Huskers Drop Tar Heels, Jackrabbits

Lincoln, Neb. - The No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team went 2-0 on Sunday at the NU Coliseum with a 25-12 victory over North Carolina and a 32-7 win over South Dakota State.

Against North Carolina, the Huskers faced an early 12-0 deficit after losing the first three matches, but responded by winning the final seven en route to a 25-12 win. At 125 pounds, the Tar Heels' No. 16 Nathan Kraisser won a major decision over Eric Coufal, 12-1. Nebraska suffered major decision losses at 133 and 141 pounds as well to give North Carolina the early 12-0 advantage. Joey Ward won 14-4 over Shawn Nagel before No. 17 Evan Henderson posted a 10-1 victory over Skylar Galloway.

Nebraska responded with a victory at 149 pounds as No. 13 Jake Sueflohn won an 8-3 decision over North Carolina's Christian Barber. Fellow sophomore No. 5 James Green kept the NU momentum going with his 10-3 decision over Chris Mears.

At 165 pounds, Austin Wilson won a 6-4 decision over J.M. Staudenmayer. Then Nebraska seized the lead, 15-12, after No. 7 Robert Kokesh pinned North Carolina's Frank Abbondanza in 4:42. The pin marks Kokesh's fourth of the season.

No. 6 Josh Ihnen (184) and Caleb Kolb (197) added decisions to extend the lead before Donny Longendyke won a major decision over Jake Barnhart, 9-1, at heavyweight. Ihnen posted a 10-4 victory over Alex Utley while Kolb defeated Antonio Giorgio, 4-2.

Nebraska faced another early deficit against South Dakota State after Coufal dropped a 12-4 major decision to Aaron Pickrel at 125 pounds. Nagel responded at 133 pounds with his 8-2 decision over the Jackrabbits' Brance Simms. The victory marks Nagel's sixth of the 2012-13 campaign.

At 141 pounds, Galloway responded from his earlier loss with a 14-4 major decision over Ben Gillette. The Jackrabbits bounced back, however, as Dustin Walraven upset No. 13 Sueflohn at 149 pounds, 3-2. The loss marks Sueflohn's first of the season as South Dakota State tied the match at 7.

The Huskers responded by winning the final six matches to put away the victory. No. 5 Green won a 17-6 major decision over Cody Pack at 157 pounds before Wilson earned a 4-1 decision over Joe Brewster at 165. At 174 pounds, Kokesh won a 17-1 technical fall over John Nething II. Kokesh improves to 7-1 with the win.

Ihnen picked up his eighth win of the 2012-13 campaign by pinning Hunter Weddington in 1:20. The pin marks the senior's first of the season. Kolb (197) and Longendyke (HWT) each capped 2-0 days as Kolb won a 13-4 major decision over Brandon Ballard and Longendyke won a 6-4 decision over J.J. Everard.

The Huskers return to action Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. The tournament is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. (CT). Nebraska's next home dual is Dec. 8 against Arizona State at 7 p.m. The Huskers host Wisconsin on Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.

Nov. 18, 2012
No. 9 Nebraska 25, North Carolina 12
NU Coliseum, Lincoln, Neb.
Attendance: 519

Official Results
125 - #16 Nathan Kraisser (UNC) by major dec. over Eric Coufal (NEB), 12-1 (UNC 4, NEB 0)
133 - Joey Ward (UNC) by major dec. over Shawn Nagel (NEB), 14-4 (UNC 8, NEB 0)
141 - #17 Evan Henderson (UNC) by major dec. over Skylar Galloway (NEB), 10-1 (UNC 12, NEB 0)
149 - #13 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) by dec. over Christian Barber (UNC), 8-3 (UNC 12, NEB 3)
157 - #5 James Green (NEB) by dec. over Chris Mears (UNC), 10-3 (UNC 12, NEB 6)
165 - Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over J.M. Staudenmayer (UNC), 6-4 (UNC 12, NEB 9)
174 - #7 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by pin over Frank Abbondanza (UNC), 4:42 (NEB 15, UNC 12)
184 - #6 Josh Ihnen (NEB) by dec. over #19 Alex Utley (UNC), 10-4 (NEB 18, UNC 12)
197 - Caleb Kolb (NEB) by dec. over Antonio Giorgio (UNC), 4-2 (NEB 21, UNC 12)
HWT - Donny Longendyke (NEB) by major dec. over Jake Barnhart (UNC), 9-1 (NEB 25, UNC 12)

No. 9 Nebraska 32, South Dakota State 7
NU Coliseum, Lincoln, Neb.
Attendance: 672

Official Results
125 - Aaron Pickrel (SDSU) by major dec. over Eric Coufal (NEB), 12-4 (SDSU 4, NEB 0)
133 - Shawn Nagel (NEB) by dec. over Brance Simms (SDSU), 8-2 (SDSU 4, NEB 3)
141 - Skylar Galloway (NEB) by major dec. over Ben Gillette (SDSU), 14-4 (NEB 7, SDSU 4)
149 - Dustin Walraven (SDSU) by dec. over #13 Jake Sueflohn (NEB), 3-2 (NEB 7, SDSU 7)
157 - #5 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over Cody Pack (SDSU), 17-6 (NEB 11, SDSU 7)
165 - Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over Joe Brewster (SDSU), 4-1 (NEB 14, SDSU 7)
174 - #7 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by tech. fall over John Nething II (SDSU), 17-1 (NEB 19, SDSU 7)
184 - #6 Josh Ihnen (NEB) by pin over Hunter Weddington (SDSU), 1:20 (NEB 25, SDSU 7)
197 - Caleb Kolb (NEB) by major dec. over Brandon Ballard (SDSU), 13-4 (NEB 29, SDSU 7)
HWT - Donny Longendyke (NEB) by dec. over J.J. Everard (SDSU), 6-4 (NEB 32, SDSU 7)