Shufelt, Klein Lead Huskers to Win over Hofstra

The No. 3 Nebraska wrestling team came back from a 17-12 deficit to defeat No. 16 Hofstra 21-17 Friday night in front of 814 at the Devaney Center Track.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

“It was a little closer than we would have liked, but Hofstra is a good, well-coached team,” NU Coach Mark Manning said.  “It was a good, hard-fought match, and we’ll get better.”

 

After seven matches, <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska was down 17-12 to Hofstra, but at 149 pounds, No. 4 Travis Shufelt came back from two three-point deficits to defeat No. 5 John Masa 10-8.  Shufelt notched a two-point near-fall with 10 seconds left to snatch the lead, then added a point for his 1:53 advantage in riding time.

 

“Shufelt showed the heart of our team,” Manning said.

 

That started a three-match winning streak for the Huskers.  No. 6 B.J. Wright ran off six points in the third period to clinch an 8-2 decision over James Strouse in the 157-pound match.

 

Then at 165 pounds, No. 5 Jacob Klein defeated Chris Vondruska 4-2 to close out the Pride and give Nebraska the victory.

 

The dual started with Hofstra’s 174-pound Paul Siemon, ranked 12th, defeating NU’s Kyle Gubbels 9-0.

 

At 184 pounds, No. 7 Travis Pascoe gave the Huskers their first win of the night with a 7-4 win over Joe Rovelli.   Pascoe stormed back from a 3-2 deficit with forty seconds to go in the second period with five unanswered points.  Rovelli earned one extra point for his 1:11 advantage in riding time.

 

In one of two matchups in the dual featuring a pair of ranked wrestlers, Hofstra’s Chris Stretkowicz, ranked sixth at 197 pounds, defeated No. 8 B.J. Padden, 12-7.

 

Mitch Manstedt, making his return to varsity action since suffering a knee injury early last season, earned a victory by forfeit in the heavyweight division.

 

No. 7 Matt Keller, making his varsity debut at 125 pounds, defeated Dave Tomasette 6-4.  At 133 pounds, Hofstra’s Charles Griffin pinned Dominick Moyer with 33 seconds left in the first period.  Ricky LaForge earned the Pride their fourth win of the night with an 11-1 major decision victory over Chris Nedens at 141 pounds, before NU won the last three matches of the dual.

 

With the win, Nebraska extended its home dual winning streak to 15, and its season-opener winning streak to 10.  The Huskers are next in action Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Kaufman-Brand Open at Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha, Neb.  The next dual for NU is Saturday, Nov. 27, against No. 10 West Virginia.

 

No. 3 Nebraska 21, No. 16 Hofstra 17

174-#12 Paul Siemon (HU) by major decision over Kyle Gubbels (NU), 9-0

184-#7 Travis Pascoe (NU) by decision over Joe Rovelli (HU), 7-4

197-#6 Chris Stretkowicz (HU) by decision over #8 B.J. Padden (NU), 12-7

HWT-Mitch Manstedt (NU) wins by forfeit

125-#7 Matt Keller (NU) by decision over Dave Tomasette (HU), 6-4

133-Charles Griffin (HU) by fall over Dominick Moyer (NU), 2:27

141-Ricky LaForge (HU) by major decision over Chris Nedens (NU), 11-1

149-#4 Travis Shufelt (NU) by decision over #5 John Masa (HU), 10-8

157-#6 B.J. Wright (NU) by decision over James Strouse (HU), 8-2

165-#5 Jacob Klein (NU) by decision over Chris Vondruska (HU), 4-2

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