Photo by UNK Athletics/Corbey R. Dorsey Josh Portillo has his hand raised after winning a match for Nebraska-Kearney. Portillo is a Clarion-Goldfield/Dows graduate.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Josh Portillo was in attendance a week ago to watch his brother, Justin Portillo, compete for a national wrestling title.

Now, he gets his shot.

Portillo, a three-time state champion for Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, will compete for the University of Nebraska-Kearney beginning here Friday at the NCAA Div. II Championships.

The redshirt junior earned the No. 2 national seed after going 26-7 and winning a regional title. Portillo will face Minnesota State’s Trenton McManus in the 125-pound opening round.

“My goal is to win a national title,” Portillo said. “That has always been the goal. I write it down often and I believe 2020 is the year it happens. I’m also just trying to go out there and wrestle free.

“Sometimes the best people don’t win the national title in the end, so no matter what, I am going in giving my absolute all, and what happens happens.”

Justin Portillo placed second for Grand View as the Vikings claimed their ninth consecutive NAIA team title.

“It is phenomenal that Justin and I are both succeeding as much as we are,” Portillo said. “I’m just glad I don’t have to through him to win a national title.”

With the Cowboys, Portillo went 126-2, capturing titles as a sophomore, junior and senior. He spent 2016-17 with South Dakota State, going 18-10 in open tournaments while taking a redshirt.

During that season, he reached the finals at 125 pounds of the Ridgewater Open with Justin, as both opted to share the title.

The following season, Portillo transferred to Nebraska-Kearney and placed fifth at nationals to earn All-American honors, finishing the season 13-7 overall. He followed that up with a run to the finals, going 32-7 with a Div. II-leading 13 technical falls.

Among his 45 wins with UNK, 15 have come via technical fall with seven major decisions and three pins. Portillo was also the 2019 NCAA Elite 90 Award winner, becoming the first athlete from the school to win the honor.

“I have adjusted amazing since transferring,” he said. “It is easy to adjust and join a program that you know you should’ve been at in the beginning. I really do believe have been a Loper forever, I just took a different path to get here.

“DII is tough and there are so many good guys that don’t make it to nationals. I never overlook anybody and know it could be my last meet. I’m grateful to have wrestled as well as I have and promise I will keep it moving from here.”

All total the Lopers advanced seven wrestlers to nationals.