Huskers Face Purdue in Tumble N? Rumble

Friday, Jan. 9 • 7 p.m. (CT) • Devaney Center (7,907) • Lincoln, Neb.
Series History: Nebraska leads, 7-1-0
Last Meeting: Nebraska won, 28-9, on Jan. 26, 2014 in West Lafayette, Ind.
Scoring: TrackWrestling.com
Live Video (subscription required): Huskers.com
Twitter Feed: @HuskerWrestling

No. 12 Nebraska (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) returns home to host Purdue on Friday night at 7 p.m. (CT) at the Devaney Center in the second annual Tumble N’ Rumble with the women’s gymnastics team. The event features both sports at the same time on the same floor and will be streamed on Huskers.com, with a subscription required to watch.

The Huskers and Boilermakers will be meeting for the ninth time in series history, with NU holding a 7-1-0 advantage. Nebraska managed a 28-9 victory last season on the road. This year’s dual will be scored on TrackWrestling.com and can be followed on Twitter through @HuskerWrestling.

The Huskers make their second appearance of the New Year after finishing fourth at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Senior All-Americans Robert Kokesh (174) and James Green (157) each captured weight class titles at the tournament. Kokesh, the top-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, earned Big Ten Wrestler-of-the-Week honors for his performance.

Anthony Abidin (3rd at 141), Tim Lambert (5th at 125), Tyler Berger (unattached - 6th at 149) and TJ Dudley (8th at 184) also placed for the Big Red.

This weekend, Nebraska will be looking to bounce back from its last dual at home, a 23-14 setback to Wisconsin, on Dec. 13. The battle between the Huskers and Boilermakers will be the first of 10 duals for NU during the months of January and February.

Last Time Out: Kokesh, Green Win Southern Scuffle Crowns
Senior All-Americans Robert Kokesh (174) and James Green (157) each captured weight class titles at the Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle at McKenzie Arena on Friday, Jan. 2. The Huskers finished fourth as a team with 116 points.

No. 20 Anthony Abidin took third place at 141 pounds after a 6-1 showing during the two-day event. No. 17 Tim Lambert placed fifth with a 6-2 record at the Southern Scuffle. Unattached wrestler Tyler Berger (149) earned a sixth-place finish at the tournament, while 184-pounder TJ Dudley finished eighth.

Eric Montoya (133), Justin Arthur (149), Austin Wilson (165), Aaron Studebaker (184), Spencer Johnson (197), Micah Barnes (197) and Collin Jensen (HWT) also competed for the Huskers at the Southern Scuffle. Dustin Williams (165) and Derek White (197) each wrestled unattached at the tournament.

Scouting the Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue is 7-2 this season and will be making its first Big Ten dual appearance of the season on Friday night. The Boilermakers are fresh off a 16th-place finish at the Midlands Invitational and carry a three-match winning streak into their matchup with the Huskers. Both of Purdue’s losses came to ranked opponents as the Boilermakers lost to No. 5 Missouri and No. 21 Old Dominion on Nov. 29 at the Journeymen/ASICS Northeast Duals.

Purdue has wins over Cal Poly, Indiana Tech, No. 18 Northern Iowa, Binghamton, SIU Edwardsville, No. 20 Chattanooga and North Carolina. 197-pounder Braden Atwood leads the Boilermakers with the No. 8 ranking by InterMat. The senior from Delphi, Ind., is 9-2 on the season.

Purdue is coached by Tony Ersland, who is in his first season at the helm of the Boilermaker program. He spent eight years as an assistant coach at Nebraska before taking over in West Lafayette, Ind. He is assisted by Zach Tanelli and Tyrel Todd.

Kokesh Receives Big Ten Honor
Top-ranked 174-pounder Robert Kokesh garnered Big Ten Wrestler-of-the-Week accolades from the conference on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

He receives the award after winning the 174-pound title at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Kokesh, a senior from Wagner, S.D., won six matches at the tournament to lead the Huskers to a fourth-place team finish.

Kokesh pinned his first three opponents before notching a major decision over 18th-ranked Kyle Crutchmer of Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals. He topped Missouri’s John Eblen in the semifinals, 5-2, before defeating No. 4 Matt Brown of Penn State in the finals, 3-2.

Dudley, Studebaker Battling at 184
Sophomores TJ Dudley and Aaron Studebaker continue to compete for the starting spot at 184 pounds. Dudley, a 2014 NCAA qualifier, is 14-5 this season and holds a 1-2 record in duals. Studebaker is 18-6 this season and holds a 2-1 record in duals with his lone dual loss coming at 197 pounds.

Nebraska in the Rankings
As a team, Nebraska is ranked 12th in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll, 12th by InterMat and 11th by WIN Magazine. The Huskers are 4-1 on the season, with a 1-1 record in Big Ten duals. NU is 1-0 against ranked opponents, 1-1 at home and 3-0 on the road.

Back Points - Notes on Nebraska’s Starters
Tim Lambert, 125 pounds, Sophomore, Forest Hills, Mich.
• Tim Lambert is 13-6 this season, and holds a 4-1 record in dual competition. He is 2-5 against ranked opponents and 2-0 in Big Ten duals. Lambert has one pin, one technical fall and four major decisions this season.
• Lambert is ranked 12th by InterMat, 10th by WIN Magazine and 12th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Lambert finished second at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo., and took fifth place at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Lambert went 24-13 last season on his way to qualifying for the NCAA Championships. He went 2-2 at the national tournament after finishing fifth at the Big Ten Championships.

Eric Montoya, 133 pounds, Sophomore, Albuquerque, N.M.
• Eric Montoya is 10-7 this season, with a 2-3 mark in duals. He is 0-5 against ranked opponents and 0-2 in Big Ten duals. Montoya has two pins, two technical falls and one major decision in 2014-15.
• Montoya took home the 133-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Montoya went 11-2 last season en route to winning Nebraska Redshirt-of-the-Year honors. In 2013, he qualified for the NCAA Championships while wrestling at Campbell University.

Anthony Abidin, 141 pounds, Junior, Dix Hills, N.Y.
• Anthony Abidin is 17-2 this season, and holds a 5-0 record in duals. He is 3-2 against ranked opponents and 2-0 in Big Ten duals. Abidin has one technical fall and 10 major decisions this season.
• Abidin is ranked 12th by InterMat, 12th by WIN Magazine and eighth by TheOpenMat.com.
• Abidin won the 141-pound crown at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo., and finished third at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Abidin went 18-3 last season in his first year with the Huskers, which included a 5-0 mark in dual competition. In 2012, while wrestling at Nassau Community College, Abidin won the NJCAA national title at 133 pounds.

Justin Arthur, 149 pounds, Sophomore, Huntington, W.Va.
• Justin Arthur is 15-8 this season, with a 1-4 record in duals. He is 3-3 when facing ranked opponents and 2-0 in Big Ten duals. Arthur has two pins and two major decisions in 2014-15.
• Arthur captured the 149-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo., and finished fourth at the Cliff Keen Invitational, Dec. 5-6, in Las Vegas, Nev.
• Arthur competed at Clarion last season, where he qualified for the NCAA Championships and fell one win short of All-America honors. He went 29-16 at 149 pounds for the Golden Eagles.

James Green, 157 pounds, Senior, Willingboro, N.J.
• James Green is 18-1 this season, and holds a 5-0 record in dual competition. He is 4-1 when facing ranked opponents and is 2-0 in Big Ten duals. Green has two pins, six technical falls and five major decisions this season.
• Green is ranked second in the InterMat, WIN Magazine and TheOpenMat.com polls.
• Green won the 157-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo., and the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn. He finished second at the Cliff Keen Invitational, Dec. 5-6, in Las Vegas, Nev.
• Green’s lone loss of the season came in the Cliff Keen Invitational finals to No. 1 Dylan Ness of Minnesota, 4-3.
• Green became the 23rd member of Nebraska’s 100-Win Club with his major decision over Maryland’s Lou Mascola on Nov. 16.
• Green opened his season at the NWCA All-Star Classic in Philadelphia, Pa., where he defeated No. 3 Ian Miller by a 6-4 decision. After the competition, he was named MVP of the Red Team. The win does not count toward his record.
• Green looks to become the second Husker all-time to earn All-America status on four occasions. The title is currently owned by Associate Head Coach Bryan Snyder, who wrestled for the Huskers from 1999 to 2002. Green finished third at the 2014 NCAA Championships after taking seventh during both his sophomore and freshman seasons.
• Green won the 2014 Big Ten title at 157 pounds after finishing second in 2013 and fifth in 2012.

Austin Wilson, 165 pounds, Junior, Hastings, Neb.
• Austin Wilson is 7-7 this season, with a 3-2 record in dual competition. He is 1-3 against ranked opponents and 1-1 in Big Ten duals. Wilson has two pins, one technical fall and two major decisions this season.
• Wilson is a two-time NCAA qualifier and finished sixth at the 2014 Big Ten Championships. Last season, he went 23-16 after posting a 27-14 record in 2012-13.

Robert Kokesh, 174 pounds, Senior, Wagner, S.D.
• Robert Kokesh is 21-0 on the season, and holds a 5-0 dual record. He is 6-0 when facing ranked opponents, and holds a 2-0 record in Big Ten duals. Kokesh has six pins, two technical falls and four major decisions in 2014-15.
• Kokesh is ranked first in the InterMat, WIN Magazine and TheOpenMat.com polls.
• Kokesh joined Nebraska’s Top 10 Career Victories List (112) with his pin of Maryland’s Josh Snook on Nov. 16.
• Kokesh won the 174-pound title at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo., the Cliff Keen Invitational, Dec. 5-6, in Las Vegas, Nev., and the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Kokesh opened his season at the NWCA All-Star Classic in Philadelphia, Pa., where he defeated NAIA No. 1 and three-time national champion Brock Gutches of Southern Oregon by an 8-2 decision. The win does not count toward his record.
• Kokesh is a two-time All-American and member of Nebraska’s 100-Win Club. He finished fourth at the 2014 NCAA Championships after taking third place in 2013.
• Kokesh won the 2014 Big Ten title at 174 pounds after finishing third in both 2013 and 2012.

TJ Dudley, 184 pounds, Sophomore, Irmo, S.C.
• TJ Dudley is 14-5 this season, with a 1-2 dual record. He is 1-5 against ranked opponents and holds an 0-1 record in Big Ten duals. Dudley has four pins and four major decisions this season.
• Dudley is ranked 18th by InterMat and 18th by WIN Magazine.
• Dudley captured the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) crown at 184 pounds on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo., finished seventh at the Cliff Keen Invitational, Dec. 5-6, in Las Vegas, Nev., and took eighth at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Dudley went 26-8 last season on his way to qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

Aaron Studebaker, 184 pounds, Sophomore, Raymond, Neb.
• Aaron Studebaker is 18-6 this season, and holds a 2-1 dual record. He is 1-4 against ranked opponents and is 1-1 in Big Ten duals. Studebaker has three pins, four technical falls and two major decisions in 2014-15.
• Studebaker finished fifth at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open on Nov. 2 in Brookings, S.D., took runner-up honors at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo., and won the 184-pound title at the Bob Smith Open on Dec. 7 in Fort Hays, Kan.
• Studebaker went 24-5 last season, capturing three open tournament titles in the process.

Micah Barnes, 197 pounds, Sophomore, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
• Micah Barnes is 10-9 this season, with a 2-2 mark in dual competition. He is 0-4 against ranked opponents and 1-0 in Big Ten duals. Barnes has three major decisions this season.
• Barnes finished second at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Barnes won two open tournament titles last season, posting a 9-1 record in the process.

Collin Jensen, Heavyweight, Sophomore, Mobridge, S.D.
• Collin Jensen is 9-7 this season, and holds a 3-2 dual record. He is 0-4 against ranked opponents, and 1-1 in Big Ten duals. Jensen has four pins and one technical fall this season.
• Jensen is ranked 17th by InterMat, 19th by WIN Magazine and 20th by TheOpenMat.com.
• Jensen tied for third at the Cowboy Open (Elite Division) on Nov. 8 in Laramie, Wyo.
• Jensen went 20-15 last season on his way to a berth in the NCAA Championships.

Keeping an Eye on Nebraska’s Career Records Lists
• Head Coach Mark Manning is nine dual wins away from becoming the winningest coach in Nebraska wrestling history. The win would also mark the 200th in his time with the Huskers. Manning holds a 191-74-3 record in his 15th season at Nebraska. Former Head Coach Tim Neumann (1985-2000) went 199-77-6 while coaching the Huskers.

• Senior James Green (157) is 14 wins away from joining Nebraska’s Top Five Career Victories List. Green holds a career record of 112-18-0 and is a three-time All-American.

• Senior Robert Kokesh (174) is seven wins away from joining Nebraska’s Top Three Career Victories List. Kokesh owns a career mark of 126-14-0 and is a two-time All-American.

Sueflohn Out for the Season
Senior Jake Sueflohn (149) will miss the 2014-15 campaign with a torn ACL. Sueflohn is redshirting this season and will have one more year of eligibility. The three-time NCAA qualifier has a career record of 80-24, and holds a dual mark of 37-8.

Kokesh Ascends to No. 1 at 174 Pounds
Robert Kokesh moved up to No. 1 at 174 pounds in every major NCAA wrestling poll following his first-place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 5-6. Kokesh, a Wagner, S.D., native, earned the top spot from InterMat, WIN Magazine, TheOpenMat.com and Asics Flo Rankings. He entered the tournament ranked second before reeling off five wins en route to the 174-pound title in Las Vegas, Nev.

Dual Recaps
Wyoming (Nov. 7): Huskers Top Cowboys in Season Opener
No. 7 Nebraska opened its dual season with a 22-13 victory over No. 25 Wyoming at the Wyoming Indoor Practice Facility on Friday, Nov. 7. No. 15 Collin Jensen (HWT), Eric Montoya (133), No. 17 Anthony Abidin (141), No. 2 James Green (157), No. 14 Austin Wilson (165) and No. 2 Robert Kokesh (174) claimed wins for the Huskers. Green pinned Archie Colgan, while Abidin earned a major decision over Cole Mendenhall for bonus points.

Maryland (Nov. 16): Green Earns 100th Career Win as NU Routs Terps
Senior James Green (157) picked up his 100th career victory as No. 7 Nebraska cruised to a 42-3 triumph over Big Ten newcomer Maryland at the NU Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 16. Four Huskers won by fall against the Terrapins, including No. 14 Tim Lambert (125), No. 16 Austin Wilson (165), No. 2 Robert Kokesh (174) and No. 18 Collin Jensen (HWT). Justin Arthur (149) and Aaron Studebaker (184) each notched major decisions, while No. 15 Anthony Abidin (141) and Micah Barnes (197) each won by decision.

Duke/NC State (Nov. 22): Huskers Sweep Weekend Trip to North Carolina
No. 7 Nebraska took down Duke, 45-3, at Card Gymnasium in Durham, N.C., before holding off NC State by a 16-15 margin at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday, Nov. 22.

The Huskers won nine bouts against the Blue Devils, which included pins from Eric Montoya (133), No. 16 TJ Dudley (184) and No. 15 Collin Jensen (HWT). No. 15 Anthony Abidin (141), No. 2 James Green (157), No. 17 Austin Wilson (165), Micah Barnes (197) also won matches, while No. 14 Tim Lambert (125) and No. 2 Robert Kokesh (174) did not compete because Duke forfeited those matches.

NU split its matches against the Wolfpack, 5-5, but Green’s major decision proved to be the difference in the Huskers’ one-point victory. Lambert, Abidin, Kokesh and Aaron Studebaker (184) also posted victories against NC State wrestlers.

Wisconsin (Dec. 13): Huskers Stunned by Badgers
No. 8 Nebraska suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, Dec. 13, as the Huskers fell to Wisconsin, 23-14, at the Devaney Center. No. 1 Robert Kokesh (174), No. 18 Tim Lambert (125), No. 20 Anthony Abidin (141) and No. 2 James Green (157) each posted victories for the Huskers. Kokesh and Abidin provided bonus points, as they each collected major decisions.

Tournament Recaps
Cowboy Open (Nov. 8): Huskers Win Eight Weight Classes at Cowboy Open
No. 7 Nebraska won eight weight class titles at the Cowboy Open at War Memorial Field House in Laramie, Wyo., on Saturday, Nov. 8. No. 2 James Green (157), No. 2 Robert Kokesh (174), No. 13 TJ Dudley (184), Eric Montoya (133), No. 17 Anthony Abidin (141) and Justin Arthur (149) each captured Elite Division titles. No. 14 Tim Lambert (125) and Micah Barnes (197) each garnered runner-up honors, while No. 15 Collin Jensen and Nyle Bartling tied for third at heavyweight.

In the Amateur Division, Tyler Berger took home the 149-pound crown, while Colton Adams and Hayden Tuma tied for first at 141 pounds. Mitchell Maginnis (125) finished third.

John Svoboda (157), No. 14 Austin Wilson (165) and Spencer Johnson (197) also wrestled for the Huskers at the Cowboy Open.

Cliff Keen Invitational; Las Vegas, Nev. (Dec. 5-6): Kokesh Wins Cliff Keen Invitational Title
Senior All-American Robert Kokesh captured the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational crown at 174 pounds at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Saturday, Dec. 6. Four Huskers placed in the tournament, with senior James Green taking runner-up honors at 157 pounds. Sophomore Justin Arthur (149) notched a fourth-place finish and TJ Dudley (184) finished seventh. Nebraska finished sixth as a team with 89 points.

No. 17 Austin Wilson (165), No. 14 Collin Jensen (HWT), No. 13 Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133), No. 15 Anthony Abidin (141) and Micah Barnes (197) each competed for the Huskers at the Cliff Keen Invitational, but did not place.

Tracking the Non-Varsity
Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open; Brookings, S.D. (Nov. 2)
Seven Huskers earned spots on the podium at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D., on Sunday, Nov. 2. Tyler Berger (149) and Dustin Williams (165), each wrestling unattached, turned in second-place finishes to lead the way. Derek White (3rd at 197 - unattached), Aaron Studebaker (5th at 184), Micah Barnes (5th at 197), Nyle Bartling (5th at HWT) and Colton McCrystal (6th at 141 - unattached) also placed for the Big Red.

Harold Nichols Cyclone Open; Ames, Iowa (Nov. 8)
Freshman Derek White led five Huskers at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open on Saturday, Nov. 8 with his runner-up finish at 197 pounds. At 149 pounds, junior Tyrell Galloway turned in a sixth-place finish. Sean Murphy (133), Gage Anderson (165) and Eric Engler (184) also competed for the Huskers at the Harold Nichols Open.

Nebraska-Kearney Holiday Inn Open; Kearney, Neb. (Nov. 22)
Sophomore Colton McCrystal (141) and senior Spencer Johnson (197) each won Elite Division titles, while freshman Dustin Williams (165) won an Amateur Division crown at the Nebraska-Kearney Holiday Inn on Saturday, Nov. 22. Freshman Tyler Berger, wrestling unattached, finished third at 149 pounds in the Elite Division. Eric Coufal (Elite 133), Tyrell Galloway (Elite 149), Darrian Schwenke (Amateur 133), Brian Peska (Amateur 133), Aris Shino (Amateur 133), Austin Chauncey (Amateur 157) and Jake Anderson (Amateur 197) also competed for the Huskers at the Nebraska-Kearney Holiday Inn Open.

Bob Smith Open; Fort Hays, Kan. (Dec. 7)
Aaron Studebaker (184) and Spencer Johnson (197) each captured weight class titles at the Bob Smith Open on Sunday, Dec. 7. Brandon Wilbourn also placed, taking third at 165 pounds after a 4-1 performance. Mitchell Maginnis (125), Sean Murphy (133), Aris Shino (133), Eric Coufal (133), Austin Chauncey (157) and Jake Anderson (197) also competed for the Huskers at the Bob Smith Open.

York College Open; York, Neb. (Dec. 13)
Colton McCrystal (141), Tyler Berger (149) and Derek White (197) each won weight class titles in dominating fashion at the York College Open on Saturday, Dec. 13. Brian Peska also competed at the York College Open and posted a 3-2 record at 133 pounds, which included one technical fall and one major decision. All four wrestlers were unattached at the tournament.

Viking-Warrior Open; Fremont, Neb. (Jan. 3)
Brandon Wilbourn (165) and Nyle Bartling (HWT) each won weight class titles at the Viking-Warrior Open on Saturday, Jan. 3. Mitchell Maginnis (2nd at 125) and Eric Coufal (3rd at 133) also placed for the Huskers in Fremont. Brian Peska (133 – unattached), Sean Murphy (133 – unattached), Luis DeAnda (149), Austin Chauncey (157 – unattached), Eric Engler (174) and Jake Anderson (197 – unattached) also made appearances at the Viking-Warrior Open.

Green, Kokesh Win at NWCA All-Star Classic
All-Americans James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174) each opened their senior campaign with a victory at the NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday, Nov. 1 at The Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa.

Kokesh defeated NAIA No. 1 and three-time national champion Brock Gutches of Southern Oregon by an 8-2 decision at 174 pounds, and Green won by a 6-4 decision over No. 3 Ian Miller of Kent State. After the competition, Green was named Most Valuable Wrestler for the Red Team.

Huskers Impress at Intrasquad
Nebraska held its annual Coaches Clinic/Intrasquad event on Friday, Oct. 31 at the Devaney Center, which gave fans their first chance to see the 2014-15 Huskers.

Head Coach Mark Manning introduced the team before the exhibition and shared facts about each wrestler during the competition. Assistant Coach and Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs also spoke to the crowd about the upcoming season. The 90-minute workout included matches from all 10 weight classes.

BTN, BTN Plus Giving Huskers Exposure
Nebraska will make one appearance on the Big Ten Network this season, while making five showings on BTN Plus before the Big Ten Championships, March 7-8.

The Huskers’ Jan. 25 dual against Rutgers at the Devaney Center is slated for a noon (CT) start on BTN. NU will welcome the conference newcomer for the third all-time meeting between the two schools.

Nebraska’s first BTN Plus appearance is set for Friday, Jan. 23, when the Huskers face Illinois at 7 p.m., in Champaign, Ill. The dual marks the first of four road matchups to be streamed on BTN Plus. The Huskers’ duals at Northwestern (Jan. 30), at Michigan (Feb. 6) and at Michigan State (Feb. 8) will all be on BTN Plus in addition to NU’s home finale against Stanford on Friday, Feb. 13.

The entire first day of the Big Ten Championships on March 7 in Columbus, Ohio will be streamed on BTN Plus. The start time will be announced at a later date. The final session on Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m., will be televised on BTN.

Huskers Working Through 2014-15 Slate
Following this weekend, the Huskers journey to Champaign, Ill., on Friday, Jan. 23 to face Illinois before returning home to host new Big Ten foe Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Devaney Center. The following weekend, the Huskers make a return to trip to Illinois on Friday, Jan. 30 to face Northwestern in Evanston, before returning home for a Sunday match against Indiana on Feb. 1.

The Huskers head to the Great Lakes State for a pair of duals on the subsequent weekend, as NU faces Michigan on Friday, Feb. 6, before visiting East Lansing, Mich., to wrestle against Michigan State.

Senior Night at the Devaney Center is slated for Friday, Feb. 13, as Nebraska hosts Stanford at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 21, NU will compete against Drexel and Princeton in Philadelphia, Pa., starting at noon.

The Big Ten Championships are scheduled for March 7-8 in Columbus, Ohio, while the NCAA Championships will be March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo.

Burroughs Takes Bronze at World Championships
Olympic Gold Medalist and Nebraska Assistant Coach Jordan Burroughs earned the freestyle bronze medal at 74 kg/163 pounds at the 2014 FILA World Championships after going 4-1 at the Gymnastics Palace in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sept. 9.

After his performance, Burroughs holds a 92-2 record internationally, earning gold medals at the 2012 Olympics, as well as the 2011 and 2013 FILA World Championships. At Nebraska, he won national titles in 2009 and 2011, capturing the Hodge Trophy in his final year with the Huskers.

Green Falls in World Team Trials Finals
James Green (70 kg/154 pounds) advanced to the finals of the Phase II World Team Trials before dropping two matches to Nick Marable on July 24 at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.

Green, representing Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, won the challenge tournament to earn a spot in the best-of-three championship series for a spot on the U.S. World Team. In the first match against 2014 U.S. Open champion Marable, Green fell by a 2-1 margin. Marable also came out on top in the second match, 8-2.

Gold Medalist Burroughs Hired As Assistant Coach
Head Coach Mark Manning announced the hiring of Husker legend and Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs as an assistant coach for the team on July 11.

“We are pleased to announce Jordan as one of my top assistants,” Manning said. “Jordan is one of the best wrestlers in the world and his accomplishments speak for themselves. We want him to continue to win World and Olympic titles until he completes his career. Jordan and his wife Lauren have made a commitment to be a part of Nebraska Athletics for a very long time. I along with the wrestlers and staff are glad to have the influence, mentorship and knowledge that Jordan brings to Nebraska wrestling. He has been a part of Nebraska wrestling for the last eight years and will continue to be a tremendous ambassador for the University of Nebraska.”

Burroughs previously served on the Nebraska wrestling staff as an administrative assistant for the 2012-13 season. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in sociology in May 2011.

“This is a huge stepping stone for my career and for Nebraska wrestling,” Burroughs said. “These are great facilities, people and tradition, and I’m extremely happy to continue to be a part of it. Now I get to look at things from the inside-out, whereas before it was from the outside-in. I want us to win team championships.”

Green Takes Silver at University Worlds
James Green earned the silver medal at 70 kg/154 pounds in the men’s freestyle division of the University World Championships in Pecs, Hungary on July 9.

Green (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska RTC) opened the day with an 11-1 victory over Finland’s Jere Kunnas in the quarterfinals before taking down Russia’s Shamil Magomedov, 8-4, in the semifinals. In the finals, Evgheni Nedealco of Moldova pinned Green.

This year’s competition marked the second consecutive year that Green competed in the University World Championships. Last summer Green posted a 1-1 record in Kazan, Russia.

Ex-Husker Raschke Inducted into Hall of Fame
Former Husker wrestler Jim Raschke was one of four men inducted into the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions on Oct. 18 at the Kennedy Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

In addition to Raschke, the fifth induction class included Jim Burke (posthumous), Brad Rheingans and Jim Martinez. The Martinez Family received the Legacy Award and Dave Curby was given the Alan Rice Leadership Award.

Raschke lettered for Nebraska from 1960 to 1962, and captured the 1962 Big Eight title at heavyweight. After his collegiate career, Raschke became the second American to win a medal at the Greco-Roman World Championships when he finished third at heavyweight in 1963. In 1965, he became a worldwide interservice wrestling champion for the U.S. Army. While in high school, Raschke won the 1958 Nebraska Class A state crown at heavyweight while wrestling at Omaha North.

Raschke joined former Huskers Rulon Gardner and Matt Lindland in the prestigious Greco-Roman Hall of Fame. The four inductees for 2014 increased the Hall of Fame total to 14 wrestlers.

Ex-Husker Scherr Collects USA Wrestling Honor
Former Husker wrestler Bill Scherr earned USA Wrestling’s Myron Roderick Man-of-the-Year Award on June 19, an accolade that recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.

Scherr served a pivotal role in keeping wrestling as an Olympic sport, as he chaired the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW). In the position, Scherr developed the working structure of CPOW, ran weekly conference calls to help with CPOW’s strategy, oversaw the international relations area of CPOW and served as a spokesman for the organization.

Scherr has served on USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors and coached numerous teams, including the Women’s World Team. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1998 as a distinguished member after achieving success on the international level.

Scherr made one Olympic appearance, capturing the bronze medal at 220 pounds in 1988. At the FILA World Championships, Scherr earned four medals from 1985 to 1989. He took first place at 198 pounds in 1985, while earning runner-up finishes in 1986 and 1989, and a third-place result at the 1987 World Championships.

While at Nebraska, Scherr capped his impressive career with the NCAA title at 190 pounds in 1984. The three-time All-American earned a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 1983 and finished fourth in 1982. Scherr completed his career at Nebraska (1981-84) with a record of 133-18.

Scherr’s brother Jim, also a former wrestler at Nebraska, took home USA Wrestling’s Man of the Year Award in 1994. In addition, former Huskers Jordan Burroughs (2012) and Rulon Gardner (2000) have earned the accolade.

Husker Wrestling on Social Media
Nebraska wrestling can be followed on a variety of social media platforms for up-to-date team information as well as features on wrestlers:

• Twitter: @HuskerWrestling (www.twitter.com/HuskerWrestling)
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/NebraskaWrestling
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/HuskerWrestling
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/HuskerWrestling
• Flowrestling: www.flowrestling.org/user/NEwrestle

Next Up: Illinois, Rutgers
The Huskers return to competition on Friday, Jan. 23 when they visit Illinois starting at 7 p.m. (CT) in Champaign, Ill. The dual will be streamed on BTN Plus, with a subscription required to view the matches. On Sunday, Jan. 25, Nebraska hosts Big Ten newcomer Rutgers at the Devaney Center starting at noon on the Big Ten Network.