The Open Mat presents awards annually in three categories for each division of college wrestling at the conclusion of the season. Awards are presented for Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year and Wrestler of the Year.

Dalton Jensen guided Nebraska Kearney to its second straight NCAA Division II national championship this past season and sixth in program history.

The UNK head wrestling coach was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by The Open Mat on Thursday.

Jensen, a 2012 NCAA Division II national champion, led Nebraska Kearney to a 14-4 dual meet record competing against highly ranked college wrestling programs across multiple divisions. The Lopers battled NCAA Division I power Iowa State in November and 14-time NAIA national champion Grand View in January.

UNK finished runner-up at the 2026 NWCA National Duals, picking up three wins before losing in the finals to Central Oklahoma.

Nebraska Kearney claimed its seventh regional title in eight seasons and qualified seven wrestlers for the 2026 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.

The Lopers shined at the 2026 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with six of their seven national qualifiers earning All-America honors.

UNK wrestler Otgonbayar Batsuuri came through to win the national championship at 174 pounds as the No. 3 seed. Trenton Munoz (165) and Crew Howard (285) both finished second. Joe Airola (141) placed fifth, while Kaden Hart (184) and Jackson Kinsella (197) both finished sixth.

In addition, UNK concluded the season with the third highest team GPA in NCAA Division II wrestling. Nineteen Lopers earned Division II Scholar All-America honors from the NWCA.