Nebraska-Kearney’s Raufeon Stots talks with Coach Marc Bauer after advancing to the semifinals. Gary Abbott photo.

PUEBLO, Colo. – Seven of the last eight NCAA Division II wrestling championship trophies have wound up in Nebraska.

That string may reach eight of the last nine years.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney took a big step toward winning its second national championship by pushing six wrestlers into the semifinals on Friday night at CSU-Pueblo’s Massari Arena.

Third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney surged out to a first-place total of 56.5 points. The Lopers won their only national title in 2008. Top-ranked St. Cloud State is in second place with 41 points and three wrestlers in the semifinals.

“We came out and got the momentum going,” UNK coach Marc Bauer said. “Our guys just dug deep and kept driving. I’m really proud of our guys, but this is far from over. We just have to keep pushing.”

The University of Nebraska at Omaha won six national titles – from 2004-06 and from 2009-11 – before its program was dropped after last season.

Returning NCAA runner-ups Dalton Jensen (141) and T.J. Hepburn (157) reached the semifinals for Nebraska-Kearney. Hepburn will battle Wisconsin-Parkside’s Dillon Bera in the semifinals. Hepburn was second last year at 149 and Bera second at 157.

The Lopers received a huge win at 149 when third-ranked Raufeon Stots knocked off top-ranked Nate Herda of Augustana 8-5 in the quarterfinals.

“I just had to keep hitting my attacks,” Stots said. “My best defense is a good offense. I just had to keep attacking on my feet.”

The Lopers followed with another pivotal victory when fourth-ranked Joey Wilson knocked off top-ranked Tad Merritt of St. Cloud State 5-3 in the 165 quarterfinals. UNK’s Ross Brunkhardt (184) and Kevin Barrett (285) also reached the semis.

“I haven’t actually wrestled live in about two weeks because of a knee injury,” Wilson said. “Going into this tournament, I knew it was going to be a mental game. I know I’m not in as good of shape as I can be because of my injury. But this is my last year and I have this mentality that I have to win.”

The Lopers have a seventh All-American after Mark Fiala won his wrestleback at 174 late Friday night to clinch a top-eight finish.

The semifinals are set for 10 a.m. Mountain Time on Saturday. The finals are set for 7 p.m.

The 174 semifinal could be one of the best on Saturday with top-ranked Luke Rynish of Wisconsin-Parkside set to face second-ranked Michael Lybarger of Findlay. Rynish placed second at 174 last year while Lybarger won a national title at 165.

Returning champions Trevor Franklin of Upper Iowa (133) and Matthew Mueleners of Northern State (285) also reached the semifinal round.

2008 national champion Daniel Scanlan of Limestone reached the semifinals at 197. Scanlan, 24, placed eighth in the U.S. Open in freestyle in 2011.

2011 NCAA runner-up finishers William Young of Newberry (141) and Jake Kahnke of St. Cloud State (285) also advanced to the semis.

One of the best quarterfinal battles came at 125 when fourth-ranked Kyle McCrite of Grand Canyon knocked off top-ranked Corey Ulmer of Minnesota State-Moorhead 9-8.

“I want to be a national champion and that’s what keeps me going,” McCrite said. “I just kept attacking. I think I can take anybody in the country down.”

TOP 10 TEAMS
Nebraska-Kearney 56.5, St. Cloud State 41, Wisconsin-Parkside 34, Grand Canyon 31.5, Central Oklahoma 30.5, Augustana 30, Findlay 30, Newberry 29, Ashland 27, Upper Iowa 25.5.

SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS

125 Pounds
Cody Lensing (Augustana) vs. Joshua Kieffer (Indianapolis)
Dave Fogle (Pitt-Johnstown) vs. Kyle McCrite (Grand Canyon)

133 Pounds
Jason Jeremiason (Augustana) vs. Andy Pokorny (St. Cloud State)
Trevor Franklin (Upper Iowa) vs. Ryan Fillingame (Adams State)

141 Pounds
William Young (Newberry) vs. Trevor Johnson (Mary)
Dalton Jensen (Nebraska-Kearney) vs. Chism Fink (Augustana)

149 Pounds
Keenan Hagerty (Maryville) vs. Bobby Ward (Grand Canyon)
Ky Corley (Central Oklahoma) vs. Raufeon Stots (Nebraska-Kearney)

157 Pounds
Jarrod Shaw (West Liberty) vs. Bobby Williams (Ouachita Baptist)
Dillon Bera (Wisconsin-Parkside) vs. T.J. Hepburn (Nebraska-Kearney)

165 Pounds
Mike Williams (North Carolina-Pembroke) vs. Joey Wilson (Nebraska-Kearney)
Taylor Nagel (Mary) vs. Mason True (Findlay)

174 Pounds
Travis Sheehy (Newberry) vs. Victor Carazo (Grand Canyon)
Michael Lybarger (Findlay) vs. Luke Rynish (Wisconsin-Parkside)

184 Pounds
Ross Brunkhardt (Nebraska-Kearney) vs. Derek Skala (St. Cloud State)
Adam Walters (Findlay) vs. Tanner Keck (Central Oklahoma)

197 Pounds
Luke McPeek (Adams State) vs. Charles Morgan (King)
Shane Nolan (North Carolina-Pembroke) vs. Daniel Scanlan (Limestone)

285 Pounds
Jake Kahnke (St. Cloud State) vs. James Malechek (Wisconsin-Parkside)
Kevin Barrett (Nebraska-Kearney) vs. Matthew Meuleners (Northern State)