Huskers Take Down Sooners, 21-9

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln-The No. 2 Husker wrestling team claimed the final three matches of its dual with No. 18 Oklahoma to win 21-9 in front of more than 1,300 fans at the NU Coliseum on Sunday. Nebraska improves to 12-2 on the year, including a perfect 3-0 in the Big 12, while the Sooners drop to 12-5 overall and 0-4 in conference play.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

NU won seven of the 10 contested matches in a dual that started at 157 pounds. The turning point came at 133 pounds as sophomore Kenny Jordan earned a come-from-behind win to stop a Sooner rally. Oklahoma’s Brian Shelton scored an early takedown to take a 2-0 lead, but Jordan battled back with two takedowns in the third period to claim an 11-4 decision.

 

The Sooners had upset on their mind just one match before as OU’s unranked Joey Fio topped No. 4 Paul Donahoe, 6-5, at 125 pounds to pull the Sooners within three points at 12-9. Jordan stopped the bleeding at 133 pounds and sophomore Mike Rowe sealed the match at 141. Rowe caught No. 15 Zack Bailey in a cradle late in the first period and parlayed it into a three-point nearfall. Rowe scored four points in the final period to cruise to a 7-4 decision and put the Huskers up 18-9.

 

The Huskers honored their lone senior before the dual as part of Senior Day and NU’s Jon May gave the fans what they came for with a 6-3 decision over Oklahoma’s Nathan Fernandez at heavyweight. May notched two takedowns and had a 1:37 riding-time advantage to finish his final home dual with a win.

 

The upset of the night came at 197 pounds as NU’s Craig Brester won a 6-1 decision over Joel Flaggert. Brester, a sophomore, entered the match ranked No. 10 in the nation to Flaggert’s No. 5 ranking. Brester was the aggressor the whole match as Flaggert was penalized twice for stalling. The win improves Brester to 10-3 in duals this year.

 

Brandon Browne (174), Stephen Dwyer (165) and Jordan Burroughs (149) all recorded wins for the Huskers as every match was decided by a decision. Browne, a junior, improves his overall record to 26-2 to lead the Huskers in wins, while Burroughs, a sophomore, has an 11-3 dual record this season.

 

NU finished its home season with a perfect 4-0 record in the NU Coliseum as the Huskers went undefeated at home for the first time since 2003-04.

 

Nebraska hits the road for its final three duals of the season. The Huskers travel east to face Rider at noon on Feb. 16 and No. 16 Hofstra at noon on Feb. 17, before squaring off against No. 8 Iowa State in Ames on Feb. 24.

 

No. 2 <?xml:namespace prefix="ns0" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska 21, No. 18 Oklahoma 9

NU Coliseum, Lincoln, Neb.

Sunday, Feb. 10

 

Match Results

125 Pounds-Joey Fio (OU) by dec. over No. 4 Paul Donahoe (NU), 6-5

133 Pounds-No. 8 Kenny Jordan (NU) by dec. over No. 13 Brian Shelton (OU), 11-4

141 Pounds-Mike Rowe (NU) by dec. over No. 15 Zack Bailey (OU), 7-4

149 Pounds?No. 7 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by dec. over No. 13 Will Rowe (OU), 5-3

157 Pounds?No. 20 Chad Terry (OU) by dec. over No. 16 Chris Oliver (NU), 7-0

165 Pounds-No. 10 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over No. 20 Max Dean (OU), 8-6

174 Pounds-No. 5 Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over Jeff James (OU), 5-4

184 Pounds-No. 6 Josh Weitzel (OU) by dec. over No. 10 Vince Jones (NU), 7-2
197 Pounds-No. 10 Craig Brester (NU) by dec. over No. 5 Joel Flaggert (OU), 6-1

285 Pounds-No. 20 Jon May (NU) by dec. over Nathan Fernandez (OU), 6-3