Huskers Announce 2008-09 Wrestling Schedule

Lincoln-Husker fans will have plenty of chances to catch their favorite NU wrestlers in action this winter as twelve home duals and hosting the Big 12 Championship highlight the 2008-09 Nebraska wrestling schedule.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

The Huskers return eight starters from a squad that exceeded expectations last season with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, but Nebraska will once again be tested by one of the hardest schedules in the nation. After having just four home duals last season, the Huskers welcome 12 opponents to the NU Coliseum before hosting the Big 12 Championship in Lincoln for just the second time.

 

“We have a lot of marquee matchups,” Head Coach Mark Manning said. “We have a lot of teams that are vying for a national championship coming here to Lincoln.”

 

Several programs with a history of wrestling excellence will visit the confines of the Coliseum, as the season features many matchups with nationally ranked programs. The Huskers open on Nov. 20 against Tennessee-Chattanooga, which finished last season No. 18 in the dual rankings, before hosting Kent State and Minnesota on Dec. 20 and 21. The Golden Flashes earned the No. 21 spot in last year’s rankings, while Minnesota finished No. 8. The Gophers topped the Huskers last December, but NU rebounded to defeat them at the National Duals.

 

The Husker’s final two home duals promise to be passion-filled affairs with Big 12 rivals Oklahoma State and Iowa State coming to Lincoln on Feb. 6 and 22, respectively. Nebraska defeated the Cowboys for just the third time in school history last year, while the Cyclones burst the Huskers’ chance at an undefeated record in conference action in the last dual of the season.

 

“Obviously, Oklahoma State and Iowa State coming here are both big,” Manning said. “Iowa State won the Big 12 Championship the last two years, Oklahoma State is historically a very strong program and with Minnesota coming to town, we have a lot of great dual meets. It should be great for our fans and for wrestling people in general.”

 

ISU finished last season ranked No. 3, while OSU was No. 5 in the dual rankings. The two teams tied for fifth place at the NCAA Championships.

 

The Big 12 Championship comes to Lincoln on March 7 for the first time since 2000. The Huskers finished second as a team last year with three individual champions. NU racked up its most points ever (62.5), thanks in part to Jordan Burroughs, who was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet after two bonus-point victories.

 

With several tough tournaments, like the Las Vegas Invitational and Nationals Duals, sprinkled in with challenging road duals to Missouri and Oklahoma, the 2008-09 schedule will test the Huskers. All of Nebraska’s competitions are in preparation for one goal, though, the 2009 NCAA Championships, which return to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., again this year.

 

Nebraska welcomes back five All-Americans this fall, including two-time All-American Paul Donahoe at 125 pounds. Donahoe and the seven other starters who return will look to build on a 14-3 dual record from last season and a final dual ranking of fourth.

 

For a complete look at the Husker’s 2008-09 wrestling schedule, click on the link above.