[Husker] Husker wrestling

[Andy Knipp]

I have not done an update from the wrestling team lately, so this will be a good time to do it.

NU has a very young team but is sitting at 8-2 (should be 9-1)  and competing in the National
Duals this weekend. 

NU was not seeded in the top 8, (16 teams for Div 1, 16 for 2, 3, NAIA, etc), so they went up
against #7Iowa (seeded 5th), after upsetting Iowa, they had #6 and 4th seed Michigan and won again.
NU now will meet #1 Oklahoma State, a tough match, but NU matches up well against OSU and with a
couple of upsets can win.

Quick breakdown:

125# Fr Paul Donahoe was a prep All American. He is wrestling like a star, should qualify for the 
NCAAs and could place.  He is also small for a 125 # (natural weight about 120 #) so he will be 
at this weight for all 4 years.

133 Transfer Patrick Askerbian came from Cal Poly split the wrestle off over a FR who has yet to 
redshirt, so he is the starter. His pin (after Donahoe) staked NU to a 12-0 lead over Iowa which
was very big.

141 JR Domick Moyer was the starter last year at 133, and qualified for the NCAAs. 141 is a very tough
weight with the top 2 at Iowa State and Oklahoma. Still Moyer is a solid wrestler and should put
another solid season. NU also has a talented FR redshirting.

149 FR/SO Ryan Davis transfered from OSU. He was also a prep All Am sitting behind a multiple NCAA
champ at OSU.  Breathing problems have hurt, but that seems to be taken care of. Davis will be a 
very good wrestler in the next couple years. 

157 FR Chris Oliver (one few NE natives starting),  is also doing very well at 12-3 for the year and lost 
to the NCAA runner up from Iowa 8-6.   He also got a key pin against Michigan.

165 JR Marc Harwood was the starter at 174 last year now trading places with AA Jacob Klien. Harwood
did well last year but did not qualify for the NCAAs,  this year he should.

174 SR Jacob Klein was an AA as a SO, did not place last year. He defeated the third ranked wrestler 
(from Iowa) plus a solid kid from MI.  Klein is ranked 4 at the higher weight and seems to be settling in. 

184 NU had been wrestling a rFr who's natural class should be 165.  He was getting stomped. The
coaches pulled prep All Am Vince Jones out of the redshirt when the Iowa matched looked winnable
(NU had a good lead with 3 matches left). Iowa had the #2 ranked wrestler at 184 and Jones came in
and got the victory. Later he pinned the MU wrestler.

197 returning All Am SR BJ Padden is putting a solid season together. He was the only one to defeat
last years champ (OSU SR Jake Rosholt) so they will see eachother several times this year, including today.

HWT Jon May, SO, put a good season together last year, but did not qualify for the NCAAs.  HWT is a tought weight
this year, but he should have a solid year.

All together NU is putting a good season.  One loss was to #2 MN (not close) and another was a close match to 
Cal State Something, when Padden was out hurt and his backup was pinned (that is a 9 point swing).  The B12 (really
Big 5 ) season is starting up soon.  We will see how good NU really is,  however all 5 teams were at the National
Duals, and only NU and OSU are still in championship bracket. 

When the conf tournement starts, NU should hope to get all 10 guys qualified for the NCAAs, with Vince Jones at 184
that is much more likely. The top 3 at each class qualify plus 6 wildcards who are voted after the conf tourny. 

As you can see NU also has a very young team,  2 SRs, 2 JRs, the rest SO and FR.  

I will post something around conf tourney time

Andy



Andy Knipp
andy at knipp.com
(480) 818-1026 (M)