Huskers Top Hokies, Tie Chippewas

Lincoln-The fourth-ranked Nebraska wrestling team handed Virginia Tech its first dual loss of the season, 26-11, and broke No. 6 Central Michigan’s 11-dual winning streak with a 17-17 tie in front of more than 2,600 fans at the Rose Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich., on Sunday. NU improved to 12-2-1 on the season, while VT fell to 14-1 and CMU to 12-1-1. The tie is NU’s first since knotting Penn at 17 in the final dual of the 2006-07 season.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

In a matchup of two of the top teams in the nation, the Huskers and Chippewas both won five bouts with each team winning two major decisions. Juniors Jordan Burroughs and Craig Brester claimed the Huskers’ bonus-point victories at 157 and 197, respectively. Burroughs battled Tyler Grayson through a scoreless first period, but notched three takedowns in each of the final two periods to take the 13-5 win and put NU on the board for the first time. Burroughs is 22-0 on the season, including 13-0 in duals.

 

Brester also stepped on the mat with the Huskers down, this time facing a 17-10 deficit with two matches left. Brester posted seven takedowns against Eric Simaz, but was unable to score backpoints, and settled for a 16-6 major decision to pull NU within three. Brester has nine major decisions this year and a 23-1 record.

 

Brester’s victory at 197 forced the result of the dual down to the heavyweight matchup, with redshirt freshman Tucker Lane earning another critical victory for the Huskers. Lane posted a takedown in the first period and held a slim 3-2 advantage late in the third period against Jarod Trice. With under a minute left, Trice attempted to throw Lane near the edge of the mat, but the Husker held his ground and landed on top of Trice for a takedown to seal the match at 5-4.

 

Senior Brandon Browne and junior Stephen Dwyer picked up decisions in bouts that pitted two top-10 ranked foes. Browne posted a 6-4 victory over No. 7 Mike Miller at 174 after going down early, while Dwyer used two takedowns and a reversal for a 7-2 win over No. 10 Trevor Stewart at 165.

 

CMU claimed a 14-point lead to start the dual with victories in the first four weights, including major decisions at 141 and 149, and notched their fifth victory with an upset of No. 10 Vince Jones at 184.

 

In their first contest of the day, the Huskers captured their 22nd straight win against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference by winning seven bouts against the Hokies, including bonus-point victories in four of the final six matches.

 

Brester posted the most impressive victory, using four two-point nearfalls in a 17-2 technical fall of D.J. Bruce., tying him for the team lead with three technical falls on the year. Burroughs and Dwyer notched back-to-back major decisions at 157 and 165. Burroughs added another six takedowns to his pursuit of the single-season dual takedown mark for a 16-6 win over Jesse Dong, while Dwyer used an early nearfall to take a 12-1 victory against Matt Epperly. Jones continued the NU momentum with a 10-2 major decision over Tommy Spellman.

 

Browne claimed a decision at 174 and Matt Vacanti got NU its first points with a decision at 133. Lane battled David Marone to the first tiebreaker before earning a 2-1 victory to round out NU’s wins.

 

Nebraska next travels to No. 12 Missouri, as the Huskers open the Big 12 portion of their schedule with a 2 p.m. dual in Columbia, Mo., on Jan. 31.

 

No. 4 Nebraska 26, Virginia Tech 11

Rose Arena, Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Sunday, Jan. 25

 

Match Results

125 - #13 Jarrod Garnett (VT) by dec. over Andy Pokorny (NU), 8-2

133 - Matt Vacanti (NU) by dec. over Will Livingston (VT), 6-3

141 - Chris Diaz (VT) by tech. fall over Curtis Salazar (NU), 20-4

149 - Pete Yates (VT) by dec. over Robert Sanders (NU), 5-2

157 - #3 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by major dec. over Jesse Dong (VT), 16-6

165 - #5 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by major dec. over Matt Epperly (VT), 12-1

174 - #2 Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over Anthony Trongone (VT), 8-4

184 - #10 Vince Jones (NU) by major dec. over Tommy Spellman (VT), 10-2

197 - #2 Craig Brester (NU) by tech. fall over D.J. Bruce (VT), 17-2

285 - #16 Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over David Marone, 2-1 TB1

 

No. 4 Nebraska 17, No. 6 Central Michigan 17

Rose Arena, Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Sunday, Jan. 25

 

Match Results

125 - #8 Scott Sentes (CMU) by dec. over Andy Pokorny (NU), 7-2

133 - #20 Conor Beebe (CMU) by dec. over Matt Vacanti (NU), 3-1

141 - #20 Tony D’Alie (CMU) by major dec. over Curtis Salazar (NU), 12-4

149 - #8 Steve Brown (CMU) by major dec. over Robert Sanders (NU), 14-4

157 - #3 Jordan Burroughs (NU) by major dec. over Tyler Grayson (CMU), 13-5

165 - #5 Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over #10 Trevor Stewart (CMU), 7-2

174 - #2 Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over #7 Mike Miller (CMU), 6-4

184 - Vince DiDona (CMU) by dec. over #10 Vince Jones (NU), 8-6

197 - #2 Craig Brester (NU) by major dec. over Eric Simaz (CMU), 16-6

285 - #16 Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over Jarod Trice (CMU), 5-4