Burroughs Wins NCAA Title; NU Finishes Fourth

Lincoln ? Jordan Burroughs became the 10th national champion in Husker history by capturing the 157-pound title during Session VI to lead Nebraska to a fourth-place team finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships. With a fourth-place finish last season also, NU has claimed back-to-back top-five finishes in consecutive years for the first time. For the second season in a row, Iowa captured the team title with 96.5 points while Ohio State finished second (92) and Iowa State claimed third (84.5).

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“It feels great to be a national champion,” Burroughs said. “It took three years, but I finally got it done. I’m just happy to be here and happy that my teammates and my family are able to be here and watch me.”

A junior from Sicklerville, N.J., Burroughs topped second-seeded Michael Poeta of Illinois in the final, 5-1. As usual, Burroughs was the aggressor in the first period, and earned a critical takedown with just two seconds left in the period. Burroughs escaped 10 seconds into the second to go up 3-0, but neither wrestler could score the rest of the period. Poeta escaped with 1:57 left in the third and turned up the intensity looking for an equalizing takedown, nearly catching Burroughs on several occasions in the final period. Another Burroughs’ takedown with two seconds left sealed the bout. He went 35-0 during 2008-09 to become the first Husker national champion ever to complete a season undefeated. Poeta finished as runner up for a second consecutive season with a 17-1 record.

“Every time I shot a double leg he would jump back knowing I was going to shoot from my knees,” Burroughs said. “I finally found an opening at the end of the first period and got two and it kind of set the pace for the match. I knew he had to come after me. That’s when I’m best is when people are chasing me.”

 

Nebraska’s Craig Brester also advanced to the finals, but lost to second-seeded Jake Varner of Iowa State, 2-1, at 197 pounds. Brester, a junior from Howells, Neb., was hard pressed to generate offense against the three-time NCAA finalist Varner. Neither wrestler scored in the first period, and Varner earned an escape eight seconds in the second. Brester chose down in the third in an attempt to escape and tie the match at one, but Varner earned riding-time advantage to take the win before Brester escaped. Brester went 34-4 in 2008-09 with three of his losses on the season coming to Varner.

 

Head Coach Mark Manning has coached 27 Huskers to All-America honors during his nine seasons at Nebraska. He has also led NU to five top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. NU’s 78.5 points this year are the second most it has ever scored at the tournament, trailing only a 79.5-point performance in 1993.

 

“We would have liked to have won both of those matches, but this is a very tough stage to compete on,” Manning said. “Jordan did a great job against a great competitor who was in the finals last year. Jordan has really made himself a complete wrestler and has put the work in. Craig has done the same thing.”

2009 NCAA Championships

Scottrade Center - St. Louis, Mo.

Final Results

Session VI Attendance: 17,385

Total Attendance: 97,111

 

Final Team Standings:

1. Iowa ? 96.5

2. Ohio State ? 92.0

2. Iowa State ? 84.5

4. Nebraska ? 78.5

5. Cornell ? 73.5

Nebraska Results:
149 Pounds
First Round: Heinrich Barnes (Oregon State) by dec. over Robert Sanders (NU), 11-3
Consolation: Kevin LeValley (Bucknell) by major dec. over Robert Sanders (NU), 10-1

157 Pounds
First Round: Jordan Burroughs (NU) by tech. fall over Hadley Harrison (Clarion), 23-7
Second Round: Jordan Burroughs (NU) by fall over Colton Salazar (Purdue), 2:27
Quarterfinals: Jordan Burroughs (NU) by major dec. over Cyler Sanderson (Iowa State), 14-6
Semifinals: Jordan Burroughs (NU) by major dec. over Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro), 12-4
Finals: Jordan Burroughs (NU) by dec. over Michael Poeta (Illinois), 5-1
Jordan Burroughs (NU) finishes first.

165 Pounds
First Round: Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over Mike Galante (Lehigh), 6-1
Second Round: Andrew Rendos (Bucknell) by dec. over Stephen Dwyer (NU), 5-2
Consolation: Stephen Dwyer (NU) by dec. over Keegan Davis (Oregon State), 7-2
Consolation: Nick Marable (NU) by dec. over Stephen Dwyer (NU), 7-5 TB2

174 Pounds
First Round: Brandon Browne (NU) by major dec. over Erick Decker (Old Dominion), 12-4
Second Round: Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over Nathan Lee (Boise State), 9-6
Quarterfinals: Brandon Browne (NU) by dec. over Quentin Wright (Penn State), 4-1
Semifinals: Mike Miller (Central Michigan) by dec. over Brandon Browne (NU), 7-3
Consolation: Brandon Browne (NU) by fall over Steve Anceravage (Cornell), 7:18
Consolation: Raymond Jordan (Missouri) by dec. over Brandon Browne (NU), 4-0
Brandon Browne (NU) finishes fourth.

184 Pounds
First Round: Vince Jones (NU) by fall over Riley Orozco (Cal St.Bakersfield), 4:15
Second Round: Vince Jones (NU) by major dec. over A.J. Kissel (Purdue), 11-3
Quarterfinals: Vince Jones (NU) by dec. over Kirk Smith (Boise State), 2-1
Semifinals: Jake Herbert (Northwestern) by major dec. over Vince Jones (NU), 11-1
Consolation: Phil Keddy (Iowa) by dec. over Vince Jones (NU), 6-1
Consolation: Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming) by dec. over Vince Jones (NU), 9-2
Vince Jones (NU) finishes sixth.

197 Pounds
Pigtail Round: Craig Brester (NU) by major dec. over Charles Silber (American), 16-3
First Round: Craig Brester (NU) by dec. over Joe Fagiano (Hofstra), 10-3
Second Round: Craig Brester (NU) by major dec. over Jesse Strawn (Old Dominion), 14-5
Quaterfinals: Craig Brester (NU) by dec. over Cayle Byers (George Mason), 2-0
Semifinals: Craig Brester (NU) by dec. over Tyrel Todd (Michigan), 7-2
Finals: Jake Varner (ISU) by dec. over Craig Brester (NU), 2-1
Craig Brester (NU) finishes second.

285 Pounds
First Round: Kyle Massey (Wisconsin) by dec. over Tucker Lane (NU), 4-3 TB2
Consolation: Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over Ricardo Alcala (Cal Davis), 6-0
Consolation: Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over Justin Dobies (North Carolina), 4-2 SV2
Consolation: Christopher Birchler (East Stroudsburg) by dec. over Tucker Lane (NU), 4-3