Huskers Send Five to Semifinals in Vegas

The No. 3 Nebraska wrestling team has five wrestlers in the semifinals of the 23rd annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The Huskers, who won this event last year, are currently in second to Michigan, 95.5-92.5.

"Our guys have wrestled well today," said coach Mark Manning. "But we'll have to wrestle tough tomorrow and give a determined performance."

Nebraska was led by Matt Keller, who dominated in all four of his matches at 125 pounds. Keller clinched his bid into the semifinals with a 10-1 major decision over Jesse Miramontes of Cal State-Fullerton.

Keller's performance was matched by 165-pound wrestler Jacob Klein, who also earned bonus points in four wins. His pin of Matt Palmer of Columbia 4:24 into their quarterfinal match was Klein's second pin of the day. Klein also earned victories by major decision and technical fall.

At 184 pounds, Travis Pascoe earned bonus points in all three of his victories. Pascoe pinned Cal Poly's Ryan Halsey 4:45 into their quarterfinal match, after Pascoe won his other two matches major decision.

Matt Murray, making his first varsity appearance of the 2004-05 season, clinched a trip to the semifinals by beating Frank Edgar of Clarion, 3-1. Murray was 4-0 with a technical fall in day one of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

B.J. Wright won three matches en route to the 157-pound semifinals. Wright defeated Brian Stith of Arizona State, 3-2, in the quarterfinals.

Three other Huskers are still alive in the consolation brackets. B.J. Padden won his first two matches on the day before losing to J.D. Bergman of Ohio State by major decision, 11-2. At heavyweight, Mitch Manstedt also won his first two matches before losing in the quarterfinals. He was defeated by Cain Velasquez of Arizona State, 10-5. Marc Harwood also was 2-1, losing in the quarterfinals by major decision to Missouri's Ben Askren, 11-2.

Wrestling continues at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Nev., at 11 a.m. The finals are slated to take place at 7 p.m.