Husker Grapplers Open Season With Win Over Drexel

Philadelphia, Pa.-- The No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team used three pins and two technical falls to win its first dual of the 2000-01 season against Drexel, 35-12, in Philadelphia, Pa., Thursday night. The victory also gave new Husker Head Coach Mark Manning his first career win at NU.

The night started at 149 pounds, where redshirt freshman Travis Baker came back and scored 12 unanswered points after trailing Brad Denker, 5-4, at the end of the first period, to win 16-5.

Two-time All-American and second-ranked Bryan Snyder started the pinning party for the Huskers with a fall over Jason Staso 3:17 into the match. The Big Red then suffered a setback at 165 pounds, as senior Ryan Schultz dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 19 Dave Dietrich, putting the team tally to 10-3.

At 174 pounds, No. 14 Ati Conner dominated his opponent, earning five team points with a 27-12 technical fall victory. Wrestling up a weight, redshirt freshman Matt Fletcher filled in well for the injured Charles McTorry (nerve condition), with a 9-5 decision over Pat Shufelt to give NU an 18-3 lead.

Defending 197-pound NCAA champion Brad Vering came away with a 20-4 technical fall victory over Chris Jones just 4:28 into the match. At heavyweight, sophomore Pat Miron dropped his match with Mike Carroll, 3-2.

With a 23-6 lead, redshirt freshman Jason Powell and All-American Todd Beckerman registered falls in the next two weights to finish out Nebraska?s scoring.

Manning was pleased was his new team?s performance in the first dual of the season.

?We were aggressive,? Manning said. ?A lot of our guys were super aggressive and just out-fought and out-toughed their guys. We put a lot of guys on their backs and really dominated those weights.?

NU will return to the mat on Saturday, Nov. 11, in Lawrenceville, N.J., to take on Rider. The dual will begin at 1 p.m.