Huskers Dominate Knights and Pride

Hempstead, N.Y. -- The ninth-ranked Nebraska wrestling team improved to 5-0 on the season with victories over Rutgers, 35-12 and 11th-ranked Hofstra, 30-10, Saturday at the Hofstra Sports Arena. The Huskers also recorded their fifth straight dual with thirty or more points.

In the first dual of the day, Nebraska jumped out to an 11-0 lead with top-ranked Jason Powell’s technical fall over Dare Ajibade, 15-0. NU followed with a forfeit at 133 pounds. Rutgers cut the lead to eight at 141 pounds, with Donnie DeFilippis decision over Matt Murray, 12-6.

Nebraska then went on the recorded wins in the next three weight classes, led by junior 149-pounder Travis Shufelt’s technical fall over Kyle Poulson, 18-3. Junior B.J. Wright recorded a fall over Amir Khan at 157 pounds and Jacob Klein scored a decision over Chris Ressa, 8-3.

After a Jason High loss at 174 pounds, junior Travis Pascoe pinned Rudy Medini at 184 pounds before B.J. Padden suffered his first loss of the season against John Foscolo at 197. Junior Nathan McClain rounded out the final points of the day with a 10-2 major decision over John Fleming.

After defeating the Scarlet Knights, the Huskers faced off against 11th-ranked Hofstra in the night dual. Against the Pride, the Huskers won seven of ten matches, including two upsets. After Hofstra closed the NU gap to 6-3, the Huskers won three straight matches at 141, 149 and 157 before closed out the match with wins at 184, 197 and heavyweight.

The Huskers got onto the board first with Powell’s 4-2 victory over ninth-ranked Tom Noto. Hofstra tied the match at three when 13th-ranked Ricky LaForge scored a 10-8 victory over redshirt freshman Matt Keller.

After a Murray victory, Shufelt responded with his second victory of the day with a fall over John Manarte in a time of 3:14. Wright followed with a 8-6 overtime victory over 12th-ranked Paul Siemon.

Hofstra followed with back-to-back victories at 165 and 174-pounds before NU closed out with Pascoe, Padden and McClain victories. Pascoe defeated 13th-ranked Brad Christie via technical fall, 21-6, while Padden pinned previously undefeated and second-ranked Chris Skretkowicz in 2:29 mark. McClain closed the match with a major decision over Cole Merryman, 15-5.

On the day, Powell, Shufelt, Wright, Pasoce and McClain all posted 2-0 records.

"We lost some matches we shouldn't have," Head Coach Mark Manning said. "But overall, I was pleased with the high intensity we wrestled at tonight. Pascoe had an excellent day and really wrestled hard. He work hard during the off season to get where is today."

The Huskers will next be in action on Dec. 5-6 when they travel to Las Vegas, Nev. for the 2003 Cliff Keen Invitational.

#9 Nebraska 35, Rutgers 12
125 #1 Jason Powell (N) tech fall Dare Ajibade 15-0 UN 5, RU 0
133 Matt Keller (N) wins by forfeit UN 11, RU 0
141 #15 Donnie DeFilippis (RU) dec. Matt Murray 12-6 UN 11, RU 3
149 #7 Travis Shufelt (N) tech fall Kyle Poulsen 18-3 UN 16, RU 3
157 #17 B.J. Wright (N) pin Amir Khan 1:45 UN 22, RU 3
165 #13 Jacob Klein (N) dec. Chris Ressa 8-3 UN 25, RU 3
174 Andy Roy (RU) dec. Jason High 10-4 UN 25, RU 6
184 #5 Travis Pascoe (N) pin Rudy Medini :26 UN 31, RU 6
197 John Foscolo (RU) pin #13 B.J. Padden 5:46 UN 31, RU 12
285 Nathan McClain (N) maj. dec. John Flemming 10-2 UN 35, RU 12

#9 Nebraska 30, #11 Hofstra 10
125 #1 Jason Powell (NU) dec. #9 Tom Noto, 4-2 UN 3, H 0
133 #13 Ricky LaForge (HU) dec. Matt Keller (NU), 10-8 NU 3, H 3
141 Matt Murray (NU) dec. John Manarte (HU), 4-1 UN 6, H 3
149 #7 Travis Shufelt (NU) pinned James Strouse (HU) at 3:14 UN 12, H 3
157 #17 B.J. Wright (NU) dec. #12 Paul Siemon (HU) in OT, 8-6 NU 15, H 3
165 #13 Ralph Everett (HU) dec. #12 Jacob Klein (NU), 5-3 NU 15, H 6
174 #8 Noel Thompson (HU) major dec. Jason High (NU), 18-9 NU 15, H 10
184 #5 Travis Pascoe (NU) dec. #13 Brad Christie (HU) by Tech Fall (21-6) NU 20, H 10
197 #13 B.J. Padden (NU) pinned #2 Chris Skretkowicz (HU) at 2:29 NU 26, H 10
HWT Nathan McClain (NU) dec. Cole Merryman (HU), 15-5 NU 30, H 10