Huskers Improve to 4-0 at Wrestle for a Cure Duals

Harrisburg, Pa. - Head coach Mark Manning recorded his 150th victory at Nebraska and the Husker wrestling team improved to 4-0 on the year after sweeping a trio of duals at the Wrestle for a Cure Duals in Harrisburg, Pa. The Huskers began the day with an upset over No. 24 Kent State and followed with victories over North Carolina and Navy.

Manning picked up win No. 150 when the Huskers upset Kent State in their first dual and became only the second coach in school history to reach the 150-win mark.

Against the Golden Flashes, redshirt freshman Robert Kokesh (165) won his first of three matches on the day to spark a Husker rally. Kokesh defeated Ross Tice (Kent State) by decision, 9-4, to cut Kent State's lead in half a 14-10. Tyler Koehn (174) pulled NU within a point with his shutout victory over Brandonn Johnson (Kent State).

No. 10 Josh Ihnen (184) controlled Casey Newburg (Kent State), 3-0, to give the Huskers a two-point lead, before senior James Nakashima (184) put the dual out of reach for Kent State with his 7-6 win win over Keith Witt (Kent State). Nakashima won all three duals he wrestled in on the day.

NU also tallied victories from No. 17 Ridge Kiley (133) and true freshman Jake Sueflohn (141). Kiley won in bonus-point fashion over Steve Mitcheff (Kent State), 8-0, while Sueflohn won a wild match over Tyler Small (Kent State), 15-13.

The Huskers also rallied back to defeat the Tar Heels in the second dual of the day after falling behind by seven points after five matches. Kokesh (165) kicked off the rally with his victory over Kyle Kiss (UNC) at 165 pounds. Koehn (174) couldn't keep the Huskers' momentum after dropping a tight decision to Thomas Ferguson (UNC), 3-1.

After the loss at 174, NU won the last three matches to complete the rally. Ihnen beat Alex Utley (UNC) by major decision, 11-1, while  Nakashima defeated Nick Tempenny in overtime, 3-1, to tie the match. Senior Tucker Lane put the final stamp on the NU victory by beating Frank Abbondanza (UNC), 10-0, to give the Huskers a 20-16 win.

The Huskers also recorded wins from Shawn Nagel (125) and  Kiley. Nagel defeated Brain Bokoski (UNC) by decision, 10-4, and Kiley took down Brock LiVorio (UNC), 6-3.

In their final dual, Nebraska pulled away from the Midshipmen after four straight victories from freshman in the middle of the lineup. Nagel put the Huskers up 3-0 after his win over Patrick Prada (Navy), 5-4, at 125, but Navy was able to tie the score at 133 pounds when No. 20 Aaron Kalil defeated Kiley in a one-point decision.

Sueflohn began the Huskers' streak with his major decision victory over Quentin Leadbeter (Navy) at 141 pounds, while redshirt freshman Brandon Wilbourn (149) was victorious in his match against Joe Locksmith (Navy), 12-5. James Green and Kokesh both won at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively, to pull the Huskers ahead, 17-3.

Ihnen, Nakashima and Lane all won their final matches of the day to finish off the Midshipmen. Ihnen defeated No. 11 Luke Rebertus (Navy) by decision, 6-1, while Nakashima took down Paul Rands by major decision, 13-4. Lane defeated Daniel Miller (Navy) by decision, 6-3.

The Huskers return to action on Dec. 2-3 when they travel to the Las Vegas Invitational. Check back to Huskers.com for more coverage of the Nebraska wrestling team.

NU 19, No. 24 Kent State 17
Wrestle for a Cure Duals, Harrisburg, Pa.

125 - #4 Nicholas Bedelyon (Kent State) by tech. fall over Shawn Nagel (NU), 18-2 (NU 0, Kent State 5) 
133 - #17 Ridge Kiley (NU) by major dec. over Steve Mitcheff (Kent State), 8-0 (NU 4, Kent State 5) 
141 - Jake Sueflohn (NU) by dec. over Tyler Small (Kent State), 15-13 (NU 7, Kent State 5)
149 - Ian Miller (Kent State) by pin over Brandon Wilbourn (NU), 3:41 (NU 7, Kent State 11) 
157 - Mallie Shuster (Kent State) by dec. over James Green (NU), 5-4 (NU 7, Kent State 14)
165 - #10 Robert Kokesh (NU) by dec. over Ross Tice (Kent State), 9-4 (NU 10, Kent State 14)
174 - Tyler Koehn (NU) by dec. over Brandonn Johnson (Kent State), 5-0 (NU 13, Kent State 14)
184 - #10 Josh Ihnen (NU) by dec. over Casey Newburg (Kent State), 3-0 (NU 16, Kent State 14)
197 - James Nakashima (NU) by dec. over Keith Witt (Kent State), 7-6 (NU 19, Kent State 14)
HWT - #14 Brendan Barlow (Kent State) by dec. over #8 Tucker Lane (NU), 7-6 (NU 19, Kent State 17)

NU 20, UNC 16
Wrestle for a Cure Duals, Harrisburg, Pa.

125 - Shawn Nagel (NU) by dec. over Brian Bokoski (UNC), 10-4 (NU 3, UNC 0)
133 - #17 Ridge Kiley (NU) by dec. over Brock LiVorio (UNC), 6-3 (NU 6, UNC 0)
141 - #18 Evan Henderson (UNC) by pin over Jake Sueflohn (NU), 3:42 (NU 6, UNC 6)
149 - Jon Burns (UNC) by dec. over John Svoboda (NU), 9-4 (NU 6, UNC 9)
157 - #18 Corey Mock (UNC) by major dec. over Ross Grande (NU), 8-0 (NU 6, UNC 13)
165 - #10 Robert Kokesh (NU) by dec. over Kyle Kiss (UNC), 8-2 (NU 9, UNC 13)
174 - Thomas Ferguson (UNC) by dec. over Tyler Koehn (NU), 3-1 (NU 9, UNC, 16)
184 - #10 Josh Ihnen (NU) by major dec. over Alex Utley (UNC), 11-1 (NU 13, UNC 16)
197 - James Nakashima (NU) in sudden-victory over Nick Tenpenny (UNC), 3-1 (NU 16, UNC 16)
HWT - #8 Tucker Lane (NU) by major dec. over Frank Abbondanza (UNC), 10-0 (NU 20, UNC 16)

NU 27, Navy 6
Wrestle for a Cure Duals, Harrisburg, Pa.

125 - Shawn Nagel (NU) by dec. over Patrick Prada(Navy), 5-4; (NU 3, Navy 0)
133 - #20 Aaron Kalil(Navy) by dec. over #17 Ridge Kiley (NU), 5-4 (NU 3, Navy 3)
141 - Jake Sueflohn (NU) by major dec. over Quentin Leadbeter (Navy), 11-2 (NU 7, Navy 3)
149 - Brandon Wilbourn (NU) by dec. over Joe Locksmith (Navy), 12-5 (NU 10, Navy 3)
157 - James Green (NU) by dec. overBobby Barnhisel (Navy), 13-7 (NU 13, Navy 3)
165 - #10 Robert Kokesh (NU) by major dec. over Mason Bailey (Navy), 13-1 (NU 17, Navy 3)
174 - #19 Oscar Huntley (Navy) by dec. over Tyler Koehn (NU), 5-3; (NU 17, Navy 6)
184 - #10 Josh Ihnen (NU) by dec. over #11 Luke Rebertus (Navy), 6-1 (NU 20, Navy 6)
197 - James Nakashima (NU) by major dec. over Paul Rands (Navy), 13-4 (NU 24, Navy 6)
285 - #8 Tucker Lane (NU) by dec. over Daniel Miller (Navy), 6-3 (NU 27, Navy 6)