At Nebraska, Wrestling an 'All-in-the-Family' Deal

Huskers Host Stanford on Friday Senior Night

Randy York’s N-Sider

Most Nebraska fans have heard of Robert Kokesh and James Green, a dynamic pair of Husker wrestlers who won 2014 Big Ten Conference championships in their respective weight classes before going on to become NCAA All-Americans. Kokesh, (pictured below), is unbeaten and the nation’s No. 1-ranked 174-pounder. He's focused on winning a national championship next month in St. Louis. Ditto for Green, a 157-pounder who has the talent, drive and determination to climb the same gold medal stands in both the Big Ten Championships at Columbus, Ohio, on March 7-8 and at the NCAA Championships March 19-21.

Green, Kokesh Share a Vision: Big Ten, NCAA Champions

Nebraska Coach Mark Manning believes Kokesh and Green can repeat as conference champions and take that next step to a national title. But priorities first. No. 10 Nebraska, 11-1 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten, must focus on the its final home dual of the season Friday night. It’s Senior Night at the Devaney Center, and even though Kokesh and Green will be the only Husker seniors wrestling against Stanford, these six Husker seniors also will be honored:

Nyle Bartling, heavyweight, from Syracuse, Nebraska               

Luis DeAnda, 149 pounds, from South Sioux City, Nebraska

Spencer Johnson, 197 pounds, from Mountain Lake, Minnesota

Ian Ousley, 165 pounds, from Saginaw, Michigan

John Svoboda, 157 pounds, from Schuyler, Nebraska and

Brandon Wilbourn, 165 pounds, from O’Fallon, Missouri 

“Those six guys – Luis, John, Ian, Brandon, Spencer and Nyle – they all have different stories. All six are great character guys just like Robert and James are,” Manning said. “Spencer beat the No. 1-ranked wrestler who was undefeated for Iowa State at the Southern Scuffle, then tore his knee. He’s been in the Big Ten Tournament. He’s a fifth-year senior we were banking on before he had a curve ball thrown at him.

“The effort and commitment these guys have given, even when they were not the star or in the lineup… what a testament!” Manning said. “That’s what college athletics is all about. These guys have made a difference for our program. They’ve given what they have. They’ve sacrificed in their own development and helped the team’s development.”

Husker Non-Starters Have Excelled in Other Ways

Take Ian Ousley (pictured above with Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst). “Super kid,” Manning said. “He never wrestled in a Big Ten Tournament or the NCCA Tournament, but he’s the vice president of SAAC (Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). He has opportunities to go to multiple graduate programs. Spencer Johnson has a 3.9-plus GPA in a really tough engineering program. I couldn’t even spell half the classes he’s had to take.

“Up and down the lineup, Luis DeAnda and Brandon Wilbourn…they struggled academically early in their careers, but they figured it out and they will graduate. All of these guys will graduate. John Svoboda is a kid from Schuyler, Nebraska. He’s become great friends with the guys on our team. If he didn’t have that team dynamic, he probably would have quit after a year or two. He’s so committed to Robert Kokesh and the other guys on our team, and he gives time out every day for our program. It’s great. He loves it. That’s college athletics. This guy’s experience was being part of a team… it’s a life-lasting experience.”

NU Staff: Associate Head Coach Snyder, Olympic Champion Burroughs

At Nebraska, wrestling is an "all-in-the-family" deal, and Mark Manning leads the charge, working with Bryan Snyder, his associate head coach, and Jordan Burroughs (above), an assistant coach who has won multiple NCAA and world championships as well as an Olympic gold medal. Their prioritity is to coach and inspire more national champions that can follow the same path. 

“We want James and Robert to go out on top this year,” Manning said. “They’ve done tremendous things here. They’re on track to finish off their careers in grand style, with a feather in their hat. They’re both going to be multiple All-Americans and hopefully multiple Big Ten champs and national champs for us. It’s an honor to coach these guys and see how they’ve developed as people and as student-athletes. They bought into all the principles that we try to instill in our guys and in our program. They’ve taken those things forward to have successful careers and successful family lives.”

Kokesh, Green Will Be Part of Husker Program another Year

Make no mistake, however. Friday night honors all eight Husker seniors who have persevered, stayed the course and remained loyal to the program. “You don’t get these moments back,” Manning said. “Once they’re over, it’s memories forever. It will never be the same. People move on. Luckily, James and Robert are going to stick around next year, but the other six guys are all graduating and going in a different path in their lives.”

Manning pauses to reset emotionally. “It’s just a tremendous responsibility when you get to coach, help develop young men and create memories. It’s great when parents trust you with their sons and make sure they leave here as better people. These guys are all different people, and they are all special to me. Just like James and Robert, every guy is the same, but different because God made them different. I treat them all the same, and the experiences we’ve shared have been great ones.” Green will remain at Nebraska another year after competing four consecutive seasons without redshirting. “He’ll still be around because he wants to go on and train,” Manning said. “Robert is going to stick around and help out the program next year. He’ll be like a graduate assistant and will bring a lot to the table.” Just like all good families do.

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