Huskers Improve to 15-1 with 33-9 victory over Wyoming

Laramie, Wyo. -- The second-ranked Nebraska wrestling team won its seventh straight dual as they won 7 of ten matches to defeat Wyoming, 33-9, Saturday night on the campus of the University of Wyoming. The win by the Huskers mark the 50th win by Head Coach Mark Manning at Nebraska.

The match against the Cowboys started out slow, as top-ranked Jason Powell (Midwest City, Okla.) was upset by unranked Bryce Leonhardt, 3-1, at 125 pounds to give Wyoming a 3-0 lead. After a scoreless first period, Powell recorded an escape at the 1:36 mark to give him a 1-0 lead. Leading by one, Powell was charged with his second stall warning of the match resulting in a point for Leonhardt, tying the match at one. After the second stall warning, Leonhardt recorded the match’s only takedown in the final seconds to give him the lead and the match. The loss snapped a 18-match win streak for Powell.

Following the Powell loss, senior Joey Malia (Billings, Mont.), rebounded with his second pin of the season and 20th of his career over Tyson Shatto at the 1:54 mark of the first period to give NU a 6-3 lead. Junior Matt Murray (Colby, Kan.) extended NU lead to 9-3 after recording his 15th win of the season, defeating Blake Gunter, 4-1 at 141 pounds.

At 149 pounds, third-ranked Travis Shufelt (Oconto, Wis.) extended his win streak to 22 matches, as he recorded his second fall in as many nights over Patrick Shuler at the 4:36 mark in the second period. The fall by Shufelt was his 11th of the season. At 157 pounds, NU suffered its second upset of the night as Andrew Shuler defeated 13th-ranked B.J. Wright (Elberta, Utah), 5-1.

Sophomore Jacob Klein (Valley Center, Kan.) followed the Wright loss with a major decision victory over Trevor Murray, 12-4, at 165 pounds to give NU a 19-6 lead. Jason High (Independence, Mo.) extended the NU lead to 25-6 by pinning Josh Prevost at the 4:20 mark in the second period at 174 pounds.

Third-ranked Travis Pascoe (Rathdrum, Idaho) won his 21st straight match, as he recorded his 13th bonus victory of the year scoring a technical fall over Sam Wendland, 23-7. The technical fall recorded by Pascoe was his team-leading sixth of the year.

Sophomore B.J. Padden (Buffalo County, S.D.) bettered his win total from a year ago, as he won his 18th match of the season defeating Malcolm Havens, 16-8. The final match of the night saw No. 10 Nathan McClain (Flora Vista, N.M.) upset by Dusty Hoffschneider, 6-3. The loss by McClain snapped a 10-match win streak.

The Huskers return to action next Saturday, Jan. 24 as they open Big 12 competition when the face off against fourth-ranked Missouri Tigers at the NU Coliseum beginning a 7 p.m. The match will be televised nationally on College Sports TV (Ch. 610 on DirecTV)

No. 2 Nebraska 33, Wyoming 9
125 Bryce Leonhard (WYO) by decision over #1 Jason Powell (NU), 3-1 WYO 3, NU 0
133 Joey Malia (NU) by fall over Tyson Shatto (WYO), 1:54 NU 6, WYO 3
141 #11 Matt Murray (NU) by decision over Blake Gunter (WYO), 4-1 NU 9, WYO 3
149 #3 Travis Shufelt (NU) by fall over Patrick Shuler (WYO), 4:36 NU 15, WYO 3
157 Andrew Shuler (WYO) by decision over #13 B.J Wright (NU), 5-1 NU 15, WYO 6
165 #19 Jacob Klein (NU) by major decision over Trevor Murray (WYO), 12-4 NU 19, WYO 6
174 Jason High (NU) by fall over Josh Prevost (WYO), 4:20 NU 25, WYO 6
184 #3 Travis Pascoe (NU) by technical fall over Sam Wendland (WYO), 23-7 NU 29, WYO 6
197 #3 B.J. Padden (NU) by major decision over Malcolm Havens (WYO), 16-8 NU 33, WYO 6
HWT Dusty Hoffschneider (WYO) by decision over #10 Nathan McClain (NU), 6-3 NU 33, WYO 9