Padden Wins Big 12 Championship

Omaha, Neb. - In a night highlighted by Nebraska's first individual Big 12 Champion since 2002, the fourth-ranked Nebraska wrestling team saw at least five wrestlers qualify for the 2005 NCAA Championships, at the 2005 Big 12 Championships held at Qwest Center OMAHA in Omaha, Neb. The Huskers finished 3rd with 47.5 team points, behind Oklahoma State and Iowa State. 197-pound junior wrestler B.J. Padden defeated top-ranked Jake Rosholt of Oklahoma State, 6-2, to earn the conference crown.

 

After a scoreless first period, Padden earned an escape three seconds into the second period to take an early 1-0 lead. Padden added to his lead with a takedown with 49 seconds to go in the frame. After giving up an escape toward the end of the second period, Padden registered a third-period takedown to seal the dual.

 

Travis Pascoe earned his fourth career trip to the NCAA Championships with his runner-up finish at 184 pounds. Pascoe defeated Oklahoma's Justin Dyer, 10-5, in the semifinals before losing by fall to Iowa State's Kurt Backes in the first period of their match.

 

Dominick Moyer clinched his first career bid to the NCAA Championships with his runner-up finish at 133 pounds. Moyer defeated Tyler McCormick of Missouri by injury default in the semifinals before losing to OSU's Nathan Morgan by major decision, 14-6, in the finals.

 

Matt Keller earned his second career trip to the NCAA's with a 6-3 victory over Iowa State's Grant Nakamura at 125 pounds. The sophomore from McDonald, Tenn., rebounded from a first-round loss by fall against Oklahoma State's Coleman Scott, beating Missouri's Tim Kephart, 10-3, and setting up Keller's victory over Nakamura.

 

Also earning his way to nationals with a third-place finish was Jacob Klein at 165 pounds. He defeated Travis Paulson of Iowa State, 3-1, to earn his spot at nationals. After losing in overtime to Oklahoma State's Johny Hendricks, Klein rebounded with a 1-0 win over Wes Roberts of Oklahoma in the consolation semifinals.

 

The Huskers will be in action at the 2005 NCAA Championships, held March 17-19 at the Saavis Center in St. Louis, Mo. Nebraska finished fifth at nationals last year, led by 125-pound national champion Jason Powell.

 

Final Team Standings

1-Oklahoma State-95

2-Iowa State-49

3-Nebraska-47.5

4-Oklahoma-45

5-Missouri-35

 

Final Match Results

125-Coleman Scott (OSU) by dec. over Sam Hazewinkel (OU), 2-1 (OT-TB1)

133-Nathan Morgan (OSU) by major dec. over Dominick Moyer (NU), 14-6

141-Nate Gillick (ISU) by dec. over Teyon Ware (OU), 4-3 (TB2)

149-Zach Esposito (OSU) by dec. over Matt Storniolo (OU), 10-4

157-Kevin Ward (OSU) by dec. over Brad Cieleski (MU), 6-4

165-Johny Hendricks (OSU) by dec. over Tyron Woodley (MU), 4-1

174-Chris Pendleton (OSU) by dec. over Ben Askren (MU), 12-8

184-Kurt Backes (ISU) by fall over Travis Pascoe (NU), 2:13

197-B.J. Padden (NU) by dec. over Jake Rosholt (OSU), 6-2

HWT-Steve Mocco (OSU) by dec. over Scott Coleman (ISU), 9-4

 

Outstanding Wrestler: Coleman Scott, Oklahoma State, 125 pounds

 

NCAA Qualifiers: Top three finishers at each weight class, plus the following six wild-card selections

Grant Nakamura, 125, Iowa State

Matt Murray, 141, Nebraska

Travis Shufelt, 149, Nebraska

Travis Paulson, 165, Iowa State

Nick Passalano, 174, Iowa State

Matt Pell, 184, Missouri

 

MORNING/AFTERNOON SESSION ATTENDANCE - 3,205

EVENING SESSION ATTENDANCE - 3,569

 

First-Round Results

125-Grant Nakamura (ISU) by major dec. over Tim Kephart (MU), 12-0

133-Joe Comparin (OU) by dec. over Jesse Sundell (ISU), 6-4 (OT)

141-Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) by major dec. over Chris McCormick (MU), 16-3

149-Cody Greene (MU) by dec. over Aron Scott (ISU), 5-3

157-Kevin Ward (OSU) by dec. over Charles Jones (OU), 6-2

165-Travis Paulson (ISU) by dec. over Wes Roberts (OU), 6-5

174-Nick Passalano (ISU) by dec. over Marc Harwood (NU), 2-1 OT (TB1)

184-Justin Dyer (OU) by dec. over Clay Kehrer (OSU), 5-2

197-Jeff Foust (MU) by dec. over Trevor Smith (ISU), 7-5

HWT-Jon May (NU) by dec. over Chase Wetenkamp (MU), 9-4

 

Semifinals

125-Sam Hazewinkel (OU) by major dec. over Grant Nakamura (ISU), 18-5

125-Coleman Scott (OSU) by fall over Matt Keller (NU), 6:21

133-Dominick Moyer (NU) by inj. def. over Tyler McCormick (MU), 5:16

133-Nathan Morgan (OSU) by dec. over Joe Comparin (OU), 6-1

141-Nate Gallick (ISU) by dec. over Daniel Frishkorn (OSU), 5-3

141-Teyon Ware (OU) by dec. over Matt Murray (NU), 7-1

149-Zack Esposito (OSU) by major dec. over Cody Greene (MU), 16-5

149-Matt Storniolo (OU) by dec. over Travis Shufelt (NU), 11-7

157-Kevin Ward (OSU) by dec. over Trent Paulson (ISU), 7-4

157-Brad Cieleski (MU) by dec. over B.J. Wright (NU), 9-7

165-Johny Hendricks (OSU) by dec. over Jacob Klein (NU), 6-4, OT (SV2)

165-Tyron Woodley (MU) by dec. over Trent Paulson (ISU), 2-1

174-Chris Pendelton (OSU) by major dec. over Nick Passalano (ISU), 13-4

174-Ben Askren (MU) by dec. over E.K. Waldhaus (OU), 5-1

184-Travis Pascoe (NU) by dec. over Justin Dyer (OU), 10-5

184-Kurt Backes (ISU) by dec. over Matt Pell (MU), 7-2

197-Jake Rosholt (OSU) by major dec. over Jeff Foust (MU), 14-4

197-B.J. Padden (NU) by dec. over Joel Flaggert (OU), 5-3

HWT-Scott Coleman (ISU) by dec. over Jake Hager (OU), 6-2

HWT-Steve Mocco (OSU) by major dec. over Jon May (NU), 9-0

 

Consolation Semifinals

125-Matt Keller (NU) by dec. over Tim Kephart (MU), 10-3

133-Jesse Sundell (ISU) by inj. def. over Tyler McCormick (MU)

141-Matt Murray (NU) by dec. over Chris McCormick (MU), 5-4 OT, (TB1)

149-Travis Shufelt (NU) by dec. over Aron Scott (ISU), 11-5

157-B.J. Wright (NU) by dec. over Charles Jones (OU), 4-3 OT (TB1)

165-Jacob Klein (NU) by dec. over Wes Roberts (OU), 1-0

174-E.K. Waldhaus (OU) by dec. over Marc Harwood (NU), 2-1

184-Matt Pell (MU) by dec. over Clay Kehrer (OSU), 3-2

197-Joel Flaggert (OU) by dec. over Trevor Smith (ISU), 8-6

HWT-Justin Hager (OU) by dec. over Chase Wetenkamp (MU), 8-4

 

Third-Place Matches

125-Matt Keller (NU) by dec. over Grant Nakamura (ISU), 6-3

133-Jesse Sundell (ISU) by dec. over Joe Comparin (OU), 6-4 OT (SV1)

141-Daniel Frishkorn (OSU) by dec. over Matt Murray (NU), 8-1

149-Cody Greene (MU) by fall over Travis Shufelt (NU), 5:17

157-Trent Paulson (ISU) by major dec. over B.J. Wright (NU), 12-4

165-Jacob Klein (NU) by dec. over Travis Paulson (ISU), 3-1

174-EK Waldhaus (OU) by dec. over Nick Passolano (ISU), 3-1

184-Justin Dyer (OU) by dec. over Matt Pell (MU), 4-2

197-Joel Flaggert (OU) by dec. over Jeff Foust (MU) 5-3

HWT-Justin Hager (OU) by dec. over Jon May (NU), 6-1