Huskers to Host Wyoming, Travel to Northern Iowa

The No. 3 Nebraska wrestling team (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) looks to continue its early-season success this weekend when Wyoming (1-0, 1-0 Big Twelve) visits the Devaney Center on Friday before the Huskers hit the road and square off against No. 17 Northern Iowa (0-1, 0-0 Big Twelve) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday. 

The Huskers host the Cowboys on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT). The dual, which will be streamed live on BTN Plus (subscription required), marks the 33rd time in the last 35 seasons that Nebraska and Wyoming have squared off against one another on the mat. The Cowboys and Huskers' home-and-home series dates back to the 1962-63 season and has been contested in 19 of Mark Manning's 20 seasons in Lincoln, making it the longest standing home-and-home series with any of Nebraska's opponents.

Friday also marks Military Appreciation Night. Veterans and active members of the military will receive one free admission by showing their military ID at the entrance and will also be recognized at the event. 
 
Sunday's dual against the Panthers starts at 1:00 p.m., and will be live streamed on FloWrestling (subscription required). The Huskers will face the Panthers on the road for the first time since the 2010-11 season, when NU earned a narrow 18-15 victory in their final season competing as a member of the Big Twelve conference.  

Last Time Out: 19 Huskers traveled to Brookings, S.D., last weekend to compete in the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open. NU had six top-three finishers, including two individual champions in redshirt freshmen Ridge Lovett (133) and Kevon Davenport (149).  

Up Next: Following Thanksgiving Break, NU heads to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen Invitational (Dec. 6-7). 

No. 3 Nebraska's Projected Lineup*:
125: Alex Thomsen RFr. • Neola, Iowa (5-3)  
133: Zak Hensley Sr. • Olathe, Kan. (4-1) 
141: #7 Chad Red Jr. Jr. • Indianapolis, Ind. (3-1) 
149: #19 Collin Purinton Sr. • Banks, Ore. (4-0) 
157: Peyton Robb RFr. • Owatonna, Minn. (4-0)
165: #5 Isaiah White Sr. • Chicago, Ill. (4-0) 
174: #3 Mikey Labriola So. • Easton, Pa. (5-0) 
184: #3 Taylor Venz Jr. • Farmington, Minn. (3-1)  
197: #10 Eric Schultz Jr. • Tinley Park, Ill. (5-0) 
285: #13 David Jensen Sr. • Mobridge, S.D. (3-1) -OR- Christian Lance Sr. • Nixa, Mo. (4-0)
*InterMat rankings used 
   
Wyoming's Projected Lineup*: 
125 – No. 18 Cole Verner Sr. • Green River, Wyo. (1-3) 
133 – No. 7 Montorie Bridges RJr. • Altus, Okla. (5-1)
141 – Chase Zollmann RFr. • Poway, Calif. (5-2)
149 – Jaron Jensen Jr. • South Jordan, Utah (4-1) 
157 – Logan Jensen RFr. • South Jordan, Utah (6-4)
165 – Cole Moody RFr. • South Jordan, Utah (6-3) -OR- Dewey Krueger Sr. • Gillett, Wisc. (5-2)
174 – No. 14 Hayden Hastings RSo. • Sheridan, Wyo. (5-0)
184 – No. 18 Tate Samuelson So. • Castle Rock, Colo. (3-1)
197 – Stephen Buchanan Fr. • Loyal, Wis. (9-0)
HWT – No. 14 Brian Andrews Jr. • Grapevine, Texas (4-0)
 *Highest ranking between InterMat, TrackWrestling and FloWrestling used

Scouting the Cowboys: 
•  Wyoming opened up its 2019-20 dual season on Nov. 16, claiming a 21-12 victory over Big Twelve conference foe Air Force in Colorado Springs. The Pokes won the first four bouts and five of the first six matches overall. UW had three bonus-point victories in those first four bouts.
• The Cowboys are looking to build on a historic dual campaign during the 2018-19 season, in which the team compiled 16 dual wins for the first time since 1967. The 16 victories go down as the second-most in the program's history. Wyoming knocked off three top-25 squads including then-No. 4 NC State and No. 15 North Carolina.
•  Wyoming entered 2019-20 ranked No. 22 in the NWCA Poll. 
•  Wyoming's Montorie Bridges is looking to add another All-America recognition to his résumé after being named an All-American in 2017-18. Bridges finished runner-up at last season's Big 12 Championships.

No. 17 Northern Iowa's Projected Lineup*:
125: No. 9 Jay Schwarm RSr. • Bettendorf, Iowa (1-2) 
133: Jack Skudlarczyk RSo. • Austin, Texas (3-3) 
141: Michael Blockhus RFr. • New Hampton, Iowa (4-0)
149: No. 3 Max Thomsen RSr. • La Porte City, Iowa (4-0) 
157: Keaton Geerts RSo. • New Hampton, Iowa (2-3) 
165: Pat Schoenfelder RSo. • Antioch, Illinois (3-3) 
174: No. 7 Bryce Steiert RSr. • Waverly, Iowa (5-0)
184: No. 7 Taylor Lujan RSr. • Carrollton, Georgia (4-0)
197: No. 5 Jacob Holschlag RSr.• La Porte City, Iowa (0-1) 
285: Carter Isley RJr. • Albia, Iowa (2-1)
*InterMat rankings used

Scouting the Panthers: 
• UNI squared off against No. 16 Northwestern on Nov. 17 in the Panthers' first dual meet action of the season. The Panthers recorded a pair of major decisions and a pin by Taylor Lujan at 184, but an injury forfeit at 197 sealed a 24-20 victory for the Wildcats.  
• UNI is coming off its best finish under head coach Doug Schwab. The Panthers finished 13th at the NCAA Championship last season and Drew Foster won the first Individual championship since 2000.
• Three All-Americans return for the Panthers. Junior Jacob Holschlag of La Porte City, Iowa, was fifth at 197 pounds last year in 2018 but missed last season with an injury. Senior Max Thomsen, a La Porte City, Iowa, native, returns after taking fifth at 149 pounds in 2017. Senior Bryce Steiert earned an eighth-place finish last season.
• Returning All-American Bryce Steiert opened the season at 174, a move up from last year. NCAA Qualifier Taylor Lujan also took a step up from 174 to 184 to open the season. NCAA Qualifier Jay Schwarm returns at 125 and returning NCAA Qualifier Max Thomsen returns at 149.