CHADRON, Neb. -- December 18, 2015 -- Junior Caleb Copeland led the way as the Chadron State College wrestling team split a pair of close duals in Ogallala on Friday night while wrapping up the 2015 portion of its schedule.

The Eagles edged York College 22-18, but were nipped by Nebraska-Kearney 19-18.

Copeland, who is a 174-pounder, pinned his York College opponent in 18 seconds and then decisioned Kearney's Chance Bila 7-4.

The Eagles clinched the victory over York College when the team's newest member, Daniel Sotelo, managed a takedown in overtime to edge the Panthers' Jeff Albers 3-1 in the heavyweight match. It was Sotelo's first collegiate victory.

The senior from Grand Island was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Chadron State football team, but had not wrestled since high school until joining the CSC matmen two weeks ago.   

Also against York, the Eagles got a major decision from Taylor Summers at 133 pounds, a 7-4 decision from Brock Thumm at 141 and Chance Helmick received a forfeit at 165.

A sophomore, Helmick raised his record to a team-best 16-4 when he won the 165-pound match over UNK's Isaac Denton by a 10-6 score.  The Eagles also picked up a forfeit  from the Lopers at 149 pounds and Austin Abbey received a medical forfeit at heavyweight when Kearney's entry was injured in early in the match and could not continue.

Kearney is the No. 3 ranked NCAA Division II team in the nation.

Several of Kearney's wins against the Eagles were by narrow margins.  Two-time 133-pound national champion Daniel DeShazer slipped past Summers by the same 3-1 score for the second time this season.

The Lopers also won two matches on late takedowns.  One gave Ryan Bauer a 4-3 victory over Thumm at 141 pounds and the other allowed Michael Lambert to win 5-3 at 184 over Taylor Pownall, Eagles' only senior.

The Eagles won't wrestle again until Saturday, Jan. 14, when they will host Colorado Mines in their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dual of the season.  

                Chadron State 22, York College 18
                125—Robert Ozuna, YC, dec. Brandon Kile 6-5
                133—Taylor Summers, CSC, major dec. Oscar Marin 15-3.
                141—Brock Thumm, CSC, dec. Josh Lopez 7-4.
                149—William Fox, YC, dec. Terrance McKinney 6-4.
                157—Devaunte Cuba, YC, dec. Johnny Porter 4-2.
                165—Chance Helmick, CSC, won by forfeit.
                174—Caleb Copeland, CSC, pinned Nicholas Meck 18 seconds.
                184—Bryan Ayala, YC, pinned Shane Rodenburg 4:40.
                197—Jack Murphy, YC, dec. Stuart Hircock, 7-4.
                Hwt—Daniel Sotelo, CSC, dec. Jeff Albers 3-1 in overtime.
 
                Nebraska-Kearney 19, Chadron State 18
                125—Connor Bolling, UNK, dec. Brandon Kile 6-0.
                133—Daniel DeShazer, UNK, dec. Taylor Summers 3-1.
                141—Ryan Bauer, UNK, dec. Brock Thumm 4-3.
                149—Clayton Steinmetz, CSC, won by forfeit.
                157—Chase White, UNK dec. Terrance McKinney 8-3.
                165—Chance Helmick, CSC, dec. Isaac Denton 10-6.
                174—Caleb Copeland, CSC, dec. Chance Bila 7-3.
                184—Michael Lambert, UNK, dec. Taylor Pownall 5-3.
                197—Romero Cotton, UNK, tech. fall Stuart Hircock 19-3.
                Hwt—Austin Abbey, CSC, won by injury default over Corey Van Dorn