Huskers Win Ninth Straight

Tempe, Ariz. -- The second-ranked Nebraska (17-1) wrestling team won its ninth straight match as the Huskers won seven of 10 matches to defeat 12th-ranked Arizona State, 26-9, Friday night at the Wells Fargo Arena

Starting at 149 pounds, Travis Shufelt (Oconto, Wis.) rebounded from his first loss of the season to defeat 12th-ranked Patrick Williams, 8-3 to give NU an early 3-0 lead. The victory over Williams was Shufelt’s third decision over the Sun Devil this year. He recorded a fall over Williams at the Cliff Keen Invitational and then a 9-5 decision at the Virginia Duals.

After the Shufelt win, Arizona State tied the match up at three as 18th-ranked Brian Stith defeated David Ingalls (Hazel, S.D.), 6-1. 17th-ranked Jacob Klein (Valley Center, Kan.) followed the Ingalls loss with his fourth straight victory, as he defeated Jamie Robbins, 11-2, to extend the Huskers lead to four.

At 174 pounds, James Pummel (Spearfish, S.D.) dropped a close decision to Ron Renzi, 4-3 before Travis Pascoe at 184 pounds (Rathdrum, Idaho) won his 23rd straight match. Pascoe recorded his 14th bonus point victory of the season, defeating Jason Trulson, 22-9 to give NU a 11-6 lead.

Following Pascoe’s victory, sophomore B.J. Padden (Buffalo County, S.D.) dropped his match to fourth-ranked Ryan Bader, 10-3. The loss by Padden’s snapped his seven-match winning streak.

The Huskers again extended its lead to five with senior Nathan McClain's (Flora Vista, N.M.) 6-3 victory over Clifford Starks. Top-ranked Jason Powell (Midwest City, Okla.) raised his record to 16-1 as he defeated ninth-ranked Christian Staylor, 4-3. The victory was Powell's 99th of his career.

Redshirt freshman Matt Keller (McDonald, Tenn.) won 22nd match of the season via medical injury over 11th-ranked Mike Simpson at 133 pounds before Matt Murray (Colby, Kan.) ended the dual with a 8-1 decision over Jeremy Mendoza at 141 pounds

The Huskers return to action on Thursday, Feb. 5, as they travel to Ames, Iowa, to take on eighth-ranked Iowa State at 7 p.m. before heading to Stillwater, Okla. to take on top-ranked Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Note: Sophomore Jacob Klein was named the College Sports Television wrestler of the week for the week of Jan. 18-25. Klein is the second Husker to earn this honor as junior Travis Pascoe received the wrestler of the week honor for his action during the week of Nov. 29.

#2 Nebraska 26, #13 Arizona State 9
149 #3 Travis Shufelt (NU) decision #12 Patrick Williams (ASU), 8-3 NU 3, ASU 0
157 #18 Brian Stith (ASU) decision David Ingalls (NU), 6-1 Tied at three
165 #17 Jacob Klein (NU) by major decision over Jamie Robbins ASU), 11-2 NU 7, ASU 3
174 Ron Renzi (ASU) decision James Pummel (NU), 4-3 NU 7, ASU 6
184 #4 Travis Pascoe (NU) by major decision over Jason Trulson (ASU), 22-9 NU 11, ASU 6
197 #4 Ryan Bader (ASU) decision #3 B.J. Padden (NU), 10-3 NU 11, ASU 9
HWT #9 Nathan McClain (ASU) decision Clifford Starks, 6-3 NU 14, ASU 9
125 #1 Jason Powell (NU) decision #9 Christian Staylor, 4-3 NU 17, ASU 9
133 #9 Matt Keller (NU) by medical injury over #11 Mike Simpson, 23, ASU 9
141 #11 Matt Murray (NU) decision Jeremy Mendoza, 8-1 NU 26, ASU 9