2023 NCAA Division II The Season: Nebraska-Kearney

 

The #1 team in the nation there's a reason why UNK won the NCAA Division II team title last season & will once again contend this season. Eight NCAA qualifiers last season, five of which return. Seven of those eight qualifiers were All American & four of them return. Seven won Super Region titles & five of them return. Yep, we're looking at a very, very good team. 

The man, the myth, the legend...the guy who is personally responsible for JT#1's commitment to do more DII coverage, two time NCAA DII finalist Josh Portillo has since graduated. He & brother Justin, NAIA's FIRST 5 time All American among the many great things they're doing have now become my competitors! They have put their hats in the ring to do college wrestling media. The amount of talent, passion & above all else heart, they are bound to be very successful. 

Also gone from the mix is five time qualifier, four time All American & two time NCAA DII champion Matt Malcom, with three time All American & DII finalist Wesley Dawkins, two time All American/NCAA DII finalists Sam Turner & 2021 All American Jacob Wasser.  Let's take a look at the returnees. 

125 lbs
Bishop Murray 

Replacing a a talent like Josh Portillo is one heck of a challenge but sophomore Murray Bishop who went 13-7 in a redshirt this past season will be up to it. 

141 lbs
Nic James 

Two time All American (5th in 22' & 7th in 23') & two time Super Region Champion Nic James returns for his junior season posting a 23-10 record last year. 

165 lbs 
Trenton Munoz 

I already talked up Trenton Munoz when I did my write-up for Hastings.  65-3 on the season, he was 2nd in the NAIA last year. Now he's transferred to UNK & looks to dominate in NCAA Division II the same he did in the NAIA. 

174 lbs
Austin Eldredge 

26-6 on the season Austin Eldredge earned his second NCAA Division II 4th place finish this past season, also winning a Super Region VI title. 

184 lbs
Billy Higgins OR Dylan Vodicka OR Jacari Deal 

We got some depth here at 184 lbs!  Billy Higgins won a Super Region VI title last season as he took a 3rd place finish at the NCAA Division II tournament. He also defeated NCAA Division I qualifier Jack Jessen of Northwestern.  Vodicka 17-6 on the season, had an impressive victory over Augustana's Kolby Kost. Deal was 15-9 himself. 

197 lbs
Hayden Prince    OR       Joe Reimers 

This will be a good wrestle-off I would think.  Hayden Prince 19-10 on the year & a Super Region VI champion taking on 2021 NCAA Division II All American (4th) Joe Reimers. 

HWT
Lee Herrington 

Two time All American Lee Herrington 4th in 2021 & 5th this past season collected 24 falls last year.