-26. Meanwhile, Howard leaves a storied career as a three-time All-American. The Lopers had six All-Americans with this title race the closest since 2021 when St. Cloud State (107.0) nipped the Lopers (105.05) thanks to a win in the 285 lbs. match. Finally, head coach Dalton Jensen, part of UNK's 2012 and 2013 title teams, was tabbed as the National Tournament Coach of the Year.