Huskers Poised for Big Ten Championships

Big Ten Championships
Saturday, March 7 - Sunday, March 8 • St. John Arena (13,276) • Columbus, Ohio
Tournament Central: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Live Scoring/Brackets: TrackWrestling.com
Live Video Streaming: BTN Plus
TV: Big Ten Network
Twitter Feed: @HuskerWrestling

Schedule of Events (all times central)
Saturday, March 7
9 a.m.: Session I (BTN Plus)
5 p.m.: Session II (BTN Plus)

Sunday, March 8
Noon: Session III (BTN Plus)
2 p.m.: Session IV (Big Ten Network)

The Nebraska wrestling team heads to Columbus, Ohio over the weekend for the Big Ten Championships at St. John Arena. 

The conference tournament begins on Saturday at 9 a.m. (CT) with the first session. Session II, also on Saturday, starts at 5 p.m. Sunday’s action commences with Session III at noon before Session IV, which begins at 2 p.m. Each of the first three sessions will be streamed on BTN Plus, with a subscription required to view the matches. The final session will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.

Live scoring and brackets will be available on TrackWrestling.com. The action can also be followed on Twitter via @HuskerWrestling. 

The Big Ten Championships are the final event for the Huskers before the NCAA Championships, set for March 19-21 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Last Time Out: Manning Earns Milestone in NU Road Sweep
Nebraska Head Coach Mark Manning became the winningest coach in school history as the 10th-ranked Huskers finished their dual season with dominating wins over Drexel and Princeton. Manning’s 200th victory at Nebraska came in the Huskers’ 41-3 triumph over the Dragons at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia, Pa. He passed Tim Neumann, who won 199 duals at Nebraska from 1985 to 2000, for first on the school’s all-time list.

No. 11 Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133), No. 8 Anthony Abidin (141), No. 3 James Green (157), Austin Wilson (165), No. 1 Robert Kokesh (174), No. 15 TJ Dudley (184), No. 13 Aaron Studebaker (197) and No. 17 Collin Jensen each picked up victories at Drexel.

NU finished the day and its dual season with a 38-6 win over the Tigers at Dillon Gymnasium in Princeton, N.J. With the victory, the 2014-15 Huskers tied the school record for fewest dual losses in a season (10-match minimum) with one. The 1952-53 team went 9-1 under Head Coach Al Partin.

Lambert, Montoya, Abidin, No. 20 Justin Arthur (149), Green, Kokesh, Dudley and Jensen claimed wins against Princeton. Both of Nebraska’s losses against Princeton came by decision against ranked opponents as Wilson fell to No. 20 Jonathan Schleifer, 8-2, and Studebaker lost to 12th-ranked Abram Ayala, 3-2.

Husker History at Conference Championships
Nebraska has won seven team conference championships in its history, with the most recent at the 2009 Big 12 Championships in Lincoln, Neb. NU also captured two Big Eight titles (1993, 1995), the 1949 Big Seven crown, the 1924 Missouri Valley title and two W.I.A.A. championships (1911, 1915).

The Huskers have crowned 62 individual conference champions, including James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174), who each accomplished the feat last year. Nebraska took fifth place at the 2014 Big Ten Championships after finishing seventh in 2013 and eighth in 2012.

No. 1 Kokesh Leads Huskers in Big Ten Pre-Seeds
Five Huskers earned top-five pre-seeds for this weekend’s Big Ten Championships.

Senior Robert Kokesh, a two-time All-American, leads Nebraska with the top spot at 174 pounds. Three-time All-American James Green is the No. 3 seed at 157 pounds. Both Kokesh and Green captured Big Ten titles last season before earning top-four finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Additional Huskers in the top five include Anthony Abidin (No. 3 seed at 141 pounds), Tim Lambert (No. 4 at 125) and Aaron Studebaker (No. 5 at 197). TJ Dudley (No. 6 at 184), Justin Arthur (No. 7 at 149), Eric Montoya (No. 9 at 133), Austin Wilson (No. 9 at 165) and Collin Jensen (No. 10 at heavyweight) also garnered top-10 pre-seeds.

Nebraska Pre-Seeds for Big Ten Championships
125: #4 Tim Lambert
133: #9 Eric Montoya
141: #3 Anthony Abidin
149: #7 Justin Arthur
157: #3 James Green
165: #9 Austin Wilson
174: #1 Robert Kokesh
184: #6 TJ Dudley
197: #5 Aaron Studebaker
HWT: #10 Collin Jensen

Dual Season in Review
• The Huskers went 14-1 during the dual season and tied the school record for fewest losses in a season (10-match minimum) with one. The 1952-53 team posted a 9-1 record under Coach Al Partin.

Year W-L Head Coach
2014-15: 14-1-0 Mark Manning
1952-53: 9-1-0 Al Partin
1989-90: 21-2-1 Tim Neumann
2004-05: 19-2-1 Mark Manning
2013-14: 12-2-0 Mark Manning
1992-93: 10-2-0 Tim Neumann
1961-62: 9-2-1 Robert Mancuso
(10-match minimum)

• Nebraska finished the Big Ten dual season with an 8-1 record, which marked its best since joining the conference in 2011. The Huskers tied for second with Ohio State behind dual meet champion Iowa, who went 9-0.

Nebraska’s Year-by-Year Big Ten Dual Records
• 2014-15: 8-1
• 2013-14: 6-2
• 2012-13: 4-4
• 2011-12: 5-3

• Nebraska went 5-0 against ranked opponents.

Nebraska Against Ranked Opponents
Nov. 7: at #25 Wyoming (W, 22-13)
Jan. 23: at #12 Illinois (W, 22-9)
Jan. 25: #21 Rutgers (W, 26-9)
Jan. 30: at #24 Northwestern (W, 25-11)
Feb. 6: at #16 Michigan (W, 23-10)

• NU posted a 5-1 record at home and went 9-0 on the road. The Huskers have won their last 15 road duals, dating back to a 31-7 loss to No. 2 Iowa on Feb. 10, 2013 Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

• The sophomore class led the Huskers with 62 wins among seven different wrestlers. The seniors compiled 27 wins among three grapplers, while the junior class earned 23 wins between two Huskers.

Dual Record by Class
Sophomores: 62-28
Seniors: 27-3
Juniors: 23-7

• The Huskers were dominant in duals after the start of the New Year, posting a 10-0 record, which included a 7-0 mark against Big Ten opponents. Since the start of 2015, the Huskers...

• Won their duals by an average margin of victory of 22.4 points
• Won 79 individual dual matches and lost 21
• Earned four wins against ranked opponents

• The Huskers garnered the No. 11 ranking in the final USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll, released on Feb. 24.

• Head Coach Mark Manning became the winningest coach in school history on Feb. 21 when he earned his 200th and 201st dual wins at Nebraska. He passed Tim Neumann, who went 199-77-6 while coaching the Huskers from 1985 to 2000.

Nine Huskers in RPI, Coaches Panel Rankings
Nine Husker wrestlers earned spots in the latest set of RPI Rankings and Coaches Panel Rankings. The Huskers in the rankings are listed below.

RPI Rankings (Feb. 26, 2015)
125: #13 Tim Lambert
133: #24 Eric Montoya
141: #8 Anthony Abidin
149: #19 Justin Arthur
157: #6 James Green
165: #24 Austin Wilson
174: #2 Robert Kokesh
184: #11 TJ Dudley
HWT: #17 Collin Jensen

NCAA Coaches Panel Rankings (Feb. 26, 2015)
125: #13 Tim Lambert
133: #24 Eric Montoya
141: #8 Anthony Abidin
149: #19 Justin Arthur
157: #3 James Green
174: #1 Robert Kokesh
184: #15 TJ Dudley
197: #15 Aaron Studebaker
HWT: #25 Collin Jensen

Kokesh Leads Battle for Pin King
Robert Kokesh (174) leads all Husker starters with seven pins this season. TJ Dudley (184) is in second place with five falls, while Aaron Studebaker (197) and Collin Jensen (HWT) each have four.

Back Points - Notes on Nebraska’s Starters
Tim Lambert, 125 pounds, Sophomore, Forest Hills, Mich.
• Tim Lambert is 22-7 this season, and finished the dual season with a 13-2 record. He is 2-5 against ranked opponents and posted an 8-1 mark in Big Ten duals.
• Lambert has one pin, three technical falls and five major decisions this season.
• Lambert is fourth in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Lambert has won nine of his last 11 matches, dating back to Jan. 2. He has four consecutive wins.
• Lambert is ranked 11th by InterMat, 10th by WIN Magazine and 14th by TheOpenMat.com. He achieved the No. 13 ranking in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. Lambert also earned the 13th spot in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• 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 17-10 this season and finished the dual season with a 9-6 record. He is 3-6 against ranked opponents and posted a 5-4 mark in Big Ten duals.
• Montoya has three pins, two technical falls and three major decisions in 2014-15.
• Montoya is ninth in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Montoya has won seven of his last eight matches, dating back to Jan. 25. During that stretch, he has taken down three ranked opponents.
• Montoya is ranked 15th by InterMat and 15th by TheOpenMat.com. Montoya earned the No. 24 ranking in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. He also garnered the 24th spot in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• 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 27-2 this season and finished the dual season with a perfect 15-0 record. He is 5-2 against ranked opponents and posted a 9-0 record in Big Ten duals.
• Abidin has two pins, two technical falls and 11 major decisions this season.
• Abidin is third in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Abidin is on a 14-match winning streak that dates back to Jan. 2.
• Abidin is ranked eighth by InterMat, 10th by WIN Magazine and sixth by TheOpenMat.com. He achieved the No. 8 ranking in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. Abidin also earned the eighth spot in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• 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 21-12 this season and finished the dual season with a 7-8 record. He is 3-6 when facing ranked opponents and posted a 5-4 record in Big Ten duals.
• Arthur has three pins and two major decisions in 2014-15.
• Arthur is seventh in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Arthur earned the No. 19 spot in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. He also achieved the 19th spot in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• 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 26-3 this season, and finished the dual season with an 11-2 record. He is 6-2 when facing ranked opponents and went 7-2 in Big Ten duals.
• Green has two pins, nine technical falls and six major decisions this season. He is third in the NCAA in most technical falls this season.
• Green is third in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Green is ranked third by InterMat, third by WIN Magazine and third by TheOpenMat.com. He earned the No. 3 spot in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. Green also garnered the No. 6 spot in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• Green is on an eight-match winning streak that dates back to Jan. 25. He has won four in a row by bonus points.
• 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 is ranked eighth in school history in all-time victories with 120. He is eight wins away from joining the top five.
• 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. He is also a member of Nebraska’s 100-Win Club.
• Green finished his dual career with a 50-9 record.

Austin Wilson, 165 pounds, Junior, Hastings, Neb.
• Austin Wilson is 13-12 this season and posted an 8-7 record in dual competition. He is 1-8 against ranked opponents and went 5-4 in Big Ten duals.
• Wilson has three pins, one technical fall and three major decisions this season.
• Wilson is ninth in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Wilson is 24th in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• 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 30-0 on the season and went 14-0 in duals. He is 8-0 when facing ranked opponents, and posted an 8-0 record in Big Ten duals.
• Kokesh has seven pins, three technical falls and seven major decisions in 2014-15.
• Kokesh is first in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Kokesh is ranked first in the InterMat, WIN Magazine and TheOpenMat.com polls. He took over the top spot in every major NCAA wrestling poll after winning 174-pound Cliff Keen Invitational title, Dec. 5-6. Kokesh was also No. 1 in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. He is No. 2 in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• Kokesh is eighth on the NCAA’s Most Dominant Division I wrestlers list from Feb. 18. He holds a 4.11 point total.
• Kokesh garnered Big Ten Wrestler-of-the-Week accolades from the conference on Jan. 6 after winning the 174-pound title at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Kokesh was named one of eight top contenders for the WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy on Feb. 26.
• Kokesh is third in school history with 135 career victories. He is two wins away from passing Bryan Snyder for second on the list.
• 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.
• Kokesh finished his dual career with a 60-4 record. He won each of his final 30 dual matches, dating back to Feb. 10, 2013, when he fell to Iowa’s Mike Evans.

TJ Dudley, 184 pounds, Sophomore, Irmo, S.C.
• TJ Dudley is 24-5 this season and posted an 11-2 dual record. He is 3-5 against ranked opponents and finished the Big Ten dual season with a 7-1 record.
• Dudley has five pins and five major decisions this season.
• Dudley is sixth in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Since the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, Dudley has won 10 consecutive matches.
• Dudley is ranked 14th by InterMat, 15th by WIN Magazine and 16th by TheOpenMat.com. He earned the No. 15 spot in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. Dudley garnered the No. 11 spot in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• 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, 197 pounds, Sophomore, Raymond, Neb.
• Aaron Studebaker is 26-8 this season and went 10-3 in duals. He is 4-5 against ranked opponents and went 7-2 in Big Ten duals.
• Studebaker has four pins, four technical falls and three major decisions in 2014-15.
• Studebaker is fifth in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Studebaker is ranked 13th by InterMat and 19th by WIN Magazine. He earned the No. 15 spot in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26.
• 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.

Collin Jensen, Heavyweight, Sophomore, Mobridge, S.D.
• Collin Jensen is 17-10 this season and posted a 10-5 dual record. He is 0-7 against ranked opponents, and compiled a 5-4 mark in Big Ten duals.
• Jensen has four pins, two technical falls and three major decisions this season.
• Jensen is 10th in the Big Ten Championships pre-seeds.
• Jensen is ranked 17th by InterMat and 20th by WIN Magazine. He earned the No. 25 spot in the third Coaches Panel Rankings, released on Feb. 26. Jensen achieved the No. 17 spot in the second set of RPI Rankings.
• 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
• Senior James Green (157) is eight wins away from joining Nebraska’s Top Five Career Victories List. Green holds a career record of 120-20-0 and is a three-time All-American.

• Senior Robert Kokesh (174) is two wins away from becoming the second-winningest wrestler in school history. Kokesh owns a career mark of 135-14-0 and is a two-time All-American.

• Head Coach Mark Manning became the winningest coach in school history on Feb. 21 when he earned his 200th and 201st dual wins at Nebraska. He passed Tim Neumann, who went 199-77-6 while coaching the Huskers from 1985 to 2000.

Ousley Named NCAS PlayMaker of the Month
Ian Ousley earned National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) Male PlayMaker of the Month for January.

Ousley, a Saginaw, Mich., native, has collected numerous awards for his work off the mat, both in the classroom and in the community. He is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and three-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member. In 2014, he claimed one of Nebraska Athletics’ coveted HERO Leadership Awards, which recognizes student-athletes for exceptional leadership, consistent and dedicated community service, and positive influence on the team.

Ousley earned a spot on the 2014 Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and garnered the Nebraska Wrestling Spirit of Excellence Award at the 2013-14 end-of-season banquet. Ousley has continued to be a leader for the team in the Life Skills department, and helped the wrestling program win Nebraska’s Life Skills Men’s Team Competition Award in each of the last two years.

Ousley is currently serving as the vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for 2014-15, and has volunteered for numerous other organizations. He currently holds a 3.252 grade-point average.

The PlayMaker of the Month Award recognizes the academic achievement and community service efforts of student-athletes at NCAS member institutions. Current student-athletes are nominated by their coaches, administrators, and teammates, they must carry a 3.0 grade point average, and they must be active participants in community/volunteer services and/or social change advocacy.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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, 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.

Purdue (Jan. 9): Huskers Finish Strong in Win Over Boilermakers
Eight Huskers earned victories to lead No. 12 Nebraska to a 25-6 win over Purdue in the Tumble N’ Rumble event at the Devaney Center. After winning three of the first five matches, NU collected victories in each of the final five bouts to put away the Boilermakers. Sophomore Aaron Studebaker highlighted the night with his 3-1 win over eighth-ranked Braden Atwood at 197 pounds in the ninth match of the dual. No. 12 Tim Lambert (125), No. 12 Anthony Abidin (141), Justin Arthur (149), Austin Wilson (165), No. 1 Robert Kokesh (174), No. 18 TJ Dudley (184) and No. 17 Collin Jensen also posted victories.

Illinois (Jan. 23): Huskers Hold Off Illinois in 22-9 Triumph
No. 13 Nebraska built an early 10-0 lead and never looked back in a 22-9 win over No. 12 Illinois at Huff Hall. Aaron Studebaker (197), No. 17 Collin Jensen (HWT), No. 11 Tim Lambert (125), No. 10 Anthony Abidin (141), Justin Arthur (149), Robert Kokesh (174) and No. 18 TJ Dudley (184) each won their matches.

Rutgers (Jan. 25): Huskers Surge Past Rutgers, 26-9
No. 13 Nebraska held a 10-6 lead after four matches before winning five in a row on its way to a 26-9 triumph over No. 21 Rutgers at the Devaney Center. No. 11 Tim Lambert (125) opened with a major decision before Eric Montoya (133) and 10th-ranked Anthony Abidin (141) each knocked off ranked opponents. All-Americans James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174) also took down top-20 opponents, while Austin Wilson (165), No. 18 TJ Dudley (184) and Aaron Studebaker (197) each claimed victories as well.

Northwestern (Jan. 30): Huskers Outlast Wildcats, 25-11
No. 10 Nebraska held a one-point lead after seven matches before winning each of the final three en route to a 25-11 win over No. 24 Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Two Huskers knocked off ranked Wildcats as Eric Montoya downed 20th-ranked Dominick Malone, 6-2, at 133 pounds and No. 20 Aaron Studebaker (197) won in sudden victory against No. 12 Alex Polizzi in the final bout. No. 11 Tim Lambert (125) No. 8 Anthony Abidin (141), No. 4 James Green (157) and No. 18 TJ Dudley (184) also picked up victories, while No. 1 Robert Kokesh (174) won by forfeit.

Indiana (Feb. 1): Huskers Dominate in 33-6 Win Over Hoosiers
No. 10 Nebraska finished a weekend sweep with its 33-6 rout of Indiana at the Devaney Center. After the Hoosiers forfeited the opening match at 125 pounds, the Huskers won each of the next four to build a 21-0 advantage at the halfway point. Eric Montoya (133), No. 8 Anthony Abidin (141), Justin Arthur (149), No. 4 James Green (157), No. 18 TJ Dudley (184), No. 20 Aaron Studebaker (197) and No. 17 Collin Jensen (HWT) each claimed victories against Indiana.

Michigan (Feb. 6): Huskers Shut Down Michigan, 23-10
Tied 7-7 after four matches, No. 10 Nebraska won five of the last six bouts against No. 16 Michigan at Cliff Keen Arena en route to a 23-10 triumph over the Wolverines. No. 4 James Green (157), No. 18 TJ Dudley (184) and 15th-ranked Aaron Studebaker (197) each picked up wins against ranked opponents. Eric Montoya (133) and top-ranked Robert Kokesh (174) each added bonus points for the Huskers with major decisions, while No. 8 Anthony Abidin (141) and Austin Wilson (165) each added decisions.

Michigan State (Feb. 8): Huskers Smash Spartans, 33-6
No. 10 Nebraska cruised to a 33-6 win over Michigan State in its final Big Ten dual of the season at Jenison Field House. The Huskers won the first eight bouts, and nine of 10 overall, against the Spartans. No. 10 Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133), No. 8 Anthony Abidin (141), Justin Arthur (149), No. 4 James Green (157), Austin Wilson (165), No. 1 Robert Kokesh (174), No. 18 TJ Dudley (184) and 17th-ranked Collin Jensen (HWT) each won their matches.

Stanford (Feb. 13): Cornhuskers Crush Cardinal on Senior Night
No. 10 Nebraska closed its home season with a 30-6 rout of Stanford on Senior Night at the Devaney Center. Senior All-Americans James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174), wrestling in their final home dual, each won in bonus-point fashion. No. 15 TJ Dudley also added bonus points with his pin against Ryan Davies at 184 pounds in 5:58. Ranked Huskers Aaron Studebaker (14th at 197), Collin Jensen (17th at heavyweight), Tim Lambert (12th at 125) and Anthony Abidin (8th at 141) each collected decisions over the course of the next five bouts to extend the lead. Sophomore Justin Arthur won the final match of the night by a 7-3 decision over Garrett Schaner at 149 pounds.

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.. 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 Las Vegas Invitational (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. 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.

Southern Scuffle (Jan. 1-2): 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. 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.

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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Hastings Cusatis Open; Hastings, Neb. (Jan. 10)
Mitchell Maginnis (125), Dustin Williams (165 – unattached) and Nyle Bartling (HWT) each won weight class titles at the Hastings Cusatis Open, while Colton McCrystal and Colton Adams tied for first at 141 pounds. John Svoboda and Brian Peska (unattached) also placed for the Huskers at the tournament. Svoboda finished second at 157 pounds, while Peska earned a third-place finish at 133 pounds. Austin Chauncey (157 – unattached), Ian Ousley (165), Eric Engler (184) and Jake Anderson (197 - unattached) also competed at the Hastings Cusatis Open.

Grand View Open; Des Moines, Iowa (Jan. 31)
Five Huskers earned spots on the podium at the Grand View Open, including Micah Barnes, who captured the 184-pound title. Dustin Williams, wrestling unattached, went 4-1 en route to a runner-up finish at 165 pounds. Newcomer Zach Walton, also unattached, fell in the second round before reeling off six consecutive wins to finish third at 165 pounds. Eric Coufal finished third at 133 pounds and Colton McCrystal took fourth at 141 pounds. Sean Murphy (133) and Derek White (197) also wrestled at the Grand View Open.

Briar Cliff Open; Le Mars, Iowa (Feb. 7)
Colton McCrystal (141) and Tyler Berger (157) each captured Briar Cliff Open titles. McCrystal, wrestling unattached, won all five bouts in bonus-point fashion with three pins and two major decisions. Berger, wrestling unattached, went 6-0 with two technical falls and one major decision. Sean Murphy (141 – unattached) and Austin Chauncey (157 – unattached) also competed at the tournament.

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 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 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.

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: NCAA Championships
The Huskers finish their season March 19-21 at the NCAA Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo. Schedule and TV information will be released before the tournament.