Kokesh, Dudley Join Green as All-Americans

St. Louis, Mo. – James Green (157) fell in his semifinal match, but Robert Kokesh (174) and TJ Dudley (184) each captured All-America honors during Session IV of the NCAA Championships at the Scottrade Center on Friday night.

Green, who earned his fourth career All-America accolade in Session III, battled top-seeded Isaiah Martinez of Illinois for a spot in the finals, but lost a 3-2 decision. Green held a 2-1 advantage after his reversal in the second period, but allowed a Martinez escape in the third before the Illini freshman tacked on a point for riding time. Green will battle Ian Miller of Kent State in Saturday’s consolation semifinals.

Kokesh became an All-American for the third time in his career after an 8-0 major decision over Illinois’ Zac Brunson in the consolation bracket. The senior from Wagner, S.D., wasn’t done racking up bonus points, though, as he notched an 11-3 major decision over North Dakota State’s Kurtis Julson in the following round. Kokesh will face Iowa’s Mike Evans in Session V on Saturday.

No. 16 seed TJ Dudley (184) clinched his first career All-America honor after a 5-2 decision over Matt McCutcheon of Penn State. Dudley, making his second NCAA Championships appearance, lost a narrow decision to North Dakota State’s Hayden Zillmer in the subsequent round and will wrestle for seventh place on Saturday.

Eric Montoya (133), Anthony Abidin (141) and Aaron Studebaker (197) all advanced to the Round of 12, but saw their tournament come to an end in Session IV.

As a team, Nebraska is tied for ninth with 49 points. Ohio State leads the team race with 86.5 points, while Iowa (73) and Cornell (66.5) round out the top three.

Session V starts on Saturday at 10 a.m. (CT) on ESPNU. Session VI, consisting of the championship finals, begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Every match will be streamed on ESPN3.

NCAA Championships
March 19-21, 2015
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Mo.

125 pounds
First Round: #2 Nahshon Garrett (CORN) by dec. over Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-6
Consolation First Round: Tim Lambert (NEB) by major dec. over #15 Chasen Tolbert (UV), 9-1
Consolation Second Round: Conor Youtsey (MICH) by dec. over Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-7

133 pounds
First Round: #6 Earl Hall (ISU) by dec. over Eric Montoya (NEB), 7-4
Consolation First Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by dec. over Zach Synon (MIZZ), 4-0
Consolation Second Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by major dec. over #5 Zane Richards (ILL), 10-1
Consolation Third Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by dec. over #4 Johnni DiJulius (OHST), 7-4
Consolation Fourth Round: #2 Ryan Taylor (WIS) by sudden victory-1 over Eric Montoya (NEB), 3-1

141 pounds
First Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by major dec. over Nick Lawrence (PUR), 8-0
Second Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by dec. over #8 Geo Martinez (BSU), 6-4
Quarterfinals: #1 Logan Stieber (OHST) by tech. fall over #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB), 16-1
Consolation Fourth Round: #3 Lavion Mayes (MIZZ) by major dec. over #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB), 16-8

157 pounds
First Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over Markus Scheidel (COL), 13-4
Second Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by tech. fall over Noel Blanco (DREX), 20-5
Quarterfinals: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over #12 Mitchell Minotti (LEH), 12-4
Semifinals: #1 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) by dec. over #4 James Green (NEB), 3-2

165 pounds
First Round: Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over #2 Michael Moreno (ISU), 7-5
Second Round: #15 Ethan Ramos (UNC) by dec. over Austin Wilson (NEB), 6-3
Consolation Second Round: #16 Harrison Hightower (OHIO) by sudden victory-1 over Austin Wilson (NEB), 5-3

174 pounds
First Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Taylor Massa (MICH), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Chad Welch (PUR), 11-0
Quarterfinals: #8 Tyler Wilps (PITT) by dec. over #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB), 3-2
Consolation Fourth Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over #11 Zac Brunson (ILL), 8-0
Consolation Quarterfinals: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Kurtis Julson (NDSU), 11-3

184 pounds
First Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Ophir Bernstein (BRO), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Gabe Dean (CORN) by dec. over #16 TJ Dudley (NEB), 9-8
Consolation Second Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Brett Harner (PRIN), 9-0
Consolation Third Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over #10 Lorenzo Thomas (PENN), 17-5
Consolation Fourth Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by dec. over #14 Matt McCutcheon (PSU), 5-2
Consolation Quarterfinals: #6 Hayden Zillmer (NDSU) by dec. over #16 TJ Dudley (NEB), 3-2

197 pounds
First Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by dec. over Jake Smith (WVU), 3-1
Second Round: #2 Morgan McIntosh (PSU) by major dec. over #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB), 14-5
Consolation Second Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by pin over Scottie Boykin (CHAT), 3:40
Consolation Third Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by pin over #9 Jace Bennett (CORN), 6:12
Consolation Fourth Round: #5 Scott Schiller (MINN) by dec. over #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB), 8-6

Heavyweight
First Round: #6 Adam Coon (MICH) by pin over Collin Jensen (NEB), 4:29
Consolation First Round: Collin Jensen (NEB) by dec. over Nathan Butler (STAN), 5-3
Consolation Second Round: Collin Jensen (NEB) by dec. over #12 Denzel Dejournette (APST), 3-1
Consolation Third Round: #3 Bobby Telford (IOWA) by dec. over Collin Jensen (NEB), 9-2