Huskers Knock Off No. 4 Oklahoma

Norman, Okla.--For the second time in four days, the Nebraska wrestling team upset the No. 4 team in the nation.

The sixth-ranked Huskers defeated No. 4 Oklahoma (12-4-1) in a nailbiter, 18-17, Thursday evening at the OU Fieldhouse in Norman, Okla., to earn their 15th dual win of the season. Husker sophomore J.R. Plienis (20-9), ranked eighth and 10th nationally, earned a double overtime 2-1 win over sixth- and seventh-ranked John Henry Ward (19-4) in the meet's final heavyweight match to secure NU's second come-from-behind victory this week. Plienis scored on an escape with 19 seconds remaining in the match's second overtime.

Nebraska (15-5, 2-3) handed then-ranked No. 4 Iowa State a loss last Sunday, Jan. 31, by a 19-18 margin. The Huskers also tailored a comeback 19-18 win earlier this season at the Cliff Keen NWCA National Duals against then 12th-ranked Arizona State. Eight of NU's wins this season have been earned against ranked opponents.

Husker Head Coach Tim Neumann said his team gave a 110 percent effort. "The guys wrestled with a lot of heart tonight," Neumann said following the meet. "They drew together and and were very courageous in a hostile environment. I am very proud of them."

Nebraska started the dual with a win from sixth-ranked Paul Gomez (16-2, 13-2) at 125 pounds. Gomez, wrestling in just his second dual match since Dec. 13 because of illness and a string of forfeits from opposing teams, upset fourth-ranked Shane Valdez, 7-6. It was just the third loss of the year for Valdez, who has posted 24 wins this season. That match set the tone for the entire meet.

Oklahoma's Dane Valdez returned the upset favor on NU's 133-pound Todd Beckerman (16-13, 11-9) as Valdez pulled out a 4-3 win to tie the score at three apiece. Third- and fourth-ranked Michael Lightner (29-1) denied Husker Jose DeAnda upset bragging rights in the 141-pound match. Lightner edged the 12th- and 13th-ranked DeAnda (22-5, 13-4), 6-4, to give the Sooners the momentary lead.

Joe Henson, who was named the Big 12's Wrestler of the Week for aiding Nebraska to a come-from-behind win against Iowa State with an 8-5 win over Cole Sanderson last Sunday, continued to come up big for the Big Red. Henson pinned eighth- and 15th-ranked Jared Frayer (21-8), who has also received the Big 12 honor this season, in 4:45. Henson, ranked 12th and 13th nationally, moved to 17-5 and 10-3 with the win that put the Huskers back in command, 9-6.

No. 7 and 8 Bryan Snyder (24-2, 16-2) extended his 15-match win streak and earned his fifth win against a top 16 opponent this season with a 10-4 victory over OU's 11th- and 15th-ranked David Kjeldgaard (12-6). With Snyder's victory, Nebraska led 12-6 at the midway point.

At 165 pounds, the Sooners regained ground as fourth- and fifth-ranked Rodney Jones downed Tony Denke (6-8, 1-4) who was wrestling for usual starter Josh Henson, with a 19-4 technical fall.

With the Husker lead cut to one at 12-11, Oklahoma continued to come back with an 8-5 win by Keith Wilson (13-5) over Charles McTorry (10-15, 5-13) at 174 pounds. Nebraska's seventh- and eighth-ranked Brad Vering (18-6, 12-4) downed Tom Grossman, 10-4, in the 184-pound contest to get back a one-point advantage for the Huskers, but the lead vanished moments later when 13th- and 14th-ranked Waymon May (21-11) defeated 10th- and 12th-ranked Scott Munson (22-8, 14-6), 6-4.

Oklahoma entered the final match of the evening with a slight 17-15 lead and the home venue advantage, but Nebraska's Plienis, who has now won eight of his last 10 matches, upset sixth- and seventh-ranked John Henry Ward (19-4) to make NU's third come-from-behind victory this season a reality. Plienis, currently ranked eight and 10th in the nation, earned win no. 20 and his 15th dual win of the season in aiding the Huskers to victory.

Nebraska will continue its road trip with a dual at Chapel Hill, N.C. on Saturday evening. The 21st-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels host the Huskers at 6 p.m. CST, Feb. 6. #6 NEBRASKA 18, #4 OKLAHOMA 17
125--#6/#6 Paul Gomez (16-2), NU dec. Shane Valdez (24-3), OU 7-6
NU 3, OU 0

133--#18/NR Dane Valdez (10-8), OU dec. #15/#17 Todd Beckerman (16-13), NU 4-3
NU 3, OU 3

141--#4/#3 Michael Lightner (29-1), OU dec. #13/#12 Jose DeAnda (22-5), NU 6-4
OU 6, NU 3

149--#13/#12 Joe Henson (17-5), OU win by fall #8/#15 Jared Frayer (21-8), OU 4:45
NU 9, OU 6

157--#7/#8 Bryan Snyder (24-2), NU dec. #11/#15 David Kjeldgaard (12-6), OU 10-4
NU 12, OU 6

165--#5/#4 Rodney Jones (26-3), OU tech. fall Tony Denke (6-8), NU 19-4
NU 12, OU 11

174--Keith Wilson (13-5), OU dec. Charles McTorry (10-15), NU 8-5
OU 14, NU 12

184--#8/#7 Brad Vering (17-6), NU dec. Tom Grossman (14-9), OU 10-4
NU 15, OU 14

197--#14/#13 Waymon May (21-11), OU dec. #10/#12 Scott Munson (22-8), NU 6-4
OU 17, NU 15

Hwt--#8/#10 J.R. Plienis (20-9), NU dec. #6/#7 John Henry Ward (19-4), OU 2-1 [2 OT)
NU 18, OU 17
Attendance: 947