CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State men's wrestling battled with the two-time defending national champions in its home opener, with Aidan Callahan earning a win over the Lopers at 149 pounds for the second straight year to highlight Eagle performances in a 36-3 dual victory for Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night. 

Callahan scored a flurry of points in the third period, coming from behind to seal a 10-7 victory at 149 pounds over UNK's Connor Ritonya. Callahan, a sophomore from Rapid City, was one of four Chadron State wrestlers to win in last year's dual against UNK, but the only one of those four returning to the Eagles this year.

Callahan trailed 4-0 through two periods, but started on the bottom in the third and escaped to get on the board. From there, Callahan took down Ritonya three times to turn the deficit around and build a cushion despite letting up the UNK wrestler after all three. 

With a one-point lead at 7-6 with under 30 seconds to go, Callahan counter-attacked an anticipated shot for a final takedown that bought the sophomore some breathing room. Callahan improved his total record to 3-2 with the victory.

Another bright spot was in the first bout of the night as Grand Island, Nebraska freshman Rudy Rodriguez came within a closing scramble of beating UNK veteran Cadyn Coyle. The Loper wrestler got a first-period takedown before each wrestler got the escape point to open the second and third periods, with Coyle winning 4-2 despite a late push by Rodriguez for a takedown.

Rodriguez and Peyton Pacheco, a Windsor, Colorado native, were both true freshmen making their collegiate dual debuts on Thursday night.

Nebraska-Kearney's heavy hitters were as advertised. Defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Otgonbayar Batsuuri beat Dominic Joyce 9-3 at 174 pounds while No. 2-ranked Mason Villwok at 197, No. 3-ranked 141-pounder Joseph Airola and No. 11-ranked Naasir Edmonds at heavyweight all won by tech fall.

Chadron State competes next at the Younes Hospitality Open, hosted by UNK, in Kearney on November 21. Chadron State's next dual is against No. 6 MSU Mankato, also at home in the Chicoine Center on Saturday, December 19.

Dual Results: 
125: Cadyn Coyle (UNK) def. Rudy Rodriguez, Dec. 4-2
133: Marcus Terry (UNK) def. Kyle Lewis, MD 14-3
141: #3 Joseph Airola (UNK) def. Skyler Geier-Dodson, TF 21-5 5:17
149: Aidan Callahan (CSC) def. Connor Ritonya, Dec. 10-7
157: Job Lee (UNK) def. Wyatt McDermott, MD 13-2
165: Corbin Reisz (UNK) def. Clayton Robinson, Dec. 9-5
174: #1 Otgonbayar Batsuuri (UNK) def. Dominic Joyce, Dec. 9-3
184: Lazaro Crespo (UNK) def. Brooks Loosvelt, MD 19-5
197: #2 Mason Villwok (UNK) def. Peyton Pacheco, TF 17-2 4:19
285: #11 Naasir Edmonds (UNK) def. Cody Netherton, TF 17-2 5:00