KEARNEY, NE — Relief is transitioning to joy for the Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team.

One year after coming 1.5 points short of a title, the Lopers were welcomed back to campus as national champions on Sunday. Senior Josh Portillo says the team’s season-long goal was to achieve what it narrowly missed the year before.

“We just wanted to do everything in our power to never feel pain like that again," Portillo said. "We just knew how sweet it was finally going to be when we got this. We set our eyes on it, and all I can say is, dreams do come true.”

The Lopers didn’t just win, they dominated. UNK scored a program-record 127 points, 41 more than second-place Central Oklahoma. The point total is the highest at nationals in 12 years.  

Coach Dalton Jensen says his group had a different mindset this year.

“We had to learn the lesson the hard way from last year where we’re sitting there hoping that other teams lose and this year we just put in our hands, went out and wrestled and just had some fun and scored points,” Jensen said.

UNK was anchored by six seniors using their extra COVID year of eligibility. One was Matt Malcom, who won his second individual national title.

“Those past two years gave everyone that was returning a little bit of a chip on our shoulder and, more or less, we all knew that it was our last chance and we all had to go get it done for ourselves and for each other,” Malcom said.

Portillo and Sam Turner both finished as national runners up, but left the tournament with tears of joy because of the team title.

“This team was never about chasing individual greatness. If that was the case, we could have gone anywhere," Portillo said. "Everybody that comes to this school comes here because they want to be a part of a collective great.” 

This is UNK’s fourth wrestling national title and first since 2013.