Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.Midland University wrestler Kody Kersten is earning lots of kudos after kicking up his efforts since Christmas break.
He's twice been named the Great Plains Athletic Conference and NAIA national wrestler of the week while compiling a 12-0 record, including a pin of Nebraska's Cory Brester. He's 19-6 overall this season at 184 pounds.
Over the weekend, he won all his matches to claim first place at the MVC Invite.
Kersten, who has been wrestling since kindergarten, said he's realized that his career is coming to a close.
"It's my last year, and I've got nothing to lose,'' he said. "I just keep having fun.''
Kersten has a strong wrestling pedigree. His father K.C. and uncles Kent and Kirk were his coaches at Logan-Magnolia, where he was a part of a few state championship teams. Older brother Klint also helps out with the younger wrestlers.
His younger brother Kolton wrestles at Iowa Central Community College.
The stands are full of Kerstens when he competes and, yes, almost all of them have a first name that begins with the letter K. Grandfather Charles, who was one of Kody's biggest fans until he died a few years ago, started the tradition with his four sons. They did the same.
"We're running out of K names,'' Kersten said.
Having so much family support is one of the best parts of wrestling, Kersten said. Winning is too.
He spends a lot of time on the mat and in the weight room to make it happen.
He's been able to surprise some opponents with what he calls his "funky moves."
"I use different things that people aren't used to,'' Kersten said. "If someone gets me into a cradle, I have a move I can swim out of and put them on their back.''
He scares his coach sometimes. But Midland coach Beau Vest said Kersten will use his mat awareness, gained through years of competing, to get himself out of jeopardy.
"In a scramble-type situation, he just has a knack for coming out of it on top in a good position,'' Vest said.
He's looking forward to seeing how far Kersten can carry his success. Although he faces some tough competition in the GPAC, Kersten has no doubt where he wants to end his career.
"My goal is to just keep doing what I'm doing — keep winning,'' he said. "Eventually I'd like to be the national champion.''
Updates
• Chris Deans came off the bench to score 49 points in 48 minutes in the span of two games for the University of Nebraska at Kearney last weekend. He made 12 of 14 3-pointers against Colorado-Colorado Springs and Colorado State-Pueblo. The senior from Hemingford, Neb., was named the Nebraska Division II player of the week.
UNK has won eight of its past 10 games.
Wayne State's Ashley Arlen earned the women's honor after recording her eighth double-double (21 points and 16 rebounds) Friday in an overtime win at Winona and then had 14 points, seven rebounds and a career-best seven assists the next night against Upper Iowa.
• Nebraska Wesleyan shot 63.8 percent from the field and Eric Jackson scored a career-high 29 points in a 95-84 upset of No. 5 Dordt last Saturday. Wesleyan snapped its 10-game slump against ranked opponents and earned its first win over a ranked team since beating No. 8 Briar Cliff on Jan. 30, 2010.
• Wayne State's Nicole Brungardt earned wins in the long jump (18-11¼), 60 meters (7.91) and 200 (26.58) at the Wildcat Open. She also anchored the first-place 4x400 relay team that included Rebecca Davenport, Madeline Glesinger and Paige Pollard with a time of 4:12.01.
• Wayne State has been picked to finish fourth in the Northern Sun preseason baseball coaches poll. The Wildcats were 26-19 and 18-10 in the league last season. Minnesota State is the favorite. Right fielder Mike Bisenius was chosen as a player to watch.
• Chadron State's Kaitlin Petri has been named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's basketball all-academic player of the year. She's the first basketball player at CSC to earn the award. The senior point guard from Kearney, Neb., has a 3.95 GPA in business administration.
• Katie Potter was named the Heart of America player of the week after leading Peru State to its first two wins. The Omaha Burke graduate averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists while hitting 10 of 22 field goals, 6 of 11 3-point shots and 7 of 11 free throws. She's averaging 8.86 points per game.
• Lincoln Christian graduate Taylor Shepard has earned a starting role for Minnesota State-Moorhead. The 6-foot-2 freshman is averaging 3.7 points and 3.2 rebounds. In her first start, she had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Her sister Jess, who plays for Lincoln Southeast, has committed to Nebraska. Her brother Clayton is a point guard for Lincoln East.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1034, marjie.ducey@owh.com
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