Huskers Outlast No. 19 Cowboys

Laramie, Wyo. - The No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team built an early 16-0 lead over No. 19 Wyoming and won the final two matches to hold on for a 22-15 win on Sunday at the UniWyo Sports Complex.

With the win, the Huskers improved to 2-0 after defeating the Northern Colorado Bears on Saturday, 28-9. The Wyoming Cowboys fall to 1-1 with the loss. Wyoming opened its season with a 26-12 victory over Boise State on Thursday, Nov. 1.

Sophomore James Green won the first match of the meet at 157 pounds by major decision over Wyoming's Dakota Friesth, 14-1. The victory was the first of four consecutive major decisions for the Huskers to open the match. No. 5 Green also won his match on Saturday in decisive fashion with an 18-2 technical fall.

Redshirt freshman Austin Wilson kept the momentum going with a 13-5 major decision over Wyoming's Andy McCulley. With the win, Wilson improved to 5-1 after his second-place finish at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open. He did not compete against Northern Colorado on Saturday.

At 174 pounds, No. 8 Robert Kokesh won a 17-4 major decision over L.J. Helbig. Kokesh, a sophomore, gave Nebraska a 12-0 lead through three matches. He was also victorious on Saturday, pinning Northern Colorado's Josh VanTine in 1:37. Kokesh is 5-0 on the season.

No. 6 Josh Ihnen won by major decision over Wyoming's Shane Woods, 13-3, at 184 pounds. The senior improves to 6-0 following a technical fall on Saturday and a first-place showing at the Daktronics Open.

Wyoming's No. 4 Alfonso Hernandez stopped Nebraska's momentum at 197 pounds. He won a 3-0 decision over junior Caleb Kolb, cutting the lead to 16-3. The victory was the first of four consecutive for the Cowboys.

Tanner Harms of Wyoming won an 11-5 decision over Donny Longendyke in the heavyweight battle before No. 18 Tyler Cox pinned Nebraska's Eric Coufal at 125 pounds in 6:16. At 133 pounds, Wyoming's Kasey Garnhart won a 5-2 decision over Shawn Nagel to get Wyoming within one.

The Huskers responded to the four consecutive losses with two straight victories to end the match. At 141 pounds, Skylar Galloway won an 8-3 decision over Wyoming's Kyle Komata before Ridge Kiley won by decision over Brandon Richardson, 3-1, at 149 pounds.

The Huskers open their home schedule on Friday night against No. 1 Minnesota at the NU Coliseum at 7 p.m. Nebraska will close out next weekend with two matches on Sunday, starting at noon. NU will face North Carolina before South Dakota State.

Nov. 11, 2012
#9 Nebraska 22, #19 Wyoming 15
UniWyo Sports Complex, Laramie, Wyo.

Results
157: #5 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over Dakota Friesth (WYO), 14-1 (NEB 4, WYO 0)
165: Austin Wilson (NEB) by major dec. over Andy McCulley (WYO), 13-5 (NEB 8, WYO 0)
174: #8 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over L.J. Helbig (WYO), 17-4 (NEB 12, WYO 0)
184: #6 Josh Ihnen (NEB) by major dec. over Shane Woods (WYO), 13-3 (NEB 16, WYO 0)
197: #4 Alfonso Hernandez (WYO) by dec. over Caleb Kolb (NEB), 3-0 (NEB 16, WYO 3)
HWT: Tanner Harms (WYO) by dec. over Donny Longendyke (NEB), 11-5 (NEB 16, WYO 6)
125: #18 Tyler Cox (WYO) by pin over Eric Coufal (NEB), 6:16 (NEB 16, WYO 12)
133: Kasey Garnhart (WYO) by dec. over Shawn Nagel (NEB), 5-2 (NEB 16, WYO 15)
141: Skylar Galloway (NEB) by dec. over Kyle Komata (WYO), 8-3 (NEB 19, WYO 15)
149: Ridge Kiley (NEB) by dec. over Brandon Richardson (WYO), 3-1 (NEB 22, WYO 15)