Dudley Advances to Big Ten Finals

Iowa City, Iowa – All-American TJ Dudley (184) defeated top-seeded Dom Abounader of Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals, 4-1, during Session II at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday night.

Dudley, a junior from Irmo, S.C., will make his first Big Ten finals appearance on Sunday against No. 3 seed Sammy Brooks of Iowa. Dudley enters the final day of action having won eight of his last nine matches.

Nebraska is in fourth place as a team with 97.5 points. Penn State leads the team race with 133 points, while Iowa (106) and Ohio State (100) round out the top three.

Seven Huskers still have a chance to get third place individually. No. 4 seed Tim Lambert (125) fell to No. 1 seed Nathan Tomasello, 10-5, in the semifinals. At 133 pounds, fifth-seeded Eric Montoya dropped a 5-1 decision to top-seeded Zane Richards of Illinois.

Senior Jake Sueflohn, the No. 3 seed at 149 pounds, lost to No. 2 seed Brandon Sorensen of Iowa, 5-2, in the semifinals. Aaron Studebaker (197) lost to top-seeded Morgan McIntosh of Penn State and Collin Jensen (HWT) fell to No. 2 seed Kyle Snyder of Ohio State.

Austin Wilson (165) and Micah Barnes (174) each won two matches in bonus-point fashion during Session II to remain alive in the consolation bracket. Wilson won by major decision over Jordan Amine before pinning Penn State’s Geno Morelli in 38 seconds. Barnes pinned Maryland’s Josh Snook in 3:37 and won by major decision against Wisconsin’s Ricky Robertson.

Anthony Abidin (141) and Tyler Berger (157) each went 1-1 in Session II and will battle for seventh place on Sunday.

Session III of the Big Ten Championships begins on Sunday at noon (CT) and will be streamed on BTN Plus. The finals, also slated for Sunday, will begin at 3 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.

Big Ten Championships
March 5-6, 2016
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, Iowa

125 pounds
First Round: #4 Tim Lambert (NEB) tech. fall Michael Beck (MD), 15-0
Quarterfinals: #4 Tim Lambert (NEB) major dec. #5 Elijah Oliver (IND), 14-1
Semifinals: #1 Nathan Tomasello (OSU) dec. #4 Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-5

133 pounds
First Round: #5 Eric Montoya (NEB) tech. fall #12 Garth Yenter (MSU), 15-0
Quarterfinals: #5 Eric Montoya (NEB) dec. #4 Geoff Alexander (MD), 6-3
Semifinals: #1 Zane Richards (ILL) dec. #5 Eric Montoya (NEB), 5-1

141 pounds
First Round: #6 Anthony Abidin (NEB) Bye
Quarterfinals: #3 Anthony Ashnault (RUT) dec. #6 Anthony Abidin (NEB), 5-2
Consolation Second Round: #6 Anthony Abidin (NEB) dec. Alfred Bannister (MD), 5-2
Consolation Quarterfinals: #2 Tommy Thorn (MINN) dec. #6 Anthony Abidin (NEB), 8-5

149 pounds
First Round: #3 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) tech. fall Kaelan Richards (MSU), 21-6
Quarterfinals: #3 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) major dec. Luke Blanton (IND), 11-2
Semifinals: #2 Brandon Sorensen (IOWA) dec. #3 Jake Sueflohn (NEB), 5-2

157 pounds
First Round: #7 Tyler Berger (NEB) Bye
Quarterfinals: #2 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) dec. #7 Tyler Berger (NEB), 14-11
Consolation Second Round: #7 Tyler Berger (NEB) tech. fall Doug Welch (PUR), 16-0
Consolation Quarterfinals: #3 Richie Lewis (RUT) dec. #7 Tyler Berger (NEB), 5-3

165 pounds
First Round: #6 Austin Wilson (NEB) dec. Dean Vettese (MSU), 4-1
Quarterfinals: #3 Steven Rodrigues (ILL) dec. #6 Austin Wilson (NEB), 3-1
Consolation Second Round: #6 Austin Wilson (NEB) major dec. Jordan Amine (MICH), 12-4
Consolation Quarterfinals: #6 Austin Wilson (NEB) pin #7 Geno Morelli (PSU), 0:38

174 pounds
First Round: #6 Micah Barnes (NEB) dec. #11 Aaron Calderon (MICH), 10-3
Quarterfinals: #3 Zac Brunson (ILL) dec. #6 Micah Barnes (NEB), 6-2
Consolation Second Round: #6 Micah Barnes (NEB) pin #12 Josh Snook (MD), 3:37
Consolation Quarterfinals: #6 Micah Barnes (NEB) major dec. #8 Ricky Robertson (WIS), 17-5

184 pounds
First Round: #4 TJ Dudley (NEB) pin Shwan Shadaia (MSU), 2:07
Quarterfinals: #4 TJ Dudley (NEB) dec. #5 Nick Gravina (RUT), 8-2
Semifinals: #4 TJ Dudley (NEB) dec. #1 Dom Abounader (MICH), 4-1

197 pounds
First Round: #5 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) dec. Garrett Wesneski (MD), 6-2
Quarterfinals: #5 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) tech. fall #4 Max Huntley (MICH), 17-2
Semifinals: #1 Morgan McIntosh (PSU) dec. #5 Aaron Studebaker (NEB), 8-2

Heavyweight
First Round: #6 Collin Jensen (NEB) pin Tyler Kral (PUR), 3:12
Quarterfinals: #6 Collin Jensen (NEB) major dec. #3 Sam Stoll (IOWA), 14-5
Semifinals: #2 Kyle Snyder (OSU) tech. fall #6 Collin Jensen (NEB), 24-9