[Husker] NU Wrestling

[andy at knipp.com]

OK, a not so quick update for those who may care on how other sports (specifically wrestling) is doing.

Currently, the team is ranked in the top 5 (after placing 2nd in the national duals). The Big 12 (really B5 as only 5 schools have a team) championships were last weekend and NU placed 2nd (to ISU) sending 8 wrestlers to the NCAA championships, which start Thursday. This is the strongest NU team in a number of years and it will be a major disappointment if NU does not place in the top 5.

The B12 send 38 (out of a total 50 wrestlers) to the NCAAs, due to the strength of the conference (as measured by how many make the round of 12 the previous 5 years). The top 3 place winners go plus 8 wildcards. In some cases the coaches vote to take all 5 in 1 weight and only 3 in others. 

Here is a breakdown at each weight: 

125 lbs - NU returns NCAA champ Paul Donahoe, a junior. D-hoe is currently ranked #3 with a record or 17-3, he won the B12 title last week and certainly should be a high AA (top 4) if not outright champion again.
133 lbs - SO JUCO xfer Kenny Jordan (JUCO national champ) was ranked in the top 10, slid a bit after taking 4th in the B12 but should still be seeded in the top 12 and has a shot to earn AA.
141 lbs - SO Mike Rowe finished the season in a disappointing manner, injured in the 1st half of the season, then beat the #2 ranked wrestler and moved up in the rankings. Rowe finished the season with a few losses to unranked wrestlers and was not awarded a wildcard after his 4th place finish.
149 lbs - SO Jordan Burroughs has a very gaudy 24-3 record and a #4 ranking. Burroughs has been on a nice winning streak but is in a very tough weight. Still a Top 5 finish is possible and if he does not earn All American, it will be a great disappointment.  Burroughs rolled through the B12championships like a steamroller, earning the outstanding wrestler award. 
157 lbs - JR Chris Oliver started strong, finished the season with too many losses to unranked wrestlers and was not awarded the wildcard after taking 4th.
165 - SO Stephan Dwyer is ranked #5 with a 24-5 record. Placing 2nd in the B12earned a trip to the NCAAs, this weight has 4 B12 in the top 7 nationally (#2, 5,6,and 7). Top 8 (earning AA) is a likely finish for Dywer. 
174 - JR Brandon Browne is ranked #5 with a 24-1 record and a B12 championship to his credit. Browne has only lost to the #4 (from Iowa) and not wrestled anyone in the top 3 so it makes it hard to move up to 1 or 2, where he should be. Still top 8 is expected and top 4 place is very possible.
184 - JR Vince Jones at 16-10 and 5th in the B12, (losing both matches) still earned a wildcard with his #16 ranking. All 5 B12 wrestlers are ranked, so it is a tough weight. Jones is the model of inconsistency, beating an All American one week and losing to a Division 2 wrestler the next. Still on a good day he can wrestle with anyone and if he is on a roll he could AA. Jones made the top 12, 2 years ago and certainly could do that well or better again.
197 - SO Craig Brester is ranked #8 with a 21-5 record. Brester beat the #4 ranked wrestler last year and certainly can AA. I expect a 6-8 place for Craig. There are a lot of SRs in this weight, so Brester can easily be a 3 time AA.
HWT - SR Jon May - NUs only SR and last wildcard, at 16-9 and ranked 15 is doubtful to earn AA but should win some matches and earn important team points. As NUs only SR starter, May's replacement was the best red-shirt wrestler this year (Tucker Lane) so this weight will be strong next year. 

Andy