Huskers First after First Day at Vegas Invite

Lincoln-The Nebraska wrestling team, ranked sixth in the country, sits in first place with 74 points after the first day of competition at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Friday. Minnesota is second with 59.5 points, Boise State sits third with 56 points, while Pittsburgh (54) and Indiana (53.5) round out the top five. With more than 44 teams and 380 competitors in the field, the Huskers have four wrestlers still in the championship bracket, and two in the consolation bracket.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Four Nebraska wrestlers advance to the semifinals with a perfect 3-0 record on the day. Junior Craig Brester notched the most impressive performance of the day, posting a fall, technical fall and major decision in his three victories at 197 pounds. Senior Brandon Browne earned three straight major decisions at 174 pounds, while juniors Jordan Burroughs (157) and Stephen Dwyer (165) opened the tournament with two bonus-point victories and won a decision in the quarterfinals to advance. Dwyer had two technical falls to Burroughs’ two major decisions.

 

Redshirt freshman Tucker Lane and sophomore Matt Vacanti will wrestle tomorrow in the consolation bracket. Lane opened with a decision and pinned his second round opponent before nearly pulling a huge upset in the quarterfinals. Lane, unranked at heavyweight, took No. 6 Zach Schaefer of Pittsburgh to overtime before Schaefer could earn the 3-1 sudden victory. Vacanti pinned his first round opponent, but lost in the second round at 133 pounds. He rebounded with four straight wins, including three by bonus points to advance to the second day of competition.

 

Four Huskers are out of the tournament, including senior Vince Jones, who is ranked No. 7 at 184 pounds. A scoring mistake during his first match led to a 15-minute delay during the contest, and ended in a 9-7 sudden loss to Wyoming’s Joe Leblans after the match went to overtime. Jones bounced back with three-straight victories, including two pins, but lost to Montana State’s Evan Hinebauch in the consolation bracket to end his tournament. Redshirt freshman Chris Hacker went 2-2 at 149 pounds, while redshirt freshman Andy Pokorny (125) and sophomore Curtis Salazar (141) went 0-2.

 

Wrestling begins at 11 a.m CT tomorrow with consolation action, while the semifinals begin at noon CT. Huskers.com will have live stats for all Nebraska wrestlers, while Thewrestlingmall.com will continuously updated full tournament results throughout the day. Results of Nebraska’s wrestlers from the first day follow.

 

No. 6 Nebraska at Las Vegas Invitational

Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Friday, Dec. 5

 

Team Standings

1. Nebraska ? 74.0

2. Minnesota ? 59.5

3. Boise State ? 56

4. Pittsburgh ? 54

5. Indiana ? 53.5

6. Michigan ? 52

7. Purdue ? 50.5

8. Ohio State ? 50  

T9. Cal State Bakersfield ? 47

T9. Cornell ? 47

 

Nebraska Results

125 Pounds

Micah Ferguson (Cal Poly) by dec. over Andy Pokorny (NU), 5-2

Derek Reber (Bucknell) by dec. over Andy Pokorny (NU), 8-1

 

133 Pounds

Matt Vacanti (NU) by fall over Whitt Dunning (Army), 6:17

Thomas Kimbrell (Cal St Bakersfield) by dec. over Matt Vacanti (NU), 5-3

Matt Vacanti (NU) by major dec. over John Triggas (Brown), 18-7

Matt Vacanti (NU) by fall over Franky Villaescusa (ERU), 4:20

Matt Vacanti (NU) by dec. over Zac Stevens (UM), 7-4

Matt Vacanti (NU) by injury default over Grant Lowther (UWV)

 

141 Pounds

No. 17 Filip Novachkov (Cal Poly) by dec. over Curtis Salazar (NU), 9-3

Teddy Astorga (Cal St Fullerton) by dec. over Curtis Salazar (NU), 11-9

 

149 Pounds

Mark Powell (Pitt) by dec. over Chris Hacker (NU), 7-2

Chris Hacker (NU) by dec. over Ryan Larsen (NSU), 12-8

Chris Hacker (NU) by dec. over Jose Serrato (DSU), 10-3

Chase Smith (Wyo) by dec. over Chris Hacker (NU), 9-4

 

157 Pounds

No. 3 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by major dec. over Aaron Hynes (UM), 16-7

No. 3 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by major dec. over Andrey Patselov (NDSU), 18-5

No. 3 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by dec. over Tyler Safratowich (UM), 5-2

 

165 Pounds

No. 4 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by tech. fall over Blake Hodne (DSU), 16-1

No. 4 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by tech. fall over Thad Zempel (WWU), 16-0

No. 4 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over Tyler Sherfey (BSU), 5-4

 

174 Pounds

No. 3 Brandon Browne (NU) by major dec. over Johny Ortega (WWU), 18-6

No. 3 Brandon Browne (NU) by major dec. over Jesse Feinsad (NMU), 13-4

No. 3 Brandon Browne (NU) by major dec. over Tyler Bernacchi (UCD), 13-5

 

184 Pounds

Joe Leblans (Wyo) by dec. over No. 7 Vince Jones (NU), 9-7 SV

No. 7 Vince Jones (NU) by fall Andrew Roden (NMU), 1:30

No. 7 Vince Jones (NU) by dec. over Brent Eidenschink (UM), 9-6

No. 7 Vince Jones (NU) by fall over Tommy Spellman (VT), 1:50

Evan Hinebauch (MSU) by fall over No. 7 Vince Jones (NU), 2:12

 

197 Pounds

No. 3 Craig Brester (NU) by fall over Abe Otrambo (Cal Davis), 2:10

No. 3 Craig Brester (NU) by tech. fall over Brandon Stearns (Brown), 17-2

No. 3 Craig Brester (NU) by major dec. over Matt Wilps (Pitt), 12-4

 

285 Pounds

Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over Bill Beiermeister (Sacred Heart), 6-0

Tucker Lane (NU) by fall over Trey McLean (Penn), 2:08

No. 6 Zach Schaefer (Pitt) by dec. over Tucker Lane (NU), 3-1 sudden victory