Jones Pins Huskers to National Duals Finals

Cedar Falls, Iowa-Junior Vince Jones scored a pin of Minnesota’s Roger Kish with four seconds left in the match to rally the No. 10 Nebraska wrestling team past the No. 6 Golden Gophers, 24-13, in the semifinals of the National Duals on Sunday. Jones and the Huskers improved to 9-1 heading into their finals match against No. 2 Iowa at 3 p.m.

 

Jones, currently ranked No. 10 at 184 pounds, trailed No. 2 Kish most of the match. Kish scored a takedown late in the first period to take a 2-0 lead, while Jones notched an escape in the second round to cut the lead to one. Kish chose the neutral position in the final round and looked to seal the win as he clearly was tiring. Jones’ final chance came with both wrestlers in the neutral position with eight second left. Jones executed a near-perfect takedown and pinned Kish with four seconds left to give the Huskers their first lead of the match at 17-13.

 

The Golden Gophers grabbed the early lead by winning the four of the first five matches and a 13-5 advantage. Junior Paul Donahoe lost his first match of the year as Minnesota’s Jayson Ness scored a takedown in overtime to win 6-4 at 125, while sophomore Kenny Jordan lost 8-4 to Mack Reiter at 133. Mike Rowe was defeated 10-6 at 141 as Minnesota shot out to a 9-0 edge. Sophomore Jordan Burroughs earned a 24-9 technical fall over Luke Mellmer at 149 pounds to earn the Huskers first points, but NU was still down 9-5. C.P. Schlatter defeated NU’s Chris Oliver at 157, but it would be the last match the Golden Gophers won in the dual. The Huskers won the final five matches to earn the come-from-behind victory.

 

Sophomore Stephen Dwyer and junior Brandon Browne earned decisions at 165 and 174 before Jones had his pin. Dwyer topped Tyler Safratowich 4-1, while Browne beat No. 10 Gabe Dretsch 3-2. Sophomore Craig Brester returned to his winning ways with a 14-3 major decision over Justin Bronson. Brester, ranked No. 4 at 197 pounds, lost both his matches yesterday to No. 3 and No. 2 wrestlers in his weight class. Senior Jon May capped the win with a 5-1 decision over Yura Malamura.

 

No. 10 Nebraska 24, No. 6 Minnesota 13

UNI Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa

 

Match Results

125 Pounds-No. 3 Jayson Ness (UM) by dec. over No. 1 Paul Donahoe (NU), 6-4 SV

133 Pounds-No. 5 Mack Reiter (UM) by dec. over No. 8 Kenny Jordan (NU), 8-4

141 Pounds-No. 4 Manuel Rivera (UM) by dec. over Mike Rowe (NU), 10-6

149 Pounds?No. 6 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by tech. fall over Luke Mellmer (UM), 24-9

157 Pounds?No. 6 C.P. Schlatter (UM) by major dec. over No. 17 Chris Oliver (NU), 10-2

165 Pounds-No. 8 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over Tyler Safratowich (UM), 4-1

174 Pounds-No. 5 Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over No. 10 Gabe Dretsch (UM), 3-2

184 Pounds-No.10 Vince Jones (NU) by dec. fall over No. 2 Roger Kish (UM), 6:56
197 Pounds-No. 4 Craig Brester (NU) by major dec. over Justin Bronson (UM), 14-3

285 Pounds-No. 19 Jon May (NU) by dec. over Yura Malamura (UM), 5-1