Nebraska?s Upset Bid Falls Short in Big 12 Opener

Lincoln - Freshman lightweights David Klingsheim (125) and C.J. Napier (133) carried the momentum from its senior leaders to give Nebraska a 16-13 lead with two matches remaining, but a shorthanded Husker wrestling team dropped the last two bouts and fell to Missouri, 22-16, in the Big 12 opener Friday night at the NU Coliseum.

In a down-to-the-wire battle, Nebraska hung tough with the 17th-ranked Tigers, eventually overcoming an early 7-0 deficit after Napier (15-11) came up with the biggest victory of his young career. The Columbus, Kan., native needed all seven minutes to defeat Missouri's Nathan McCormick, earning the 4-3 decision after an escape point broke a 3-3 tie with just over a minute remaining in the match.

Napier's win put the Huskers on top 16-13 before junior Mike Koehnlein (16-11) dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Todd Schavrien. The match tied the dual at 16 apiece, which Missouri then won 22-16 due to an injury forfeit at 149 pounds.

Nebraska tied the dual, 13-13, at 125 pounds on Klingsheim's (13-11) aggressive 11-6 decision over Eric Wilson. Klingsheim used two takedowns and a pair of two-point near falls to earn a conference win in his first Big 12 match, a feat that Napier also accomplished minutes later.

Senior All-Americans Stephen Dwyer (174) and Craig Brester (197) performed as talented veterans; with the fourth-ranked Dwyer (18-3) beginning Nebraska's upset bid by pinning No. 15 Dorian Henderson in the third match of the dual. Dwyer needed only 2 minutes, 10 seconds to nail down his seventh fall of the season and quickly turn a 7-0 Missouri lead into a one-point Husker deficit.

Two bouts later, Brester put the dual in a 10-10 tie with his 16th major decision victory of the season, easily downing No. 15 Brent Haynes, 14-4. Brester scored eight of his 14 points in a huge third period, improving his record to 22-0 on the season.

The only thing that stopped Nebraska's momentum was Missouri's defending national champion at Heavyweight, as Mark Ellis defeated sophomore Tucker Lane (18-7) in an 8-2 decision. The win gave the Tigers a 13-10 lead, which was enough to help MU escape with a victory, despite Klingsheim and Napier's breakout performances in the lightweight bouts.

Nebraska has a quick turnaround before hitting the mat again, as the Huskers host Northern Colorado in the non-conference finale Sunday at the NU Coliseum at 1 p.m. It will be Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day, giving UNL teachers and mentors free admission, popcorn and pop. The first 25 participants will also receive a free T-shirt.

No. 17 Missouri 22, Nebraska 16
Jan. 29, 2010
NU Coliseum
Lincoln, Neb.
Attendance: 706
157-Patrick Wright (MU) wins by decision over Tyler Koehn (NU), 4-0 (MU 3, NU 0)
165-#6 Nicholas Marable (MU) wins by major decision over James Nakashima (NU), 14-5 (MU 7, NU 0)
174-#4 Stephen Dwyer (NU) wins by fall over #15 Dorian Henderson (MU), 2:10 (MU 7, NU 6)
184-#3 Max Askren (MU) wins by decision over Josh Ihnen (NU), 13-7 (MU 10, NU 6)
197-#2 Craig Brester (NU) wins by major decision over #15 Brent Haynes (MU), 14-4 (MU 10, NU 10)
285-#8 Mark Ellis (MU) wins by decision over #19 Tucker Lane (NU), 7-2 (MU 13, NU 10)
125-David Klingsheim (NU) wins by decision over Eric Wilson (MU), 11-6 (MU 13, NU 13)
133-C.J. Napier (NU) wins by decision over Nathan McCormick (MU), 4-3 (NU 16, MU 13)
141-Todd Schavrien (MU) wins by decision over Mike Koehnlein (NU), 2-1 (NU 16, MU 16)
149-Scott O'Donnell (MU) wins by forfeit (MU 22, NU 16)