Huskers Open with Win over Broncos

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>LINCOLN-The 17th-ranked Nebraska wrestling team notched its 11th-straight season-opening victory with a 27-9 win over BoiseState Friday night at the NU Coliseum.  The Huskers won seven of the ten matches in the dual, including four bonus-point victories.  NU head coach Mark Manning was pleased with what he saw from the Huskers.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

“I like the enthusiasm we showed tonight,” Manning said.  “I thought our guys were a little excited to get in front of a crowd.”

 

After losing the first match of the dual, NU put the contest away with three straight bonus-point wins.  The streak started with an impressive varsity debut by 157-pound redshirt freshman wrestler Chris Oliver.  Oliver defeated Johnny Nunez by fall with 21 seconds left in the second period. 

 

Marc Harwood followed with a 13-4 major decision victory over BoiseState's Lex Case.  Harwood showed his dominance in the match early by jumping out to a 9-3 lead in the first three minutes of the match. 

 

Jacob Klein also notched a major decision victory at 174 pound.  The fifth-ranked Klein defeated Ben Gilliland, 17-5.  While Harwood got off to a fast start in his match, Klein finished his match strong, outscoring Gilliland 10-2 in the final two minutes of the match.

 

“Klein was focused and ready to go for the season,” Manning said.  “He had good intensity tonight.”

 

With a 14-3 lead, NU suffered its second setback of the night at 184 pounds, but followed with three straight wins.  Third-ranked B.J. Padden began his senior season with a 2-1overtime win over Casey Phelps.  The match was tied at one after Padden's second period escape was answered by Phelps in the third.  After a scoreless sudden victory period, Padden was able to ride Phelps for 30 seconds and then notch an escape 12 seconds into the tiebreaker period.

 

Heavyweight Jon May gave Nebraska its second straight overtime win with a 3-1 triumph over Andy Patrick.  May took Patrick down with eight seconds to go in the sudden victory period to clinch the victory and give the Huskers a 20-6 lead.

 

In his varsity debut, redshirt freshman Paul Donahoe clinched the dual for Nebraska with an 18-8 major decision win over Cory Fish.  In the final four minutes of the match, Donahoe outscored Fish 12-4.

 

After eighth-ranked Scott Jorgensen won for BoiseState at 133 pounds, Dominick Moyer closed the dual for NU with an 8-1 victory over Jordan Brock.  Moyer ran off the last seven points of the match.

 

Next up for Nebraska is the Kaufman-Brand Open Saturday at Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha, Neb., starting at 9 a.m.

 

Nebraska 27, BoiseState 9

149-Tyler Sherfey (BSU) by dec. over Robert Sanders (NU), 13-8

157-Chris Oliver (NU) by fall over Johnny Nunez (BSU), 4:39

165-Marc Harwood (NU) by major dec. over Lex Case (BSU), 13-4

174-Jacob Klein (NU) by major dec. over Ben Gilliland (BSU), 17-5

184-K.C. Walsh (BSU) by dec. over Matt Farrell (NU), 7-4

197-B.J. Padden (NU) by dec. over Casey Phelps (BSU), 2-1 (TB1)

HWT-Jon May (NU) by dec. over Andy Patrick (BSU), 3-1 (SV)

125-Paul Donahoe (NU) by major dec. over Cory Fish (BSU), 18-8

133-#8 Scott Jorgensen (BSU) by dec. over Patrick Aleksanyan (NU), 6-1

141-Dominick Moyer (NU) by dec. over Jordan Brock (BSU), 8-1