No. 4 Gophers Top Huskers

Minneapolis, Minn. - The No. 7 Nebraska wrestling team dropped its second consecutive dual on Sunday, Feb. 5, falling to the No. 4 Minnesota Gophers, 26-7, in Minneapolis, Minn. The Huskers, who dropped four matches by three points or less, fall to 14-3 on the year and 5-3 in the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota improved to 10-3 and 7-1 in the conference.

Wrestling in front of 3,663 spectators at the Sports Pavilion, the Huskers led the dual off with a victory from redshirt freshman Robert Kokesh (165). No. 7 Kokesh accumulated over 1:40 of riding time against Danny Zilverberg (UM), but entered the third period in a scoreless tie. Starting the third in the down position, the Wagner, S.D., native scored reversal to take control and went on to win the dual, 6-0.

James Green (157) moved one match closer to moving into the top 10 for most wins in a season by a freshman in school history with his 11-3 major decision over Bart Reiter (UM) to conclude the dual. Green recorded a takedown in each of the first two periods to garner a 4-1 lead entering the final two minutes, where he captured a reversal and two more double-leg takedowns to pull away.

At 184 pounds, No. 7 Josh Ihnen dropped a heartbreaker to No. 8 Kevin Steinhaus (UM), 3-2. Tied at 1-1 in the third period and holding the riding time advantage, Ihnen gave up a single-leg takedown as time expired to drop the match. Following Ihnen's match, redshirt freshman Spencer Johnson saw the first action of his career in dual competition at 197 pounds, falling to No. 6 Sonny Yohn (UM) by decision, 6-1.

No. 9 Tucker Lane (Hwt) gave up a takedown in the sudden-victory period to drop his match against No. 4 Tony Nelson (UM), 3-1. The senior got in on a single-leg in the overtime, but Nelson turned the shot attempt by Lane into a takedown of his own for the victory.

Jake Suelfohn (141) lost for the first time in three matches, falling to No. 11 Nick Dardanes (UM) in a one-point decision. The deciding points came in the second period when Dardanes recorded an escape and a takedown gain control. No. 5 Sueflohn wasn't able to get his offense going in the final period and fell by a 3-2 final.

Tyler Koehn (174) dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 6 Logan Storley, while Shawn Nagel (125) fell to No.2 Zach Sanders (UM) by major decision, 23-14. No. 10 Dylan Ness defeated Brandon Wilbourn (149) by decision, 9-4, to give UM its final victory.

Nebraska's dual against the Gophers will air on the Big Ten Network at 5:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 5. The Huskers return to the mat on Sunday, Feb. 12, when they travel to Stillwater, Okla., to participate in NWCA National Duals. Nebraska's first round matchup in the duals will be announced in the next week. Teams in NU's region include Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Wyoming, Boise State and Chattanooga.

NU 7, UM 26
Minneapolis, Min., Sports Pavilion
Feb. 3, 2012
Attendance: 3,663

Official Results
165- #6 Robert Kokesh (NU) by dec. over Danny Zilverberg (UM), 6-0 (NU 3, UM 0)
174- #6 Logan Storley (UM) by dec. over Tyler Koehn (NU), 5-2 (NU 3, UM 3)
184- #8 Kevin Steinhaus (UM) by dec. over #7 Josh Ihnen (NU), 3-2 (NU 3, UM 6)
197- #6 Sonny Yohn (UM) by dec. over Spener Johnson (NU), 6-1 (NU 3, UM 9)
Hwt- #4 Tony Nelson (UM) by dec. over #9 Tucker Lane (NU), 3-1 (SV) (NU 3, UM 12)
125- #2 Zach Sanders (UM) by major dec. over Shawn Nagel (NU), 24-13 (NU 3, UM 16)
133- #7 Chris Dardanes (UM) by major dec. over #18 Ridge Kiley (NU), 15-6 (NU 3, UM 20)
141- #11 Nick Dardanes (UM) by dec. over #5 Jake Sueflohn (NU), 3-2 (NU 3, UM 23)
149- #10 Dylan Ness (UM) by dec. over Brandon Wilbourn (NU), 9-4 (NU 3, UM 26)
157- #7 James Green (NU) by major dec. over Bart Reiter (UM), 11-3 (NU 7, UM 26)