Lovett Tabbed Big Ten Wrestler of the Week

For the second time this season, Husker Ridge Lovett (149) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. The senior earned the honor after his major decision over Penn State’s No. 2 Shayne Van Ness. With the win, Lovett improved to 11-1 (7-0 dual) on the season, and brings home the fourth weekly conference honor for the Big Red.

Lovett has garnered 30 dual points for the Huskers yet this season, leading the Big Red, by means of two falls, one major decision, one tech. fall and three decisions in duals. The senior has won three of his four top-10 bouts this season, his only loss to No. 1 Caleb Henson in the Cliff Keen Final. Following the Huskers win over Van Ness, Lovett also rose to No. 2 in the national InterMat rankings.

The last Husker to be honored twice in a season with the Big Ten weekly award was Mikey Labriola in 2021-22. The last time three Big Red wrestlers were honored in weekly awards from the conference was in the 2018-19 season. In no season on record have the Huskers received weekly honors in more than three weeks, making Lovett and the 2024-25 season the first.

Up next, Lovett and the Huskers head to Michigan for a double-dual weekend. NU will start at No. 18 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. (CT), which will be televised on BTN. On Sunday, Jan. 26, the Big Red take on Michigan State at noon and will be streamed on B1G+.

Jan. 23
W: Drake Ayala, Jr., IOWA
W: Ridge Lovett, Gr., NEB
F: Brock Mantanona, MICH

Other Huskers honored this season:

Nov. 21
W: Ridge Lovett, Sr., NEB
F: Charlie Millard, MINN

Dec. 12
W: Antrell Taylor, So., NEB
W: Matt Ramos, Sr., PUR
F: Josh Barr, PSU

Jan. 16
W: Jaxon Smith, Jr., MD
W: Greg Kerkvliet, Sr., PSU
F: Christopher Minto, NEB