Nebraska coach Mark Manning said his wrestlers have more to give, even after a comfortable win.
No. 11 Nebraska (1-0) defeated Wyoming (0-1) 25-10 in the dual season opener in front of 1,808 fans at the Devaney Center Friday night.
The Huskers won seven of the 10 matches, including three key matches in the middleweight classes.
With Nebraska trailing 6-3 in the team score through three matches, No. 6 Colton McCrystal (141) defeated Sam Turner by decision 7-3 to tie the dual score.
Fourth-ranked Tyler Berger (157) gave Nebraska the lead in the next match, edging No. 17 Archie Colgan by decision 5-4. Berger, a junior and returning NCAA All-American, was awarded an extra point with 1:15 of riding time.
Sophomore transfer No. 16 Isaiah White (165) added to the Huskers lead with an upset victory over No. 12 Branson Ashworth. White, a 2016 Division II national champion at Notre Dame College, defeated Ashworth by decision 7-5.
White said after the dual that he was nervous prior to his match, but it didn’t show. White came out firing, quickly scoring a takedown and turning Ashworth onto his back for a four-point near fall.
“I was kind of nervous going out, until I started wrestling and I heard the crowd,” White said. “The crowd helped a lot, that’s for sure. I was excited to compete.”
White said it’s important for him to get off to a fast start in the first period of his matches, because if he doesn’t he said he’s beatable.
“If I’m going and my motors running and my motor’s high, I’m gonna get a lot of points,” White said.
Ashworth’s ranking didn’t faze White, instead h he took it as a challenge.
“That’s what I live for,” White said. “If it’s hard I’m ready to do it."
Despite a key victory, both Manning and assistant coach Bryan Snyder said White has more to give, a common theme for the dual.
Following White’s victory, Nebraska led 12-6 in the team score. Wyoming cut into the deficit with a major decision at 174 pounds. Kyle Pope of Wyoming defeated Eric Engler 15-6.
Nebraska pulled away in the final three matches, starting with a technical fall by redshirt freshman Taylor Venz at 184 pounds. Venz improved to 5-0 on the season with all of his wins coming by way of fall or technical fall.
At 197 pounds, redshirt freshman Eric Schultz of Nebraska defeated Cody Vigoren by decision 7-3.
Sophomore heavyweight David Jensen of Nebraska recorded a four-point near fall in the closing seconds of the third period to defeat Hunter Mullins by technical fall, 17-2.
In a top-10 matchup at 141 pounds, No. 3 Bryce Meredith, a two-time All-American and 2016 NCAA finalist, defeated No. 7 Chad Red Jr. of Nebraska by decision 11-5. Midway through the third period, the two wrestlers exchanged shoves and had to be restrained by their respective coaches. Official Jason Wedgebury issued an unsportsmanlike conduct warning to both wrestlers.
Manning said his team needs to do better and added they have more to give up and down the line up, but credited Wyoming’s scouting effort.
“Wyoming’s a good team, obviously very well coached,” Manning said after the match. “They do a really good job.”
Nebraska and Wyoming will meet again in a couple weeks as both teams are set to compete at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas on Dec. 1-2.
The Huskers next dual is on the road against West Virginia on Nov. 25.
RESULTS:
125: Kris Williams (NEB) dec. Trent Olson (WYO), 9-4 (NEB 3, WYO 0)
133: Montorie Bridges (WYO) dec. Brian Peska (NEB), 11-5 (NEB 3, WYO 3)
141: #3 Bryce Meredith (WYO) dec. #7 Chad Red Jr. (NEB), 11-5 (WYO 6, NEB 3)
149: #6 Colton McCrystal (NEB) dec. Sam Turner (WYO), 7-3 (WYO 6, NEB 6)
157: #4 Tyler Berger (NEB) dec. #17 Archie Colgan (WYO), 5-4 (NEB 9, WYO 6)
165: #16 Isaiah White (NEB) dec. #12 Branson Ashworth (WYO), 7-5 (NEB 12, WYO 6)
174: Kyle Pope (WYO) major dec. Eric Engler (NEB), 15-6 (NEB 12, WYO 10)
184: Taylor Venz (NEB) tech fall Chaz Polson (WYO), 18-2 (NEB 17, WYO 10)
197: Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. Cody Vigoren (NEB), 7-3 (NEB 20, WYO 10)
HWT: David Jensen (NEB) tech. fall Hunter Mullins (WYO), 17-2 (NEB 25, WYO 10)
