Nebraska made a statement in its Big Ten opener with a 36-3 win over Purdue in Lincoln.
The Huskers won nine of ten matches against the Boilermakers on Friday night with five wins coming with bonus points. Nebraska held a 23-0 lead at the midway break.
With Nebraska’s next four duals against #11 Minnesota, #4 Iowa, #2 Ohio State and #1 Penn State, this kind of performance is encouraging as they try to climb the ladder nationally.
Weight-By-Weight Recap
125 pounds
In his second career
Big Ten dual match, sophomore Alan Koehler got his first conference win over Purdue’s Ashton Jackson Friday night to start off the dual — it was the first home win for Nebraska at 125 this season.
Koehler hit a takedown in the first period off a high-crotch shot before starting the second period with a reversal. Koehler then got in on Jackson’s legs in the third period for a takedown and the 9-3 win with the riding time point.
With the win, Koehler improves to 10-9 on the year and 2-5 in duals. He and redshirt freshman Kael Lauridsen (6-5 overall, 1-4 in duals) have been engaged in a season-long competition for the starting spot here. Lauridsen is dealing with a knee injury, but it seems that Koehler may just be in pole position now.
133 pounds
Nebraska’s #8 Jacob Van Dee continues his hot streak with his win over Purdue’s Blake Boarman.
Van Dee scored a takedown in the first period and rode the period out for over a minute of riding time. In the second, Van Dee hit a switch from bottom off the whistle for a reversal to go up 5-1. He then gave up the escape before picking up a late takedown to go up 8-1.
In the third, Van Dee scored another takedown on a low double-leg to secure the major decision 13-2.
With the win, Van Dee improves to 11-1 on the year.
141 pounds
Nebraska’s #3 Brock Hardy picked up his 99th career win Friday night against Purdue’s Vincent Paino.
Hardy scored three first-period takedowns before starting on top in the second period — Hardy scored six total near-fall points before slapping on a cradle for the pinfall win.
With the win, Hardy is 12-3 on the year with nine wins coming with bonus points.
149 pounds
The Cal Poly transfer #14 Chance Lamer got his second win in a row on Friday night as he downed Purdue’s Gavin Brown 12-2 via major decision.
After a scoreless first period, Lamer scored an escape and a takedown in the second period to go up 4-0 before riding the period out. In the third, Lamer collected two more takedowns for the 12-2 win via major decision.
With the win, Lamer is now 12-1 on the year.
157 pounds
One of Nebraska’s leaders, #4 Antrell Taylor was able to give the Huskers a 23-0 lead at the break with a dominant win.
Despite a lot of action, the first period looked to be a scoreless one, but Taylor threw #17 Stoney Buell to his back for the pin just before the end of the period.
With the win, Taylor is now 12-2 on the year with eight wins coming with bonus points.
165 pounds
In the match of the dual, Nebraska’s #8 LJ Araujo fell to Purdue’s #4 Joey Blaze. Araujo has now lost three straight matches — all to wrestlers ranked in the top-7 nationally.
I feel like Araujo is on the cusp of beating guys like that after falling to both #2 LaDarion Lockett and #7 Ryder Downey in sudden victory before losing an 8-2 decision to Blaze Friday night.
In this match, the two wrestled an incredible first period where Blaze was credited with two separate takedowns, only to have Nebraska challenge bricks wipe them both off the board. Blaze then scored takedowns in both the second and third periods for the win, but the redshirt freshman Araujo showed a lot of promise in defeat, especially defensively.
With the loss, Araujo drops to 9-4 on the year.
174 pounds
Nebraska’s #6 Christopher Minto was able to come back after a big move in the second period by Purdue’s #21 Brody Baumann for the win.
Minto scored a first-period takedown before an escape in the second to go up 4-1, but Baumann shot in for a double-leg takedown in the second, adding two near-fall points to go up 6-4.
Minto then escaped and scored a late second-period takedowns to re-take the lead 8-7. Baumann did tie the match at 8-8 in the third with an escape, but Minto was able to shoot a double in the third for a takedown and the 11-8 decision win.
With the win, Minto is now 12-2 on the year.
184 pounds
Husker veteran #9 Silas Allred continues his solid season with a win over Purdue’s #29 James Rowley Friday night.
After a scoreless first period, Allred rolled back for a reversal to start the second period. Allred scored a stalling point before giving up a late escape. In the third, Allred stood his ground for the 4-1 decision with the riding-time point.
With the win, Allred is now 11-3 on the year.
197 pounds
Facing #23 Ben Vanadia of Purdue, Nebraska’s #15 Camden McDanel secured an all-important conference win.
After a scoreless first period, McDanel scored a takedown in the second period on a swing single. The Husker sophomore then scored another takedown in the third period on a re-attack for the 7-1 decision win.
McDanel improves to 11-4 on the year with the win.
285 pounds
Back in the lineup, Nebraska’s #4 AJ Ferrari took care of business in his return against Purdue’s Hayden Filipovich.
Ferrari scored two first-period takedowns and built up over a minute of riding time before adding an escape in the second and another takedown in the third for the 11-2 win via major decision.
With the win, Ferrari improves to 6-1 on the year.
