Kearney, Neb. – Junior T.J. Hepburn and true freshman Alec Chanthapatheth led the 4th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team at the 28th Annual UNO Kaufman-Brand Open Saturday in Omaha.
The non-team scoring event featured over 700 wrestlers and many top Division I schools.
One of Division II’s best, Hepburn (East Hampton, Conn.) placed fourth at 157 lbs. in the Elite Division with a 4-2 record while Chanthapatheth (Grand Island) finished fourth at 133 lbs. in the Amateur Division by going 5-2.
Ranked 2nd nationally, Hepburn won his first two matches by decision before falling 3-1 to Oklahoma State’s Stephen Swan in the quarterfinals. Hepburn battled back in the consolation bracket, winning two matches before falling to Swan again, 6-4 in sudden victory, in the 3rd place match.
In the Amateur Division, Chanthapatheth won his first four matches, including a pin in 4:18 of Colorado State-Pueblo’s Kirby Ryan. In a semifinal match, he was pinned with one second left in the match by Central Missouri’s Eric Mateo.
After a 12-7 win over Minnesota’s Drew Lexvold, Chanthapatheth fell to Labette (Kan. Community College’s Jordan Basks, 11-5, in the 3rd place bout.
Also in the Amateur Division, eight other Lopes won at least two matches, including Auburn true freshman Matt Oliver at 157 lbs. He went 3-2 on the day and reached the quarterfinals. Besides Hepburn, three other UNK wrestlers won at least two matches in the Elite Division including sophomore Josh Smith (Houston, Texas) going 3-2 at 125 lbs.
UNK is at the Fort Hays State Bob Smith Open in two weeks.
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