Huskers Ground Falcons, 43-3

Colorado Spring, Colo. -- Behind five pins, the second-ranked Nebraska wrestling team improved to 14-1 on the season as it defeated Air Force, 43-3, Friday night in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Huskers won nine of ten matches and scored bonus points in six of them. The win also marked the sixth time this season that the Huskers have reached the 40-point mark.

In the opening match, Joey Malia (Billings, Mont.) used a late three-point near fall and a reversal to score a 12-5 decision over Brandon Strong at 133 pounds. Redshirt freshman Dominick Moyer (Oskaloosa, Iowa), who wrestled in place of an injured Matt Murray, fell behind 9-0 after two periods to Matthew Benza before catching Benza off balance and scoring his first career fall at the 5:59 mark. The win, Moyer's first career win in a dual, give NU a 9-0 lead.

“I could have easily given up, but I knew that he was getting tired,” Moyer said. “There is always that possibility to put someone on his back. That’s why you wrestle for seven minutes.”

Third-ranked Travis Shufelt (Oconto, Wis.) improved to 21-0 on the season with his tenth fall of the year and 22nd of his career over Chris Nissen at the 4:21 mark in the second period.

At 157 pounds, David Ingalls (Hazel, S.D.) produced a dominating performance, as he had over three and a half minutes of riding time to record a 16-6 major decision over Josh Peterson. Jacob Klein (Valley Center, Kan.) followed at 165 pounds and recorded a late three-point near fall to break a 5-all tie, defeating Blaine Brown, 9-5. Klein also added over a minute of riding time to earn the riding time point.

At 174 pounds, Jason High (Independence, Mo.) fell to Jacob Lillich, 6-2. Despite the loss, NU still led 22-3 heading into the final four weight classes. Travis Pascoe (Rathdrum, Idaho) notched his 20th win of the season and his fourth fall of the year over Luke Lefever at the 6:06 mark in the third period to give NU a 28-3 lead.

B.J. Padden (Buffalo County, S.D.) added to his team lead in falls with his 11th of the season, pinning Brendon McLean at 1:19 into the first period. Nathan McClain (Flora Vista, N.M.) added NU’s third straight fall and fifth of the night over Kurt Skarstedt at the 4:47 mark in the second period.

The final match of the night saw Chad Sportelli (Easton, Pa.) upset No. 19 Heath McKim, 6-4. Tied at four, Sportelli scored a takedown with 1:02 left to take a 6-4 lead. Sportelli was then able to withstand shots by McKim in the final minute and hold off for the victory.

“I just went out there and did what I had to do,” Sportelli said.  “I knew that if I had a close first two periods, then I knew I could beat him in the third. I felt good all week, and I knew I could take him.”

NU returns to action, tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 17 as the Huskers travel to Laramie, Wyo. to face off against the University of Wyoming at 8 p.m. (CST)

Nebraska def. Air Force, 43-3
133 Joey Malia (NU) dec.  Brandon Strong (AF), 12-5 NU 3, AF 0
141 Dominick Moyer (NU) by fall over Matthew Benza (AF), 5:59 NU 9, AF 0
149 #3 Travis Shufelt (NU) by fall over Chris Nissen (AF), 4:21 NU 15, AF 0
157 David Ingalls (NU) by major decision over Josh Peterson (AF), 16-6 NU 19, AF 0
165 #19 Jacob Klein by decision over Blain Brown (AF), 9-5 NU 22, AF 0
174 Jacob Lillich (AF) by decision over Jason High (AF), 6-2 NU 22, AF 3
184 #3 Travis Pascoe (NU) by fall over Luke Lefever (AF), 6:06 NU 28, AF 3
197 #3 B.J. Padden (NU) by fall over Brendon McLean (AF), 1:19 NU 34, AF 3
HWT #10 Nathan McClain by fall over Kurt Skarstedt (AF), 4:47 NU 40, AF 3
125 Chad Sportelli by decision over No. 19 Heath McKim, 6-4   NU 43, AF 3