Gomez Pin, Henson Win Key 23-15 Victory Over Missouri

Columbia, Mo.--Paul Gomez, Nebraska's highest-ranked wrestler, and freshman standout Joe Henson aided the third-ranked Huskers to a 23-15 victory Wednesday evening over unranked Missouri (3-9, 0-4) in NU's final regular season dual meet of the season.

Gomez (19-2, 16-2), who is ranked fifth in the nation at 125 pounds, pinned Missouri's Jake Lapinski five minutes and forty-eight seconds into the meet's eighth match to give the Huskers a 20-9 lead that would not be surrendered.

Henson (18-7, 11-5), ranked ninth and 12th nationally, opened the meet with a convincing 8-2 win over 18th-ranked Jeff Urban (19-10, 8-4) at 149 pounds to give Nebraska an early 3-0 lead. The match against Urban marked the seventh consecutive time Henson had faced a wrestler in the Top 20, and marked the third time Henson had recorded a win during that stretch.

Bryan Snyder (26-3, 18-3) inched his way closer to becoming just the sixth Husker in school history to record at least 30 victories in a freshman season with a 16-9 win over Matt Webster at 157 pounds. Snyder, who has won 21 of his last 23 matches, needs just four wins to become the sixth member of an elite group.

The Tigers countered the Husker effort with back-to-back wins at 165 and 174 pounds to tie the score at six apiece. Freshman Tony Denke (6-9, 1-6), who got the nod for Nebraska at 165 pounds, lost a 10-7 decision to Jesse Jordan, and Husker Charles McTorry (12-17, 7-15) narrowly lost a 7-5 battle to John Kopnisky in overtime.

Nebraska regained the lead with major decision wins from sixth- and seventh-ranked Brad Vering (21-6, 15-4) at 184 pounds and 12th- and 14th-ranked Scott Munson (24-9, 16-7) at 197 pounds. Vering downed Jason Moore, 11-3, and Munson followed with an 11-3 win over Kevin Herron.

Freshman Paul Clotier, who has posted an 0-4 record at 197 pounds in open tournaments this season, made his dual debut for the Huskers at heavyweight. The Lincoln East graduate was defeated by Chad Hertzog, 7-0.

Leading 14-9, Nebraska padded the score with wins from Gomez and 17th-ranked Todd Beckerman, who defeated Mark Bader, 12-5, at 133 pounds.

With a 23-9 lead, the Huskers forfeited at 141 pounds. Cliff Sutcliffe picked up the win for the Tigers, but the Huskers picked up their 17th dual meet win of the season with a 23-15 win.

Nebraska (17-6, 3-1), who moved from No. 4 to No. 3 in the NWCA Wrestling Rankings released today, surpassed its win total for each of the past three seasons with the victory over Missouri. The Huskers are ranked among the nation's top three for the first time since NU finished the 1995-96 season with a No. 3 dual ranking, and have earned 17 dual wins for the first time since 1994-95.

Nebraska will use the remainder of February to prepare for the Big 12 Championships on March 6 in Ames, Iowa. #3 NEBRASKA 23, MISSOURI 15
149-#9/#12 Joe Henson (18-7, 11-5), NU dec. #18/NR Jeff Urban (19-10, 8-4), UM 8-2
NU 3, UM 0

157-#7/#5 Bryan Snyder (26-3, 18-3), NU dec. Matt Webster (16-10, 4-5), UM 16-9
NU 6, UM 0

165-Jesse Jordan (12-8, 3-5), UM dec. Tony Denke (6-9, 1-6), NU 10-7
NU 6, UM 3

174-John Kopnisky (19-10, 8-4), UM dec. Charles McTorry (12-17, 7-15), NU 7-5 (OT)
NU 6, UM 6

184-#7/#6 Brad Vering (21-6, 15-4), NU maj. dec. Jason Moore (13-16, 2-10), UM 11-3
NU 10, UM 6

197-#12/#14 Scott Munson (24-9, 16-7), NU maj. dec. Kevin Herron (9-13, 2-6), UM 11-3
NU 14, UM 6

Hwt-Chad Hertzog (10-11, 5-6), UM dec. Paul Clotier (0-5, 0-1), NU 7-0
NU 14, UM 9

125-#5/#5 Paul Gomez (19-2, 16-2), NU win by fall Jake Lapinski (7-15, 2-8), UM 5:48
NU 20, UM 9

133-#17/NR Todd Beckerman (18-14, 13-10), NU dec. Mark Bader (13-12, 2-8), UM 12-5
NU 23, UM 9

141-Cliff Sutcliffe (1-17), UM win by forfeit
NU 23, UM 15