No. 8 Huskers Ousted From National Duals

Lincoln, Neb. -- For the first time since 1989, the eighth-ranked and
injury-plagued Nebraska wrestling team will not be competing on the second
day of the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals after a 1-2 showing in State
College, Pa., Saturday.

After a 21-13 win over host school Penn State in the first round that gave
Nebraska its 13th-consecutive 10-win season, NU dropped duals to
second-ranked Minnesota and No. 18 Lehigh to leave the Huskers on the
outside looking in for the final day of competition.

Already missing starters at 149 and 184 pounds, NU was also without
141-pound starter Dusty Spaulding, who was out with a hairline fracture of
his clavicle that he suffered at an open tournament last weekend. Without a
backup at the weight, NU was forced to forfeit, giving the opposing team six
points.

Seeded seventh in a field that featured eight of the top-10 and 12 of the
top-25 teams in the country, Nebraska got off on the right foot by winning
six matches out of 10 against the Nittany Lions.

In the quarterfinals, NU met a familiar foe in the Golden Gophers. On Jan.
11, Nebraska won just three matches in a 26-13 loss to Minnesota in Lincoln.
Today, the Huskers won only two matches, with the lone bright spots coming
at 157 and 197 pounds.

Two-time All-American Bryan Snyder avenged last week's loss to fifth-ranked
Luke Becker with a 3-1 double overtime victory. Both wrestlers exchanged
escapes in regulation and neither was able to score in the first overtime.
In the 30-second tiebreaker, Snyder, who chose bottom, scored a two-point
reversal with 14 seconds left to come away with the victory.

Still reeling, Nebraska met Lehigh in the consolation bracket just 20
minutes after dropping its match to the Gophers. NU started off quick with
a decision from Jason Powell at 125 pounds and the fifth pin of the year
from Todd Beckerman at 133 to put the Huskers out in front 9-0.

Lehigh jumped in front of the Huskers 12-9 after forfeiture at 141 pounds
and a fall at 149 by fourth-ranked Dave Esposito. Snyder tied the team race
back up with a 10-5 win over No. 11 Ryan Bernholz.

In the next three weights, Lehigh put the Huskers away with two decisions
and a pin at 184 pounds.

Trailing 24-12 heading into the final two weights, NU picked up solid
victories from NCAA Champion Brad Vering and sophomore heavyweight Pat
Miron.

Vering controlled fourth-ranked Jon Trenge with a 10-4 win, giving the
Howells, Neb., native his 24th-consecutive victory. He now stands at 19-0
on the year.

Miron upped his overall record to 13-14 on the year with a 5-3 win over Joe
Sahl.

Nebraska returns to dual competition on Feb. 2 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, against
head coach Mark Manning's former team, Northern Iowa, starting at 7 p.m.
Beckerman, Snyder and Vering will all be in action on Jan. 29 in the NWCA
All-Star dual.