Huskers Wrap Regular Season at Iowa State

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The fifth-ranked Nebraska wrestling team finishes its regular season at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, against sesventh-ranked IowaState on Sunday.  The Huskers have won two of the last three against the Cyclones, but NU has not won in Ames since Jan. 27, 1996, when Nebraska knocked off then fifth-ranked IowaState, 21-17. 

 

A win over the Cyclones would the give the Huskers their third straight non-losing season in conference duals.  NU finished 3-1 in the 2004-05 season and recorded a 2-2 conference dual mark in 2003-04 season.  Nebraska’s 2-2 Big 12 record in 2003-04 marked the first time since 1998-99 that the Huskers had finished with at least a .500 conference record.  All five Big 12 schools are currently ranked in the nation’s top 10.

 

Last Time Out: #11 Oklahoma 19, Nebraska 16

The fourth-ranked Nebraska wrestling team took a 13-9 lead through six matches but couldn’t hold on as 11th-ranked Oklahoma defeated the Huskers, 19-16, in front of 1,517 fans at the NU Coliseum in Lincoln, Neb., on Feb. 10. 

 

Nebraska won the first two matches in dominant fashion.  Wrestling in his final home match at the NU Coliseum, third-ranked 174-pound wrestler Jacob Klein pinned Oklahoma’s Shane Vernon 50 seconds into the second period.  Klein had a 6-2 lead through the first period and after starting the second period down, Klein reversed Vernon 15 seconds into the second frame, then earned the fall 35 seconds later.  Freshman Vince Jones followed with his own strong performance at 184 pounds.  The 11th-ranked 184-pound wrestler, Jones defeated 14th-ranked Justin Dyer by major decision, 14-5.  Jones raced out to an early 10-3 lead after the first period, then scored a pair of reversals while giving up only one reversal to earn the bonus point.

 

After three straight setbacks drew the Sooners to within one point of Nebraska, Patrick Aleksanyan defeated Trey Blakely, 6-3, to give the Huskers a 13-9 lead.  Aleksanyan also took control of the match early, jumping out to a 6-2 lead after the first three minutes.  Blakely would only earn an escape in the final four minutes of the match to draw within three of Aleksanyan.

 

Three straight Oklahoma wins would give the Sooners a 19-13 lead heading into the final match.  At 165 pounds, 15th-ranked Marc Harwood defeated 18th-ranked Jerrod King, 3-2, bringing Nebraska within three to close the dual.

 

Series History: IowaState leads, 71-13-2

While IowaState holds the series advantage, 71-13-2, the recent history of the series is closer.  Nebraska has won 10 of the last 17 duals between the two schools, dating back to 1989.  The Huskers rattled off five straight wins between 1993 and 1997.  NU head coach Mark Manning is 2-3 vs. IowaState in his five years at Nebraska, but has won two of the last three duals against the Cyclones. 

 

Scouting IowaState

Iowa State enters the dual with an 11-6 record after losing at home to Missouri, 16-15, on Sunday.  The Cyclones finished 1-2 at the National Duals, defeating Northwestern in the first round before losing to eventual champion and top-ranked Minnesota, 32-6, in the quarterfinals.  In the consolation bracket, IowaState fell to Missouri, 21-18.  ISU is led by four wrestlers in the top ten, including top-ranked and undefeated Nate Gallick at 141 pounds.  Second-ranked Trent Paulson, who is 21-1 at 157 pounds, also fuels the Cyclone attack.  Also ranking in the top ten for IowaState is 165-pound wrestler Travis Paulson, ranked ninth in his weight class, and ninth-ranked Kurt Backes at 184 pounds. 

 

The Last Time We Met: Feb. 19, 2005: Nebraska 16, IowaState 15

The sixth-ranked Nebraska wrestling team capped its regular season on a high note by posting a 16-15 victory over No. 2 Iowa State, before a crowd of 1,708 at the NU Coliseum. The victory allowed the Huskers to complete their dual season with a 19-2-1 record, tying the 2004 team for the second-most dual victories in school history.    

 

The teams split the 10 matches in the dual, but the Huskers scored the night’s only bonus-point win in the form of a 19-6 major decision by Jacob Klein at 165 pounds. The one-point victory marked Nebraska’s third dual in the past 10 days decided by a single point. Nebraska lost a 19-18 decision to top-ranked OklahomaState, then scored a 16-15 victory over Oklahoma last Saturday in Norman.     

 

The key victory of the night for Nebraska came at 133 pounds, where NU’s Dominick Moyer posted a 13-10 decision over ISU’s Jesse Sundell. The most action-packed match of the night began with a first-period flurry that left Sundell with a 6-5 advantage. Moyer took a 7-6 lead into the third period, then took control in another action-packed period scoring a pair of takedowns, the last with 33 seconds left to clinch the victory. Moyer’s win improved him to 14-12 on the season, and gave Nebraska a 16-12 lead.  The four-point lead allowed the Huskers to post the victory despite a 5-2 win by ISU’s top-ranked Nate Gallick at 141 pounds. The undefeated Gallick posted a 5-2 decision over NU’s fourth-ranked Matt Murray, but the victory only pulled ISU within 16-15.

 

Moyer Second Husker to be Named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week

Junior 141-pound wrestler Dominick Moyer was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week on Monday, Jan. 30.  Moyer joined senior 174-pound wrestler Jacob Klein as the second Husker wrestler to be named conference wrestler of the week this season.  Moyer, the 19th-ranked 141-pound wrestler, all but clinched NU’s victory over Missouri on Jan. 29 with his pin of Chris McCormick with 22 seconds to go in the dual.  The victory by fall gave NU a 21-3 lead that it would not relinquish.  The award is the first career wrestler of the week citation for Moyer, who is now 16-7 on the season. 

 

Klein Climbs All-Time Charts

With his pin of Oklahoma’s Shane Vernon 50 seconds into the second period of their match on Friday, Feb. 10, 174-pound wrestler Jacob Klein tied NU national champion wrestlers Tolly Thompson and Brad Vering for third on the all-time career dual win charts.  Klein picked up his 62nd career dual victory in his final home match at the NU Coliseum.  With a win against IowaState, Klein would take sole possesion of third place, six behind Bryan Snyder for second in school history and eight behind Bill Scherr’s school record 71 career dual wins.

 

Youth Served for NU This Season

After losing five starters from last year’s lineup, Nebraska has had to rely on a talented freshmen class to fill those holes this season, and the class has been more than equal to the task.  Led by co-Redshirts of the Year Paul Donahoe at 125 pounds and Chris Oliver at 157 pounds, along with true freshman Vince Jones at 184 pounds, Nebraska’s freshmen have supported the more-experienced Huskers en route to a 11-4 record.  Freshmen have contributed nearly half of Nebraska’s dual wins and dual points.  Of the Huskers’ 93 wins in duals, 39 belong to freshmen.  164 of the 372 points Nebraska has scored in duals have been earned by freshmen.

 

The impact of Nebraska’s younger wrestlers was never more apparent than at the National Duals.  In the first round against Iowa, Donahoe and Patrick Aleksanyan earned back-to-back falls to give the Huskers a 12-0 lead, a lead that they would not give up, despite losses in the next three matches.  After wins from veterans Marc Harwood and Jacob Klein, Jones, in his debut in a dual for Nebraska, defeated second-ranked Paul Bradley, 4-3, to give NU a 21-10 lead.  In the quarterfinals against Michigan, Donahoe again gave Nebraska 6-0 lead with a win by fall.  After three straight losses, Oliver put the Huskers back on top by pinning fifth-ranked Steve Luke to give Nebraska a 12-9 lead.  After the Wolverines tied the dual at 165 pounds, a win by Klein gave the Huskers a three-point lead before Jones gave Nebraska a nine-point lead with two matches to go with his pin of 17th-ranked Tyrell Todd. 

 

In the semifnals against OklahomaState, the Huskers’ comeback bid received a big jolt from Jones’ win by major decision, which pulled Nebraska within five points with two matches to go.  The third-place match against Central Michigan saw Nebraska again race to a 6-0 lead after wins from Donahoe and Aleksanyan in the first two matches.  After a setback at 149 pounds, NU picked up wins from Oliver and Jones in a four-match winning streak that clinched the dual for the Huskers.

 

Against second-ranked Michigan on Dec. 9, a pair of redshirt freshmen combined to give Nebraska a lead it would not relinquish on the road against the Wolverines.  Donahoe picked up a win by technical fall over Jim Shutich, 15-0, to give the Huskers an 8-3 lead before Aleksanyan broke through for his first dual win of his career with a 14-4 major decision triumph over Brandon Elliott at 133 pounds.  Aleksanyan’s victory gave NU a 12-3 lead with six matches to go.  The lead built by the redshirt freshmen held up, as Nebraska beat Michigan, 18-16.

 

Five NU wrestlers made their varsity debuts against BoiseState on Nov. 19.  Of those, Donahoe and Oliver notched bonus-point wins for the Huskers.  Donahoe dominated in his 18-8 major decision win over Cory Fish.  Donahoe never trailed in his match with Fish, and finished by outscoring Fish 9-4 in the final two minutes of the match.  Oliver came back from a 2-1 deficit to pin Johnny Nunez in the second period at 157 pounds.  Oliver took the lead for good after starting the second period down, then escaping 16 seconds into the period.  Oliver then took Nunez down with 30 seconds to go in the match and pinned him nine seconds later. 

 

Along with Oliver and Donahoe, Aleksanyan, Robert Sanders and Matt Farrell made their dual debuts at 133, 149 and 184 pounds, respectively.  Against Michigan, 2005 Co-Redshirt of the Year Brandon Browne also made his varsity debut at 184 pounds.  The youth in Nebraska’s starting lineup reflects a talented, but young roster.  Of the 33 NU wrestlers on the roster, 23 are either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen.

 

NU Looks to Continue Success

Despite a young roster, expectations are still high for the 2005-06 Nebraska wrestling team as it is continuing a 20-year tradition of success.  The win over American on Jan. 21 gave the Huskers their 64th dual win over the last four years, placing the last four years of Husker wrestling as the best in the school annals in terms of dual victories.  NU is 65-17-1 in the last four seasons with one duals to go.  Over the last 20 seasons, NU has won at least 10 duals in a season 18 times and at least 15 duals eight times, including the last three seasons.  The Huskers secured their 19th 10-win season over the last 21 years. 

The 2004-05 season capped the best three-year stretch in school history.  The Huskers were 53-12-1 from the fall of 2002 to the end of the 2004-05 campaign, marking the first time Nebraska had won 50 duals in a three-year stretch since the wrestling program was started at Nebraska in 1910.  The Huskers’ next dual win would give Nebraska its second three-year period in which the Huskers won at least 50 duals in a three-season span.  Nebraska has built its success over the last three years on dominance at home.  The Huskers have won 27 of their last 30 duals in Lincoln and are 31-4 at home since the fall of 2002.  Since Mark Manning’s arrival at Nebraska for the 2001-02 campaign, the Huskers are 37-11 at home.

 

Klein Named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week

Nebraska senior 174-pound wrestler Jacob Klein was named Wrestler of the Week by the Big 12 Conference on Jan. 16.  Klein went 4-0 at the NWCA National Duals Jan. 14-15 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, helping the Huskers to a third-place finish.  Klein defeated four ranked wrestlers at National Duals, including three shutouts.  In the first round, Klein knocked off third-ranked Mark Perry of Iowa, 4-3, to help NU to a 24-13 victory over the No. 6 Hawkeyes.  Klein followed that performance with a 4-0 shutout of sixth-ranked Nick Roy of Michigan as the Huskers earned their second win of the season over the No. 5 Wolverines, 24-16.

 

On day two, Klein defeated ninth-ranked Brandon Mason of OklahomaState, 3-0, in Nebraska’s semifinal loss to the Cowboys before defeating 14th-ranked Brandon Stinnott of Central Michigan, 6-0, in the third-place dual which Nebraska won, 21-10, over the seventh-ranked Chippewas.  It is the second career Big 12 Wrestler of the Week citation for Klein.  As a junior, Klein was honored as both conference wrestler of the week and CSTV National Wrestler of the Week after he defeated then-ninth-ranked Tyron Woodley of Missouri, 3-2, on Jan. 24, 2004. 

 

Klein Competes in All-Star Classic

NU senior 174-pound wrestler Jacob Klein wrestled in the 2005 NWCA All-Star Classic in Stillwater, Okla., Monday, Nov. 28.  Klein was defeated 8-5 by third-ranked Jacob Herbert of Northwestern.  Klein nearly fought back from a 6-0 deficit.  After earning his first point with an escape with 41 seconds to go in the match, Klein registered two takedowns in the final 15 seconds of the match.  Klein’s rally fell just short, and with one point riding time, Herbert defeated Klein, 8-5.  Klein was one of nine Big 12 wrestlers to compete in the All-Star Classic.

 

Starting Strong

Nebraska has been almost unbeatable in the months of November and December under head coach Mark Manning.  The Huskers have won 36 of 38 non-conference matches in the first two months of the season under Manning and are 36-3 overall.  During that time, Nebraska has beaten 11 ranked opponents, including an upset of second-ranked Michigan on Dec. 9.  Included in the 34 wins are four shutouts, including two at the 2004 Nebraska Duals.  

 

Huskers Sign Three in Early Period

The Nebraska wrestling team opened the early signing period with a flourish by receiving National Letters-of-Intent from three accomplished prep recruits, Husker Head Coach Mark Manning announced earlier this season.

 

“We got three really outstanding kids,” Manning said. “These guys all are good students, good wrestlers and have good character.”

 

NU’s class is led by in-state recruit Matt Vacanti.  The Papillion-LaVista product entered his senior year with a 103-0 high school career record and is slated to wrestle at either 133 or 141 pounds for the Huskers.  Vacanti was 35-0 with all wins by fall last season en route to his third career state championship.  Vacanti is also accomplished on the national stage, as a two-time cadet national champion.

 

“Matt has a great work ethic and is a tough, hard-nosed kid,” Manning said.  “His style of wrestling fits in well with the rest of our team.  He’s an exciting wrestler to watch and he gets after it.”

 

Joining Vacanti is Curtis Salazar of Greeley, Colo.  Salazar is a two-time Colorado state champion and a three-time state finalist.  Salazar, who is projected to wrestle at 149 pounds in college, is another valuable addition to the NU wrestling team, according to Manning.

 

“He’s a good wrestler who wants to get better, and he is a great student,” Manning said.  “He’s been dominating in-state and national competition and beat a lot of good, ranked opponents.  He’s come to our camp the last couple years and gets along well with our guys.  We’re happy to have him be part of our family now.”

 

Rounding out the signings is Alex Ward, from MountSaint JosephHigh School in Baltimore, Md.  Ward, projected to wrestle in the middle weights in college, is a two-time state champion at 145 pounds.  A fourth-place finisher the last two years in the national prep tournament, Ward is the son of three-time NCAA finalist and former NU assistant wrestling coach Kelly Ward.

 

“He’s an outstanding kid from a heralded program in MountSaint JosephHigh School,” Manning said.  “We expect him to improve and develop a lot in our program.  He’s an intelligent young man with great potential and upside.  He will help us out in the future.”

 

Non-Varsity Notes

Seven Huskers finished in the top four in the their respective weight classes at the Glen Brand Open in Omaha, Neb., at Jan. 21.  A pair of Nebraska wrestlers, 149-pound wrestler Robert Sanders and 197-pound wrestler Levi Wofford, won individual championships.  Heavyweight Stefan Tighe was second, while two Huskers, Mike Rowe (141) and Craig Brester (184) finished third, while three NU wrestlers, 157-pound wrestler Rob Plambeck, 184-pound wrestler Casey Roberts and 197-pound wrestler Cody Millard, took fourth in their respective weight classes.

 

Nebraska opened its non-varsity season Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Harold Nichols Open.  The Huskers were led by Brandon Browne, who opened his second year in the program with a 5-0 weekend and the 174-pound championship.  Browne headlined a list of five Husker medalists, including four NU true freshmen who made their debut in college wrestling with a top-four performance in the Harold Nichols Open.  Mike Rowe finished second at 133 pounds, while Jones and Wofford finished third at 184 pounds and 197 pounds, respectively.  Freshman heavyweight Tighe finished fourth.At the Kaufman-Brand Open on Nov. 19, seven of the 13 non-varsity wrestlers entered placed for the Huskers in the 20-and-under division,  led by Kenny Jordan, who won the 133-pound weight class in his first collegiate competition.   Jones and Wofford finished second at 184 and 197 pounds, respectively, while heavyweight Tighe finished third.  Brester earned fourth place at 174 pounds, while 197-pound wrestler Cody Millard and 184-pound wrestler Roberts each finished fifth.  On Nov. 26, Cash Coolidge finished third at 141 pounds and Brester placed second at 174 pounds for the Huskers at the Oklahoma Open in Norman, Okla.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, a pair of non-varsity wrestlers earned individual championships at the UNI Open.  At 133 pounds, Jordan won five matches, including a 1-0 decision over teammate Patrick Aleksanyan in the finals, to earn the championship.  At 184 pounds, Jones won four of his five matches by fall en route to the championship.  In addition to Jordan and Jones, 174-pound wrestler Browne finished runner-up to Jacob Klein. The Nebraska non-varsity wrestlers closed first semester competition at the UNK Loper Open on Saturday, Dec. 10 in Kearney, Neb.  Three Huskers earned individual championships including a pair of Huskers, 149-pound wrestler Ryan Davis and 165-pounder Ingalls, who were making their 2005-06 season debuts.  Brester also was a champion at 174 pounds, while Tighe was third in the heavyweight division.  At the Dana College Open on Jan. 7, seven Huskers finished in the top three in their respective weight classes.  The highlight for NU was the 184-pound weight class, where NU swept the top three spots.  Vince Jones earned the championship with four pins, while Casey Roberts took second and Craig Brester earned third.  David Ingalls earned the 165-pound championship, while Levi Wofford won the 197-pound championship.  James Pummel and Stefan Tighe finished third and 174 pounds and heavyweight, respectively.

 

Next Up: Big 12 Championships, March 4, 11 a.m., Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa

Nebraska will return to Hilton Coliseum on Saturday, March 4 for the 2006 Big 12 Championships.  This marks the second time in three years that the conference championship wrestling tournament will be held in Ames, as the 2004 Big 12 Championship was also held at Hilton Coliseum.  The top three finishers in each weight class, along with eight wild-card selections, will advance onto the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., two weeks later.

 

Nebraska Fans Fill the Coliseum and Devaney for NU Wrestling

For the second straight year, the attendance for Nebraska wrestling went up in 2004-05.  For the first time in three years, the Huskers drew over 1,000 fans per dual.  NU averaged 1,209 fans per home wrestling dual in 2004-05, highlighted by the 3,442 fans that attended the Huskers’ dual against OklahomaState.  In 2003-04, Nebraska fell just shy of 1,000 fans per dual, averaging 927 fans per night.  That number was up from Nebraska’s average attendance of 2002-03 of 561.  This season, Nebraska has averaged 668 fans per home date, including the season-high crowd of 1,517 fans that saw Nebraska and Oklahoma square off at the NU Coliseum in Lincoln.