Burroughs, Dwyer Shine at NWCA All-Star Classic

Fullerton, Calif. - Seniors Jordan Burroughs and Stephen Dwyer solidified their positions among the best college wrestlers in the country, as each Husker brought home a title from the nationally-recognized NWCA All-Star Classic at a soldout Titan Gym Sunday afternoon in Fullerton, Calif.

In its 44th year, Nebraska's three participants at the NWCA All-Star Classic were the most ever in school history. The Huskers won two of their matches, as Burroughs defeated No. 2 Matt Moley of Bloomsburg in the 157-pound bout, 10-4, and Dwyer upset No. 2 Chris Henrich of Virginia at 174 pounds, 7-6. Senior Craig Brester represented Nebraska at 197 pounds, but fell to No. 1 Jake Varner of Iowa State, 5-2.

Ranked No. 7 in the nation, Dwyer upset Henrich in one of the day's most competitive matches, overcoming an early three-point deficit before turning in the winning takedown with 30 seconds remaining in the match for a 7-6 decision. Dwyer took his first lead over Henrich in the second period with a takedown to gain a 5-4 advantage, but a pair of escapes put Dwyer in a 6-5 deficit with under a minute remaining in the match. Dwyer then turned in his second takedown with just over 30 seconds left on the clock and rode out the time to the victory. It was a second-straight clutch performance for Dwyer, who pinned Wisconsin's Brendan Ard last Sunday to give Nebraska a 26-17 season-opening win.

Burroughs left little doubt that he has earned the No. 1 national ranking at 157 pounds, using a dominant third period to defeat Moley by a 10-4 decision. The Sicklerville, N.J., native led just 3-1 heading into the final period, but registered two takedowns and drove Moley to the mat for a three-point near fall in the last two minutes of the match. Moley scored his only points on four escapes and never led Burroughs after the two-time NU All-American took a 2-0 lead in the first period. The defending NCAA champion, Burroughs has now won 39 straight matches dating back to the 2007-08 season.

In the most anticipated match of the event, Brester and Varner battled to the final horn at 197 pounds, but a Varner reversal in the first minute of the third period led the Cyclone to a 5-2 win. Brester held a short 1-0 advantage in the second period, but then gave up a takedown and was unable to overcome Varner's late advantage.

The Big 12 Conference was strongly represented at the event, as nine of the 20 NWCA All-Star Classic participants were from NU's league.

After facing tough tests through its first two weekends of action, Nebraska continues its 2009-10 season with a busy and challenging day this Saturday, Nov. 28 when the Huskers travel to the Journeymen/Brute Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y. Nebraska will dual Binghamton (8:15 a.m.), No. 16 Lehigh (12:15 p.m.), Hofstra (2:15 p.m.) and Appalachian State (4 p.m.).

2009 NWCA All-Star Classic Results
157 - Burroughs (NU) wins by decision over Moley (BU), 10-4
174 - Dwyer (NU) wins by decision over Henrich (UV), 7-6
197 - Varner (ISU) wins by decision over Brester (NU), 5-2

NWCA All-Star Classic Play-by-Play
Titan Gym; Fullerton, Calif.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009
All rankings shown based NWCA Poll

157 Pounds: No. 1 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) vs. No. 2 Matt Moley (Bloomsburg)
First Period...Burroughs takedown, 2-0...Moley escape, 2-1...Second Period...Burroughs escape, 3-1...Third Period...Moley escape, 3-2...Burroughs takedown, 5-2...Burroughs near fall, 8-2...Moley escape, 8-3...Burroughs takedown, 10-3... Moley escape, 10-4.

Burroughs (NU) wins by decision over Moley (BU), 10-4

174 Pounds: No.  2 Chris Henrich (Virginia) vs. No. 7 Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska)
First Period...Henrich takedown, 0-2...Dwyer escape, 1-2...Henrich takedown, 1-4...Dwyer escape, 2-4...Second Period...Dwyer escape, 3-4...Dwyer takedown, 5-4...Henrich escape, 5-5...Third Period...Henrich escape, 5-6...Dwyer takedown, 7-6.

Dwyer (NU) wins by decision over Henrich (UV), 7-6

197 Pounds: No. 1 Jake Varner (Iowa State) vs. No. 2 Craig Brester (Nebraska)
First Period...Second Period...Brester escape, 0-1...Varner takedown, 1-2...Brester escape, 2-2...Third Period...Varner reversal, 2-4...Varner riding time advantage, 2-5.

Varner (ISU) wins by decision over Brester (NU), 5-2