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3 Takes: Nebraska wrestling rebounds with statement wins over Brown & Missouri

by: Bobby Schneider8 hours agobschneider33

No. 6 Nebraska wrestling (5-2) got its swagger back in the Hustle in the Heartland Duals on Friday night in St. Charles, Missouri.

After a total collapse on Nov. 16 that saw NU finish fourth place at the National Duals Tournament, the Huskers responded with a statement. Nebraska handed Brown a 44-3 beatdown and followed by securing a 27-10 ranked victory over No. 12 Missouri, as the Big Red won 16 of its 20 matches.

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Here are three takeaways following Nebraska’s impressive showing:

Top dogs bounce back

After Nebraska’s two team leaders accounted for four losses at the National Duals, the two multi-time All-Americans bounced back on the mat.

Senior Brock Hardy decisively won each of his bouts. In fact, the No. 3-ranked 141-pounder pinned Brown’s Khimari Manns in his first battle. He followed suit with a dominant 19-4 technical fall over Missouri’s Zeke Seltzer, who is ranked No. 18 in the 141-pound division.

Meanwhile, Antrell Taylor (157) brought the fire after losing two of his three bouts his last time in action. The junior from Millard, Nebraska, got his night going by crushing Brown’s Ethan Mojena 17-2. However, Taylor had to earn it in his second bout vs. No. 18 J Conway of Mizzou.

The defending national champion trailed 1-0 before scoring a takedown with 1:33 left in the second period. Taylor hung on to defeat Conway 4-2 and improve to 8-2 on the season.

While the opponents NU’s top dogs faced weren’t in the top 10 of their divisions, Hardy and Taylor sweeping competition was critical, especially since No. 21 North Carolina and No. 5 Oklahoma State (who just beat Nebraska 33-6 on Nov. 16) come to Lincoln in two weeks.

Minto & Ziola dominate, Araujo keeps impressing

Redshirt freshman LJ Araujo kept his impressive start to the season rolling, but he had to earn it against two ranked foes. The No. 11-ranked 165-pounder went back and forth with No. 27 Max Norman in his first match. In fact, Araujo’s riding time forced the bout into overtime, and Araujo took advantage to score a takedown to secure the sudden victory.

In his next match against No. 18 Max Mayfield, he trailed 3-1 with only 13 seconds remaining. However, Araujo found magic and fired off a takedown to defeat Mayfield in clutch fashion. The rising redshirt freshman is now 8-1 on the year.

Meanwhile, Christopher Minto (174) destroyed his competition to improve to 8-2 on the season with two definitive wins. The sophomore All-American outscored his two opponents 44-12.

Finally, welcome to the show, Cade Ziola. The true freshman crushed it with two technical fall wins in his heavyweight (285) debut, filling in for AJ Ferrari. In fact, the Omaha native outscored his opponents 40-10.

McDanel & Allred go 1-1

Senior Silas Allred – the No. 8-ranked 184-pounder – pinned Thomas Sandoval in his first bout with ease. Against Missouri, however, Allred had his hands full vs. No. 2 Aeoden Sinclair. Allred carried a 1-0 lead entering the final period, but he couldn’t stop Sinclair, who beat him 4-1.

Meanwhile, No. 10-ranked Camden McDanel (197) won a 7-4 dogfight in his first of two bouts over No. 27 Andrew Reall. In fact, neither scored a point through the first period. McDanel’s two takedowns in the second period were critical to secure the decision victory.

However, the sophomore All-American couldn’t capitalize against Missouri, as No. 17 Evan Bates edged him out by a 4-1 decision.

Other Results

***Alan Koehler (125) crushed Brown’s Jared Brunner with a 20-3 tech-fall. He scored 10 points in the first period and didn’t let up.

***Kael Lauridsen (125) upset No. 22 Mack Mauger by a 4-1 sudden victory to give the Huskers early momentum against Missouri.

***No. 7 Jacob Van Dee (133) won each of his bouts, outscoring opposition 18-7. He finished with an impressive decision win over No. 17 Kade Moore of Mizzou.

***In the 149-pound division, Blake Cushing and Scott Robertson each fell in their bouts.

Cushing lost by an 8-3 decision, while Robertson lost his bout by an 18-6 major decision to No. Joshua Edmond.

Nebraska returns to action at 7 p.m. CT on Dec. 19 against No. 21 North Carolina at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. It can be seen on B1G+.

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