Session I: Three Huskers Advance to Semifinals

Champaign, Ill. - Jake Sueflohn (149), James Green (157) and Josh Ihnen (184) advanced to the semifinals to lead the Nebraska wrestling team at the Big Ten Championships after the first session on Saturday. The trio will wrestle later today for a spot in the championship of their respective weight classes.

The Huskers are in seventh place after Session I with 26 points. Iowa leads the team standings with 79 points.

Sueflohn took a bye in the first round before winning a 10-6 decision over Penn State's Andrew Alton at 149 pounds. Sueflohn, the No. 4 seed, will face No. 8-seed Ian Paddock of Ohio State, who upset No. 1-seed Eric Grajales of Michigan in the quarterfinals.

No. 4-seed Green captured a 15-5 major decision over Indiana's No. 5-seed Taylor Walsh in the quarterfinals. The major decision marked Green's sixth of the season and his 19th overall victory in the 2012-13 campaign. He will face No. 1-seed Derek St. John of Iowa in the semifinals in the second session.

At 184 pounds, No. 3-seed Ihnen opened with a 13-2 major decision over Michigan's Chris Heald before taking down No. 6-seed Tony Dallago of Illinois in the quarterfinals by a 7-5 decision. The senior earned his 23rd win of the season and 96th victory of his career. Ihnen will try to avenge a loss earlier in the season to No. 2-seed Kevin Steinhaus in the semifinals.

Ridge Kiley (141) and Robert Kokesh (174) earned first-round byes but fell in the quarterfinals on Saturday. No. 6-seed Kiley lost a 6-1 decision to third-seeded Mark Ballweg of Iowa. Kiley will face Wisconsin's Tom Kelliher in the wrestleback bracket. At 174 pounds, Kokesh dropped an 8-2 decision against Illinois' Jordan Blanton and will wrestle Cheney Dale of Indiana in the wrestlebacks.

Eric Coufal (125), Shawn Nagel (133), Austin Wilson (165), Caleb Kolb (197) and Spencer Johnson (HWT) all dropped their first round matches and will look to bounce back in Session II. Kolb grappled in an overtime match against No. 6-seed Nathan Burak before falling by a 4-3 sudden victory.

Session II starts at 5 p.m., and will be streamed on the Big Ten Digital Network, which requires a subscription. Tournament Central is at: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/ill-big10-12-wrestl-championships.html.

Session I Results
First Round
125: #3 Jesse Delgado (ILL) by pin over Eric Coufal (NEB), 4:10
133: Rossi Bruno (MICH) by dec. over #8 Shawn Nagel (NEB), 5-3
165: #9 Mark Martin (OSU) by dec. over #8 Austin Wilson (NEB), 6-2
184: #3 Josh Ihnen (NEB) by major dec. over Chris Heald (MICH), 13-2
197: #6 Nathan Burak (IOWA) by sudden victory over #11 Caleb Kolb (NEB), 4-3
HWT: #8 Ben Apland (MICH) by dec. over #9 Spencer Johnson (NEB), 8-2

Quarterfinals
141: #3 Mark Ballweg (IOWA) by dec. over #6 Ridge Kiley (NEB), 6-1
149: #4 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) by dec. over #5 Andrew Alton (PSU), 10-6
157: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over #5 Taylor Walsh (IND), 15-5
174: #6 Jordan Blanton (ILL) by dec. over #3 Robert Kokesh (NEB), 8-2
184: #3 Josh Ihnen (NEB) by dec. over #6 Tony Dallago (ILL), 7-5