Huskers Dominate #21 Hoosiers 39-2 on Senior Sunday

In front of 3,761 fans at Nebraska wrestling’s final home dual of the season, the Big Red dominated on the mat, taking nine bouts wins and seven bonus-point victories, to defeat No. 21 Indiana, 39-2. 

Highlighting the day was NU senior starters Caleb Smith and Ridge Lovett notching wins in the Senior Sunday Big Ten dual as No. 5 Nebraska improved to 10-3 (5-2 Big Ten) and No. 21 Indiana fell to 7-5 (3-5 Big Ten). The 37-point difference posted the biggest dual win of the season for NU, while also handing Indiana its worst loss.

Starting off the dual at 125, No. 8 Caleb Smith took on Indiana’s No. 19 Jacob Moran. The two ranked competitors held a close match, but the Husker senior recorded two points with an escape and ride time to capture his 100th career victory and the 2-0 decision. 

Next on the mat was No. 16 Jacob Van Dee and No. 30 Angelo Rini at 133. Van Dee jumped on the board quickly with a takedown in the first period, and Rini responded with an escape of his own. Van Dee recorded an escape and another takedown in the second for the 8-4 decision, extending the NU lead to six.

At 141, No. 6 Brock Hardy wrestled No. 26 Henry Porter. Hardy had an impressive performance and used six takedowns to claim the 20-5 tech. fall victory, his fourth of the season. During a challenge from Indiana, the Hoosiers were penalized one team point for coach conduct. 

Up next, No. 4 Ridge Lovett faced Joey Buttler at 149. Senior Lovett found an early lead with two takedowns and near fall, holding the 9-1 advantage, before securing the first-period pin. Lovett earned his fifth fall of the season and 19th career in his final home match as a Husker, improving the team score to 17-0. 

On the mat at 157, No. 4 Antrell Taylor wrestled Indiana’s Ryan Garvick. Taylor recorded three takedowns and an escape, leading 10-7 at the end of the first period. The sophomore used five more takedowns to secure the 24-11 tech. fall in 5:12. The bonus-point win was Taylor’s tenth of the season and 20th career dual. 

After the break, No. 8 Christopher Minto faced No. 19 Tyler Lillard. Minto recorded a takedown and nearfall in the first period before securing an escape in the second on his way to the 10-0 major decision. 

At 174, No. 10 Lenny Pinto found No. 31 Roman Rogotzke on the mat with the Huskers leading 26-0. Pinto secured two takedowns in the first period. A four-point near fall gave Pinto the 12-1 lead heading into the third before he recorded a takedown and an escape to secure the 18-2 tech. fall.  

Next on the mat, No. 7 Silas Allred met No. 24 DJ Washington at 184. Allred led 4-3 at the end of the first period, tallying a reversal and securing two Indiana penalty points. In the final period, Allred scored three takedowns en route to the 17-6 major decision.    

With two matches left and the closest bout of the day by ranking, No. 20 Camden McDanel and No. 21 Gabe Sollars wrestled at 197. Entering the second period with a 3-1 lead, McDanel scored a pair of escapes and takedowns to increase the lead to 11-1. McDanel then earned the 17-4 major decision with two takedowns in the final period.

In the final match of the conference dual, heavyweights No. 21 Harley Andrews and No. 18 Jacob Bullock took the mat. Andrews trailed 3-1 after the opening two periods. He then scored an escape in the third, but it wasn’t enough as Bullock took the 6-2 decision. With the win, the Hoosier improved to 2-0 over Andrews.

The 39-2 win for NU concludes the home campaign for the Big Red, finishing 6-1 at the Devaney Center with an average home attendance of 3,380. 

Up Next
The Big Red will close out regular-season competition as they head to Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 23. The dual is set for 5:30 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on BTN. 

#5 Nebraska 39, #21 Indiana 2
125: No. 8  Caleb Smith dec. No. 19 Jacob Moran 2-0 (NEB 3, IND 0)
133: No. 16 Jacob Van Dee dec. No. 30 Angelo Rini 8-4 (NEB 6, IND 0)
141: No. 6 Brock Hardy tech. fall No. 26 Henry Porter (IND) 20-5 (2:07) (NEB 11, IND 0)
149: No. 4 Ridge Lovett pinned Joey Buttler (IND) (1:52) (NEB 17, IND 0)
157: No. 4 Antrell Taylor tech. fall Ryan Garvick (IND) 27-11 (5:12) (NEB 22, IND 0)
165: No. 8 Christopher Minto major dec. No. 19 Tyler Lillard (IND) 10-0 (NEB 26, IND 0)
174: No. 10 Lenny Pinto tech. fall No. 31 Roman Rogotzke (IND) 18-2 (5:00) (NEB 31, IND 0)
184: No. 7 Silas Allred major dec. No. 24 DJ Washington (IND) 17-6 (NEB 35, IND 0)
197: No. 20 Camden McDanel major dec. No. 21 Gabe Sollars (IND) 17-4 (NEB 39, IND 0)
HWT: No. 18 Jacob Bullock (IND) dec. No. 21 Harley Andrews 6-2 (NEB 39, IND 2)

*Indiana -1 team point for coach conduct