Nebraska's National Champions

The Huskers have crowned 11 NCAA champions in their history, including Jordan Burroughs, who became the first Husker to ever win two national titles in a career. Burroughs went a perfect 5-0 at the 2011 NCAA Championships and capped his season with a 11-3 win over Oklahoma's Tyler Caldwell to end his season with a 36-0 record. Burroughs won the 157-pound title in 2009, which made him the first undefeated national champion in school history.

Burroughs joined an elite list when he earned his first national title. The Sicklerville, N.J., native, along with nine other Huskers, can say they were at the top of their game for one season. Below the careers of each Nebraska national champion is detailed, including their finish at the conference and national level each year. The results of all 23 NCAA final appearances by Nebraska wrestlers are listed at the bottom of this page.

Jordan Burroughs 157 lbs. - 2009 165 lbs. - 2011	2011 National Champion - 165 2009 National Champion - 157 Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 2006-07 16 13 0 3rd DNP 2007-08 34 6 0 1st 3rd 2008-09 35 0 0 1st 1st 2009-10** 7  1  0  N/A  N/A  2010-11 36 0 0 1st 1st Career 129 19 0     *-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals **-Medical redshirt
Burroughs became the school's first two-time national champion after winning the 165-pound title in 2011. Burroughs had one of the most dominant seasons in school history, and was capped off by winning the prestegious Hodge Trophy.

Paul Donahoe 125 lbs. - 2007	2007 National Champion - 125 Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 2004-05* 20 2 0  (Redshirt)   2005-06 26 9 0 3rd DNP 2006-07 35 5 0 2nd 1st 2007-08 25 4 0 1st 3rd Career 86 18 0     *-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
Donahoe became the ninth national champion in NU history with a 3-1 overtime win over Sam Hazewinkel of Oklahoma in 2007 at 125 pounds. Donahoe finished his sophomore season with a 35-5 record, the fourth-most wins by a sophomore in school history.

   

Jason Powell 125 lbs. - 2004	2004 National Champion - 125  Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1999-00* 16 7 0  (Redshirt)   2000-01 19 8 0 1st DNP 2001-02 29 8 0 3rd 5th 2002-03 35 6 0 3rd 3rd 2003-04 26 2 0 2nd 1st Career 109 24 0     *-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
Powell won the 125-pound weight class in 2004 with a 17-2 technical fall over Kyle Ott of Illinois to become the eighth NCAA champion in Husker history. Powell finished the season with a 26-2 record to lead NU to its first top-five team since 1995-96.

    

Brad Vering 197 lbs. - 2000	2000 National Champion - 197 Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1997-98 33 9 0 1st DNP 1998-99 26 9 0 2nd 4th 1999-00 38 3 0 1st 1st 2000-01 27 5 0 2nd 7th Career 124 26 0
Vering took the 197-pound national title in 2000 to become the seventh NCAA champion in NU history. Vering defeated Zach Thompson of Iowa State, 2-1, in a tiebreaker. Vering finished the season with a 38-3 record to lead the Huskers to an eight-place team finish.

  

Tolly Thompson HWT - 1995	1995 National Champion - HWT  Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1992-93* 18 5 0  (Redshirt)   1993-94 38 13 0 3rd DNP 1994-95 36 2 0 1st 1st 1995-96 42 2 0 1st 3rd 1996-97 41 4 0 1st 3rd Career 157 21 0     *-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
Three-time All-American Tolly Thompson became Nebraska's sixth national champion in 1995 with an 8-0 major decision over Justin Greenlee of Northern Iowa. Thompson's title completed a 36-2 season.

 

  

Tony Purler 126 lbs. - 1993	1993 National Champion - 126 Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1992-93 35 2 0 1st 1st Career 35 2 0
Purler became the fifth Husker to capture a national championship, winning the title at 126 pounds in 1993. Purler defeated Shawn Charles of Arizona State, 7-5, in the NCAA finals, avenging his only two losses of the season. Purler finished the season with an overall record of 35-2.

  

Jason Kelber 126 lbs. - 1991	1991 National Champion - 126  Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1986-87 21 11 0 5th DNC 1987-88* 11 1 0 (Redshirt)   1988-89 33 13 0 3rd 6th 1989-90 35 4 0 2nd 2nd 1990-91 34 2 0 1st 1st Career 123 30 0     *-Redshirt seasons do not count in career totals
Kelber led NU to a 10th-place team finish at the 1991 NCAA Championships with his national title. He ended his senior year with a 32-2 record, defeating Terry Brands in the NCAA finals. He also captured the Big Eight title

  

Bill Scherr 190 lbs. - 1984	1984 National Champion - 190 Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1980-81 22 8 0 DNP DNP 1981-82 37 5 0 1st 4th 1982-83 38 4 0 1st 3rd 1983-84 36 1 0 1st 1st Career 133 18 0
Nebraska's first three-time All-American, Scherr defeated Jim Baumgardner of Oregon State in the 1984 NCAA finals to finish the season with a 36-1 record. Scherr's win helped NU to a fourth-place finish at nationals.

 

  

Jim Scherr 177 lbs. - 1984	1984 National Champion - 177  Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1980-81 19 8 1 DNP DNP 1981-82 27 11 0 3rd 6th 1982-83 29 4 2 2nd DNP 1983-84 34 2 1 1st 1st Career 109 25 4
Scherr earned NU's second individual title, defeating Duane Goldman of Iowa. Scherr put together an impressive 1984 championship season with a 35-2-1 record, helping the Huskers to their second-highest finish ever at the NCAA Championships.

    

Mike Nissen 123 lbs. - 1963	1963 National Champion - 123  Year Won Lost Tie Conf NCAA 1960-61 12 2 0 N/A N/A 1961-62 17 2 0 N/A 3rd 1962-63 19 1 0 N/A 1st Career 48 5 0
Nissen became NU's first national champion in 1963. He led NU to a 13th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Nissen finished the season with a 19-1 record and closed his career with a perfect 36-0 dual record.

 Nebraska's NCAA Finalists 

Year	Wrestler	Weight	Result
1963	Mike Nissen	123	Won
1983	Al Freeman	142	Lost
1984	Jim Scherr	177	Won
	Bill Scherr	190	Won
	Gary Albright	HWT	Lost
1987	Gil Sanchez	134	Lost
1990	Jason Kelber	126	Lost
1991	Jason Kelber	126	Won
1992	Corey Olson	177	Lost
1993	Tony Purler	126	Won
	Corey Olson	177	Lost
1995	Tolly Thompson	HWT	Won
2000	Brad Vering	197	Won
2001	Bryan Snyder	157	Lost
2002	Bryan Snyder	157	Lost
2004	Matt Murray	141	Lost
	Jason Powell	125	Won
2007	Paul Donahoe	125	Won
2009	Jordan Burroughs	157	Won
	Craig Brester	197	Lost
2010	Craig Brester	197	Lost
2011	Jordan Burroughs	165	Won
2016	TJ Dudley	184	Lost
2019	Tyler Berger	157	Lost