Huskers Pick Up First Big Ten Dual Win

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Junior Shawn Nagel (133) turned the tide of a back-and-forth dual with his first pin of the season as the No. 17 Nebraska wrestling team defeated No. 11 Michigan, 20-19, on Friday night at Cliff Keen Arena.

The Huskers picked up their first Big Ten dual victory of the season after an 0-2 start with the win over the Wolverines. Nebraska improves to 7-3 in 2012-13 and Michigan falls to 6-2 and 0-1 in Big Ten duals.

No. 7 James Green (157) made his first appearance for the Huskers since an injury on Dec. 1 in the opening match of the night. The sophomore won an 8-3 decision over Michigan's Collin Zeerip, earning his 13th victory of the season. Green improves to 6-0 in duals.

The Wolverines responded at 165 pounds as No. 13 Taylor Massa pinned NU's Austin Wilson in 0:45. Nebraska bounced back at 174 with No. 4 Robert Kokesh's 9-3 decision over No. 11 Dan Yates. The victory marked Kokesh's 18th consecutive as he improved to 23-1 on the season and 9-1 in duals.

Senior Josh Ihnen (184) kept the Nebraska momentum going with his technical fall over Chris Heald, 18-3. Ihnen's 16th win of the season gave the Huskers an 11-6 lead.

Michigan won the next three matches, however, to take a 16-11 lead. At 197 pounds, No. 18 Max Huntley of Michigan won a 3-1 decision over Caleb Kolb. Sophomore Spencer Johnson (HWT) made his first appearance of the season but lost an 8-3 decision to No. 19 Ben Apland. Freshman Eric Coufal fell by a 15-7 major decision to the Wolverines' Sean Boyle at 125 pounds.

Trailing 16-11, Nebraska's Nagel delivered by pinning Michigan's Rossi Bruno at 133 pounds in 2:14. The pin marked Nagel's first of the season and 11th of his career as he gave the Huskers a 17-16 lead. The junior improves to 11-9 on the season and 5-5 in duals.

Senior Ridge Kiley (141) extended Nebraska's lead to 20-16 with his 4-3 decision over No. 18 Camryn Jackson of Michigan. Kiley picked up his 10th win of the season and improved to 5-2 in dual competition.

At 149 pounds, sophomore Jake Sueflohn fell by a 3-2 decision to No. 12 Eric Grajales. Sueflohn, who is ranked eighth in the InterMat poll, falls to 14-3 on the season and 5-2 in duals.

The Huskers will battle No. 18 Northwestern on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Evanston, Ill. The match will be available on Big Ten Digital Network.

Jan. 11, 2013
#17 Nebraska 20, #11 Michigan 19
Cliff Keen Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Results
157: #7 James Green (NEB) by dec. over Collin Zeerip (MICH), 8-3 (NEB 3, MICH 0)
165: #13 Taylor Massa (MICH) by fall over Austin Wilson (NEB), 0:45 (MICH 6, NEB 3)
174: #4 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by dec. over #11 Dan Yates (MICH), 9-3 (NEB 6, MICH 6)
184: #8 Josh Ihnen (NEB) by tech. fall over Chris Heald (MICH), 18-3 (NEB 11, MICH 6)
197: #18 Max Huntley (MICH) by dec. over Caleb Kolb (NEB), 3-1 (NEB 11, MICH 9)
HWT: #19 Ben Apland (MICH) by dec. over Spencer Johnson (NEB), 8-3 (MICH 12, NEB 11)
125: Sean Boyle (MICH) by major dec. over Eric Coufal (NEB), 15-7 (MICH 16, NEB 11)
133: Shawn Nagel (NEB) by fall over Rossi Bruno (MICH), 2:14 (NEB 17, MICH 16)
141: Ridge Kiley (NEB) by dec. over #18 Camryn Jackson (MICH), 4-3 (NEB 20, MICH 16)
149: #12 Eric Grajales (MICH) by dec. over #8 Jake Sueflohn (NEB), 3-2 (NEB 20, MICH 19)