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Husker Wrestlers Set for a Pair of Top-5 Duals
By Randy York, The N-Sider
Forest Hills, Mich., native Tim Lambert knew that wrestling at Nebraska would be a great opportunity to earn his education and compete at the NCAA's highest level. “But I did not know how much of a lasting impact competing under Coach (Mark) Manning) and his staff would have on my life,” Lambert said Thursday, one day before he and five other Husker seniors will compete in their final match at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
“I take great pride in competing alongside my teammates and coaching staff and giving my best on the mat every time because it brings me great joy every time,” Lambert said. “I felt God calling me to this place to grow exponentially as a young man and a wrestler. Nebraska has exceeded my expectations and provided countless opportunities.”
Tim Lambert's Most Memorable Moment Was Getting Married Last Summer
Lambert (pictured above) says his most memorable moment was "getting married last summer to my sweet wife Kiran and all the support from my coaches and teammates. I'm extremely grateful for the relationships I’ve developed over the years through wrestling.
“Kiran is an amazing woman who encourages me in all I do,” Lambert said. “It's been such a joy to share every challenging and rewarding experience with her alongside me. Every time I compete for Nebraska is a memorable experience to me. I love being able to feel like a trained warrior ready for combat, even if it’s only for seven minutes.”
Lambert is not alone. The three senior teammates, who also reached the 100-win career milestone, will compete for the last time at the Devaney Center Friday at 7 p.m. CT when the fifth-ranked Huskers host the fourth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
The other three Huskers who are 100-match winners embrace competing for the final time in Lincoln – TJ Dudley,Eric Montoyaand Aaron Studebaker. Two more fellow seniors – Micah Barnes (Sr., 174 pounds, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Collin Jensen (Sr., heavyweight, Mobridge, S.D.) – also will compete Friday in their final match at the Devaney Center.
Manning, Snyder Describe Senior Wrestlers Who Reached 100-Win Milestone
On Thursday, I asked Nebraska wrestling coaches Mark Manning and Bryan Snyderto weigh in on the overall impact of four senior wrestlers winning at least 100 matches during the same time period. That 100-win milestone is timely and relevant because Nebraska is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its varsity N Club this year. Here are thoughts from both coaches:
TJ Dudley(184 pounds, Irmo, South Carolina; 104-27-0 record)
Manning: “You love to coach guys like TJ. He got better every year, has grown as a person and a man, and will graduate in May. He’ll be very successful in life, based on his experience here at Nebraska. We played a part in that, and it was a blessing. He is a special young man.”
Snyder: “Resilient is the word that describes TJ to me. He’s been through a lot and that’s why he’s so multi-faceted. He has had ups and downs in his career, and he’s really handled that all pretty well. He always comes out of it positive and confident and became a better wrestler.”
Eric Montoya (133 pounds, Albuquerque, New Mexico; 104-43-0 record)
Manning: “Eric transferred here because he wanted to be a champion. He’s on track, highly ranked and became an All-American. He approaches life with a fiercely competitive attitude. He’s a super young man who’s close to graduating. He’s become a leader because people really gravitate towards his mentality.”
Snyder: "Intense is the word that describes Eric and comes immediately to mind. Eric definitely has an attitude and an edge about him, whether it’s in the practice room or live competition. He always has his game face on, and he always wants to get better.”
Aaron Studebaker (197 pounds, Raymond, Nebraska; 102-32-0 record)
Manning: “We’ve known Aaron for a long time. He was a local member of our Kids' Club, so we've known his family and have so much respect for him. He’s excelled both academically and athletically. He’s a tremendous role model, a quiet leader and a fierce competitor.”
Snyder: "Workman-like is the word that defines Aaron. He comes to practice every day ready to work. There are no issues coaching Aaron. He was raised on a farm. He has his Studebaker Angus and wears a big hat every day with his farm attire. He loves to work.”
Tim Lambert (125 pounds, Forest Hills, Michigan; 100-39-0 record)
Manning: “Tim is another guy who’s been through the wars. He’s a tremendous young man with the highest character. He also grew by leaps and bounds. Last summer, he married a wonderful young lady, and he’s a guy who’s going to be very successful in whatever he does.”
Snyder: “Reliable describes Tim because he does so many different things right, athletically and academically. We always know what we’re going to get from him because he’s so dependable. There are no issues. Every minute you spend with Timmy, you know he’s going to get better.”
Nebraska Wrestling’s 100-Plus Win Club
Tolly Thompson (1993-97) 157-21-0
Robert Kokesh (2010-15) 144-15-0
Bryan Snyder (1998-02) 136-11-0
Bill Scherr (1981-84) 133-18-0
James Green (2011-15) 129-22-0
Jordan Burroughs (2006-11) 128-20-0
Brad Vering (1998-01) 124-26-0
Jason Kelber (1987-91) 123-30-0
Corey Olson (1989-93) 115-28-0
Jeff Coltvet (1985-89) 113-48-4
Ryan Tobin (1994-98) 113-50-0
Gary Albright (1982-86) 112-19-4
Craig Brester (2006-10) 109-21-0
Jason Powell (2000-04) 109-24-0
Jim Scherr (1981-84) 109-25-4
Jake Sueflohn (2011-16) 109-32-0
Brad Canoyer (1994-98) 109-43-0
Jason Kraft (1993-97) 107-53-0
Stephen Dwyer (2006-10) 106-35-0
Tucker Lane (2007-12) 105-44-0
TJ Dudley (2012-17) 104-27-0
Eric Montoya (2013-17) 104-43-0
Aaron Studebaker (2013-17) 104-43-0
Travis Pascoe (2001-05) 101-37-0
Chris Nelson (1988-92) 101-37-3
Temoer Terry (1994-98) 100-24-0
Tim Lambert (2012-17) 100-39-0
Josh Ihnen (2008-13) 100-41-0
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