Huskers Open New Year with Wisconsin, Minnesota

#9 Nebraska at Wisconsin
Friday, Jan. 8 • 7 p.m. (CT)
Madison, Wis. • UW Field House
Video: BTN Plus (subscription required)
Scoring: TrackWrestling.com

#23 Minnesota at #9 Nebraska
Sunday, Jan. 10 • 2 p.m. (CT)
Lincoln, Neb. • Devaney Center
Video: BTN Plus (subscription required)
Scoring: TrackWrestling.com

The No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team continues its Big Ten dual slate this weekend against Wisconsin and No. 23 Minnesota. The Huskers travel to Madison, Wis., to battle the Badgers on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT). On Sunday, NU hosts the Golden Gophers as part of Pepsi Pack the House at the Devaney Center at 2 p.m. Both duals will be streamed on BTN Plus (subscription required).

Last Time Out: Nebraska finished second in the Midlands Championships at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Dec. 29-30. NU scored 135 points to finish behind team champion Iowa (152).

Up Next: The Huskers journey to Penn State and Ohio State next weekend. NU faces the Nittany Lions on Friday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. (CT) before battling the Buckeyes on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. Both duals will be streamed on BTN Plus (subscription required).

About the Huskers
• Nebraska has outscored its eight dual opponents by a combined score of 213-68.

• Nebraska has won 60 of 80 individual matches in dual competition.

• NU is ranked ninth in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll, released on Jan. 5.

• Jake Sueflohn is two wins away from the 100th of his career. He holds a record of 98-26 at Nebraska, and would become the 24th member of Nebraska’s 100-win club.

• NU finished second in the Midlands Championships with 135 points in Evanston, Ill., Dec. 29-30. Ten Huskers earned podium spots, led by runners-up TJ Dudley (184) and Derek White (197).

• Nebraska split its duals on the first Big Ten road trip of the season, Dec. 11 and 12.

• at Maryland (W, 30-9): Four Huskers win by bonus points
• at #11 Rutgers (L, 16-17): Lost by criteria (total points, 51-48); snapped 17-dual win streak

• NU won both of its duals in the Grapple at the Garden (Madison Square Garden) on Nov. 29.

• vs. #7 Cornell (W, 21-14): Lambert and Wilson defeated ranked opponents; Abidin and Sueflohn added bonus points
• vs. Princeton (W, 21-12): Barnes and Dudley defeated ranked opponents; Montoya and Wilson added bonus points

• Nebraska defeated Wyoming, 35-4, in its home opener on Nov. 21.

            • 2 pins; 2 major decisions; Barnes and Jensen defeated ranked Cowboys

• Nebraska opened its dual season with dominating wins over Lock Haven, No. 20 Oregon State and No. 7 Lehigh in the Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duals at Hudson Valley Community College on Nov. 15.

• NU outscored its three opponents by a combined score of 90-12
• NU won 26 of 30 individual matches
• vs. Lock Haven (W, 41-0): first shutout since Nov. 30, 2013 against CSU-Bakersfield; 7 bonus-point wins
• vs. #20 Oregon State (W, 25-6): Wilson and Studebaker defeated top-12 opponents
• vs. #7 Lehigh (W, 24-6): Berger and Dudley defeated top-5 opponents; 3 additional Huskers won against ranked Mountain Hawks (Lambert, Sueflohn, Barnes)

• Head Coach Mark Manning announced the signing of five student-athletes on Nov. 13.

• Chad (CJ) Red - New Palestine, Ind. (New Palestine) – 141
• Beau Breske - Hartford, Wis. (Hartford Union) – 174
• Eric Schultz - Tinley Park, Ill. (Tinley Park) – 197
• Taylor Venz - Farmington, Minn. (Farmington) – 184
• Johnny Blankenship - Platte County, Mo. (Platte County) - 165

• Nebraska won six weight class titles in the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open in Brookings, S.D. on Nov. 1. Thirteen Huskers earned spots on the podium at the tournament.

• Nebraska’s lone returning All-American is TJ Dudley, who finished eighth at 184 pounds in the 2015 NCAA Championships.

• The Huskers have eight wrestlers with NCAA Championships experience, including seven from last season. Jake Sueflohn (149), a three-time NCAA qualifier, missed the 2014-15 season with a torn ACL.

• Seniors (3): Anthony Abidin (141), Jake Sueflohn (149), Austin Wilson (165)
• Juniors (5): TJ Dudley (184), Collin Jensen (HWT), Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133), Aaron Studebaker (197)

• Nebraska’s Upcoming BTN/BTN Plus Schedule:

• Friday, Jan. 15: at Penn State (6 p.m.) - BTN Plus
• Sunday, Jan. 17: at Ohio State (1 p.m.) - BTN Plus
• Sunday, Jan. 24: vs. Iowa (2 p.m.) - BTN Plus
• Friday, Feb. 5: vs. Illinois (7 p.m.) - BTN Plus
• Saturday, Feb. 6: vs. NC State (7 p.m.) - BTN Plus
• Friday, Feb. 12: vs. Northwestern (8 p.m.) - Big Ten Network

• Nebraska faces 10 opponents who finished in the top 20 at last year’s NCAA Championships: Ohio State (1st), Iowa (2nd), Cornell (5th), Penn State (6th), Minnesota (8th), Illinois (12th), Lehigh (13th), Northwestern (15th), NC State (16th) and Wisconsin (17th)

Scouting the Wisconsin Badgers
• Dual Record: 1-2 (0-1 Big Ten)

• Wins: UW-Whitewater
• Losses: Pittsburgh, #1 Penn State

• Tournaments:

• Navy Classic - 3rd place (Nov. 21): Isaac Jordan and Brock Horwarth win titles
• Cliff Keen Invitational - 16th place (Dec. 4-5): Isaac Jordan wins title
• Midlands Championships - 24th place (Dec. 29-30)

• Ranked wrestlers (InterMat): #6 Ryan Taylor (133), #3 Isaac Jordan (165)

• Coached by Barry Davis (22nd season)

• Assistant Coaches: Kyle Ruschell, Trevor Brandvold

Scouting the Minnesota Golden Gophers
• Dual Record: 4-5 (0-1 Big Ten): will face Maryland on Friday, Jan. 8 before Nebraska (Jan. 10)

• Wins: Grand Canyon, Virginia, South Dakota State, Air Force
• Losses: #13 North Carolina, #5 Lehigh, #12 NC State, #3 Oklahoma State, Indiana

• Tournaments:

• Cliff Keen Invitational - 3rd place (Dec. 4-5): Three Gophers take runner-up honors
• Southern Scuffle - 6th place (Jan. 1-2): Brett Pfarr finishes second

• Ranked wrestlers (InterMat): #10 Tommy Thorn (141), #9 Jake Short (149), #4 Brett Pfarr (197), #7 Michael Kroells (HWT)

• Coached by J Robinson (30th season)

• Assistant Coaches: Brandon Eggum, Luke Becher