Coach Mark Manning said his No. 12 Nebraska wrestling squad has a lot of things to work on after a 29-3 loss against No. 6 North Carolina State Friday night, including closing out matches.
“Little mistakes get you beat late in matches,” Manning said. “We lost a number of close matches. We had our opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize, and they did.”
In five of the matches—half of them—the score was either tied or within three points at the end of the second period. The Wolfpack had their hand raised in each of them.
With the dual starting at 157 pounds, North Carolina State won nine of the 10 matches, including the final eight.
Nebraska sophomore Isaiah White, ranked No. 10 at 165 pounds, scored the lone win for the Huskers. White defeated Brian Hamann by decision 9-3.
Leading 4-2 early in the third period, White recorded two take downs to hold off Hamann, who qualified for the NCAA Championships last season.
Although White won his match, Manning said the 2017 Division II national champion has a lot to learn, too.
“He’s got to work harder, he’s got to buy in more,” Manning said. “He’s not wrestling up to his abilities.”
North Carolina State picked up a majority of its wins from its five best wrestlers.
No. 16 Hayden Hidlay (157), No. 3 Pete Renda (184), No. 7 Michael Macchiavello (197), No. 2 Kevin Jack (141) and No. 17 Beau Donahue (149) each picked up victories in their respective matches.
Hidlay, Renda and Jack each defeated a nationally ranked Nebraska wrestler.
Manning said after the dual that the youth on his squad is not an excuse for the lackluster performance.
“It’s not about having a young team,” Manning said. “I don’t care if the guy's a senior or a freshman, there’s no excuses. They outwrestled us, and that’s what happens when you get outwrestled.”
The last time Nebraska scored just three points in a dual was against No. 1 Iowa in January 2010. The top-ranked Hawkeyes defeated the Huskers 33-3.
Manning said he did not talk to the team after the loss.
“I’m going to say something tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock—a lot,” Manning said in regards to Saturday’s practice. “We got a lot of things to improve on, and we haven’t bought in.”
Nebraska will be back in action against North Carolina on Sunday inside the Devaney Center at 2 p.m.
RESULTS:
157: No. 16 Hayden Hidlay (NCST) dec. No. 7 Tyler Berger (NEB), 6-3
165: No.10 Isaiah White (NEB) dec. Brian Hamann (NCST), 9-3
174: Daniel Bullard (NCST) dec. Beau Breske (NEB), 6-5
184: No. 3 Pete Renda (NCST) dec. No. 6 Taylor Venz (NEB), 9-6
197: No. 7 Michael Macciavello dec. Eric Schultz (NEB), 6-2
HWT: Malik McDonald (NCST) dec. David Jensen (NEB), 9-5
125: Thomas Cox (NCST) dec. Mitchell Maginnis (NEB), 7-6
133: Tariq Allen (NCST) tech. fall Zak Hensley (NEB), 17-1 (4:26)
141: No. 2 Kevin Jack (NCST) dec. No. 8 Chad Red Jr. (NEB), 9-3
149: No. 17 Beau Donahue dec. Collin Purinton (NEB), 11-10
