Huskers Claim Fourth at National Duals

Lincoln - The No. 4 Nebraska wrestling team dropped two hard-fought duals on Sunday to finish fourth at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Huskers (8-2) suffered their first loss of the season with a 22-11 defeat by No. 1 Iowa in the morning’s semifinals and lost to No. 2 Iowa State by just one point in the consolation finals, 20-19.

 

NU was able to win three matches against the Hawkeyes, with Jordan Burroughs colleting the Huskers only bonus-point victory. The junior used a 13-point first period to collect a 22-7 technical fall over Iowa’s Matt Ballweg at 157 pounds and give Nebraska their first points of the dual. Senior Brandon Browne trailed late in his match with fifth-ranked Jay Borschel, but the 174-pounder notched a takedown with 15 seconds left to secure the victory. Top-ranked junior Craig Brester battled No. 20 Chad Beatty to overtime before earning a takedown to win 7-5. The Hawkeyes were able to take close matches from the Huskers, winning three matches by less than three points each, to take the dual victory.

 

In the consolation finals, Nebraska nearly completed a monumental comeback versus Iowa State, but the Cyclones used bonus-point victories and an upset at 197 pounds to take the close win. Heavyweight Tucker Lane stepped on the mat needing a major decision to tie the dual with NU down by four points. Lane scored an early takedown to take a lead and almost pinned third-ranked Dave Zabriskie in the second period. Lane came away a 7-6 upset victory, but was unable to pull the Huskers into a tie.

 

Burroughs once again was the first Husker to score, as NU spotted the Cyclones a 17-point lead. The junior posted a 12-4 major decision over fifth-ranked Cyler Sanderson for his 18th win of the season. He is the only undefeated Nebraska wrestler left this season after third-ranked Jake Varner defeated Brester at 197. The Huskers took five total matches from the Cyclones, as Vince Jones, Stephen Dwyer and Browne also notched victories. Jones pulled NU within one point after pinning No. 20 Jerome Ward in 5:10. Dwyer posted over three minutes of riding time against fifth-ranked Jon Reader at 165 en route to a 4-0 upset, while Browne continued the Huskers’ momentum with a 7-4 decision over Andrew Sorenson at 174.  

 

Nebraska returns to action next Sunday when the Huskers host South Dakota State and Maryland in the NU Coliseum at 2 and 4 p.m.

 

No. 1 Iowa 22, No. 4 Nebraska 11

UNI Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Sunday, Jan. 11

 

Match Results

125 ? JJ Krutsinger (UI) by dec. over Andy Pokorny (NU), 7-4

133 - #5 Daniel Dennis (UI) by dec. over Patrick Aleksanyan, 4-0

141 ? #1 Alex Tsirtsis (UI) by dec. over Curtis Salazar (NU), 7-2

149 - #1 Brent Metcalf (UI) by tech. fall over Robert Sanders (NU), 24-9

157 - #2 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by tech. fall over Matt Ballweg (UI), 22-7

165 - #3 Ryan Morningstar (UI) by dec. over #7 Stephen Dwyer (NU), 3-2

174 - #2 Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over #5 Jay Borschel (UI), 5-4

184 - #3 Phil Keddy (UI) by dec. over #14 Vince Jones (NU), 8-5

197 - #1 Craig Brester (NU) by dec. over #20 Chad Beatty (UI), 7-5 SV

285 - #12 Dan Erekson (UI) by dec. over #17 Tucker Lane (NU), 8-3

 

No. 2 Iowa State 20, No. 4 Nebraska 19

UNI Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Sunday, Jan. 11

 

Match Results

125 - #5 Tyler Clark (ISU) by fall over Andy Pokorny (NU), 3:58

133 - #6 Nick Fanthorpe (ISU) by major dec. over Matt Vacanti (NU), 12-4

141 - #2 Nick Gallick (ISU) by major dec. over Curtis Salazar (NU), 11-2

149 - #11 Mitch Mueller (ISU) by dec. over Robert Sanders (NU) 7-5 SV

157 - #2 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by major dec. over #5 Cyler Sanderson (ISU), 12-4

165 - #7 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over #5 Jon Reader (ISU), 4-0

174 - #2 Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over Andrew Sorenson (ISU), 7-4

184 - #14 Vince Jones (NU) by fall over #20 Jerome Ward (ISU), 5:10

197 - #3 Jake Varner (ISU) by dec. over #1 Craig Brester (NU), 10-3

285 - #17 Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over #3 Dave Zabriskie (ISU), 7-6