Huskers Defeat Utah Valley in Regular Season Finale

Three consecutive bonus-point victories to open the dual powered the No. 5 Nebraska wrestling team to a 32-6 win over Utah Valley on Saturday night, closing the regular season on a four-dual win streak. The Huskers claimed eight bouts and used two tech. falls, a major decision and a pin to improve to 13-6 (5-3 Big Ten) on the season, while Utah Valley fell to 5-8 (3-4 Big 12). 

Starting at 157, No. 3 Antrell Taylor opened against Ian Fritz with a takedown. Taylor remained in control, adding two more takedowns and a four-point nearfall to end the first period. A takedown in the second pushed the lead to 19-3, securing the tech. fall at 3:14, his sixth of the season. With the win, Taylor completed a 20-win regular season and secured his 70th career victory. 

At 165, No. 7 LJ Araujo took the mat against Zyon Trujillo. The redshirt freshman recorded a takedown and a four-point nearfall in the opening period before adding a reversal and a three-point nearfall. Araujo secured the second-period pin, his second of the season, to extend the Husker lead to 11-0. 

Next on the mat at 174, No. 4 Christopher Minto faced Hudson Rogers. Minto scored first with a takedown in the first period and added an escape and another takedown in the second. Rogers battled back with two escapes and a takedown to cut the deficit to 8-5, but Minto responded with two third-period takedowns and riding time to secure the 15-7 major decision, his sixth major of the season. 

Tyler Eise wrestled in his second dual of the season at 184 against Caleb Uhlenhopp. The pair were scoreless through the first period and exchanged escapes in the second and third to tie the score at 1-1. Uhlenhopp used a late takedown to claim the 4-1 decision. 

At 197, No. 10 Camden McDanel met Kael Bennie. McDanel recorded a first-period takedown while Bennie added an escape. The wrestlers exchanged reversals in the second along with a penalty point and escape for McDanel. Bennie added two escapes in the third, but McDanel sealed the 10-5 decision with another takedown.  

Holding a 18-3 lead after intermission, No. 3 AJ Ferrari faced No. 30 Jack Forbes at heavyweight. Ferrari opened with a first-period takedown before an action-packed third period, where he added four more takedowns, an escape and a two-point nearfall to secure the 19-4 tech. fall with riding time. 

At 125, Kael Lauridsen and Bridger Ricks were scoreless through the first period. Ricks scored an escape, but Lauridsen answered with a takedown and a four-point nearfall to take control and earn a 8-2 decision, giving Nebraska a 26-3 lead heading into the final three bouts. 

No. 10 Jacob Van Dee faced Geronimo Rivera at 133. After a scoreless first period, Van Dee grabbed a lone escape in the second and added a third-period takedown to secure the 4-1 decision. 

The Utah native, No. 4 Brock Hardy, met No. 19 Haiden Drury at 141. Hardy used a takedown in the first period to set the tone, added an escape in the second and held on with riding time to claim the 5-2 victory. With the win, Hardy sits at 105 career victories heading into postseason competition. 

In the final bout at 149, No. 19 Chance Lamer took on No. 11 David Evans. Lamer opened with a takedown, but Evans battled back. The match was tied 5-5 late in the third before Evans secured the winning takedown in the closing seconds to take the 8-5 decision. 

NU closes the regular season at 13-6 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten action, winning four straight duals to build momentum heading into postseason competition. The Huskers recorded four bonus-point victories on the night and claimed eight of 10 bouts in the regular season finale as they turn their focus to March. 

Up Next
The Huskers will begin postseason competition at the Big Ten Championships in University Park, Pa. The two-day tournament begins with Session I on Saturday, March 7 at 9 a.m. (CT). Session II is slated for 4 p.m. (CT) Saturday with Sessions III and IV set for Sunday, March 8. All sessions will be televised on Big Ten Network and Big Ten Plus. 

No. 5 Nebraska 32, Utah Valley 6
157: #3 Antrell Taylor tech. fall Ian Fritz 19-3 (3:14) (NEB 5, UVU 0)
165: #7 LJ Araujo pinned Zyon Trujillo 4:45 (NEB 11, UVU 0)
174: #4 Christopher Minto major dec. Hudson Rogers 15-7 (NEB 15, UVU 0)
184: Caleb Uhlenhopp dec. Tyler Eise 4-1 (NEB 15, UVU 3)
197: #10 Camden McDanel dec. Kael Bennie 10-5 (NEB 18, UVU 3)
HWT: #3 AJ Ferrari tech. fall  #30 Jack Forbes 19-4 (7:00) (NEB 23, UVU 3)
125: Kael Lauridsen dec. Bridger Ricks 8-2 (NEB 26, UVU 3)
133: #10 Jacob Van Dee dec. Geronimo Rivera 4-1 (NEB 29, UVU 3)
141: #4 Brock Hardy dec. #19 Haiden Drury 5-2 (NEB 32, UVU 3)
149: #11 David Evans dec. #19 Chance Lamer 8-5 (NEB 32, UVU 6)