Three Huskers Advance to Big Ten Semifinals

Madison, Wis. – Juniors Jake Sueflohn (149), James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174) each advanced to tonight’s Big Ten Semifinals following dominating victories during Session I on Saturday at the Kohl Center.

The Huskers are in fourth place with 32 points after the first session. Minnesota leads the team race with 77 points, while Penn State (70) and Iowa (68) round out the top three.

Sueflohn, the top seed at 149 pounds, earned a first-round bye before battling Michigan State’s Nick Trimble in the quarterfinals. Sueflohn earned five takedowns in the match en route to a 17-5 major decision. In addition, the Wisconsin native also tacked on points for a nearfall in the first period and riding time at the end of the bout.

Sueflohn improves to 28-3 on the season and picks up his 10th major decision, which leads the team. He will face fifth-seeded Eric Grajales of Michigan in the second session later today.

Green and Kokesh, both reigning All-Americans, earned pins in the quarterfinals following first-round byes. Green, the No. 2 seed at 157 pounds, rebounded from his first loss of the season two weeks ago with a first-period fall over Illinois’ Zac Brunson in 2:15. The pin marks Green’s fifth of the season as he improves to 27-1. Green is set to grapple No. 3 seed Dylan Ness of Minnesota in the semifinals.

Kokesh, the top seed at 174 pounds, pinned No. 8 seed Collin Zeerip of Michigan in 4:28 to pick up his 30th win of the season. The fall marks Kokesh’s ninth of the season, which leads the team, as he earned his 98th career victory. Kokesh will wrestle fellow South Dakota native Logan Storley in the semifinals.

Austin Wilson (165) and Tim Lambert (125) each won their opening round matches before falling in the quarterfinals. Wilson, the No. 8 seed, took down ninth-seeded Pat Robinson of Purdue, 4-1, before dropping his quarterfinal bout to top-seeded David Taylor of Penn State, 22-4. Lambert opened with a 13-1 major decision over Michigan State’s Brenan Lyon before falling to No. 3 seed Cory Clark of Iowa, 10-2.

Redshirt freshman TJ Dudley (184) also fell in his quarterfinal match, dropping a 5-4 decision to fifth-seeded Domenic Abounader of Michigan. Dudley, the No. 4 seed, earned a bye in the first round before the loss.

Seniors Shawn Nagel (133) and Caleb Kolb (197) dropped narrow losses in the first round. Nagel, the No. 9 seed, fell to No. 8 seed Rossi Bruno of Michigan, 6-5. Kolb, the No. 10 seed, lost by sudden victory-2 to seventh-seeded Alex Polizzi of Northwestern, 6-4.

Redshirt freshman Collin Jensen (HWT) and true freshman Colton McCrystal (141) lost in the opening round as well, and will compete in the consolation bracket tonight.

Session II starts this evening at 5 p.m. CT. All matches will be streamed on the Big Ten Digital Network and can also be found on the tournament central website here: http://www.uwbadgers.com/b1gwrestling/. The Big Ten Championships conclude on Sunday with Session III and the championship finals.

Big Ten Championships Session I Results
125 pounds
First Round: #6 Tim Lambert (NEB) by major dec. over Brenan Lyon (MSU), 13-1
Quarterfinals: #3 Cory Clark (IOWA) by major dec. over #6 Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-2

133 pounds
First Round: #8 Rossi Bruno (MICH) by dec. over #9 Shawn Nagel (NEB), 6-5

141 pounds
First Round: #1 Zain Retherford (PSU) by major dec. over Colton McCrystal (NEB), 8-0

149 pounds
First Round: #1 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) Bye
Quarterfinals: #1 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) by major dec. over Nick Trimble (MSU), 17-5

157 pounds
First Round: #2 James Green (NEB) Bye
Quarterfinals: #2 James Green (NEB) by pin over #7 Zac Brunson (ILL), 2:15

165 pounds
First Round: #8 Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over #9 Pat Robinson (PUR), 4-1
Quarterfinals: #1 David Taylor (PSU) by tech. fall over #8 Austin Wilson (NEB), 22-4

174 pounds
First Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) Bye
Quarterfinals: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by pin over #8 Collin Zeerip (MICH), 4:28

184 pounds
First Round: #4 TJ Dudley (NEB) Bye
Quarterfinals: #5 Domenic Abounader (MICH) by dec. over #4 TJ Dudley (NEB), 5-4

197 pounds
First Round: #7 Alex Polizzi (NW) by sudden victory 2 over #10 Caleb Kolb (NEB), 6-4

Heavyweight
First Round: #8 Jon Gingrich (PSU) by major dec. over #9 Collin Jensen (NEB), 12-3