After dropping the first four matches of the dual to the 2nd-ranked Buckeyes, #6 Nebraska stormed back to win five straight but lost in overtime at heavyweight, narrowly dropping the dual 17-16.
After being extremely shorthanded in a 33-3 drubbing at the hands of Ohio State at National Duals, the Huskers showed they’re right there with the Buckeyes with an incredible near-comeback. Ohio State was without top-ranked Brandon Cannon at 157 in this one and elected to wrestle talented backup e’Than Birden
at 165 in place of #14 Paddy Gallagher.
The Buckeyes are loaded throughout the lineup, especially so at the first four weights where all of their guys are ranked fourth or better. After a rough dual loss to Iowa on Friday and a tough start in this one, Nebraska really showed its resolve by battling back one match at a time against the Buckeyes. Despite losing both duals, Nebraska won 9 of 20 matches this weekend against two of the best teams in the country — including three upset wins against Ohio State.
With the loss, Nebraska is now 9-5 in duals this year with losses to #2 Ohio State (twice), #4 Iowa and #5 Oklahoma State (twice).
Weight-By-Weight Recap
125 pounds
Facing arguably the best 125-pounder in the country in #4 Nic Bouzakis, redshirt freshman Kael Lauridsen took the mat for the Huskers.
Lauridsen gave up three takedowns and four near-fall points in the first period, going into the second period down 13-2. Lauridsen was able to mitigate the damage though by scoring an escape to start the second before putting on a nice ride to start the third.
Bouzakis eventually collected Lauridsen’s leg from bottom and got a reversal but was unable to score again on the young Husker. Lauridsen lost the match 16-4 by major decision, but him being able to avoid the technical fall and save a team point was encouraging.
With the loss, Lauridsen is now 8-7 on the year against DI competition.
133 pounds
In a much-anticipated matchup, Nebraska’s #8 Jacob Van Dee took on Ohio State’s freshman phenom #2 Ben Davino.
Davino struck first with a first-period takedowns when he dumped Van Dee over for three points. Davino scored an escape in the second, and Van Dee scored escapes in the first and third periods. Late in the third period with the score 4-2 in favor of Davino, the Buckeye was able to take Van Dee down on a re-shot, clinching the 7-2 decision win.
With the loss, Van Dee is now 12-3 on the year.
141 pounds
In another rematch of last year’s NCAA final, Nebraska’s #3 Brock Hardy faced Ohio State’s #1 Jesse Mendez.
Mendez looks to be on another level this year, especially after dismantling Hardy the way he did on Sunday. Mendez collected three takedowns and added four near-fall points in this one for the 14-3 win via major decision.
Hardy is now 1-5 in his career against Mendez and drops to 13-4 on the year with the loss.
149 pounds
In a wild match that saw two takedowns wiped off the board in the first period, Nebraska’s #12 Chance Lamer took on #4 Ethan Stiles of Ohio State.
Despite both guys getting in on what looked like takedowns, the first period ended scoreless. Stiles scored a second-period escape before Lamer took the lead in the third with a reversal. However, Stiles got a reversal of his own to go up by one point before a Lamer escape tied things up, sending the match to sudden victory.
In overtime, both wrestlers were close to takedowns, but it was Stiles who found the finish after a scramble for the 6-3 decision win. At this point, Nebraska trailed in the dual 14-0.
With the loss, Lamer is now 12-3 on the year.
157 pounds
Nebraska looked toward its NCAA Champion #5 Antrell Taylor in this one to get Nebraska’s momentum going against Ohio State backup Maddox Shaw.
After two apparent eye pokes in the first period by Shaw, Taylor ratcheted up the intensity and collected two takedowns in the opening period. Taylor added an escape and another takedown in the second before scoring a stalling point in the third for the 11-3 win via major decision.
With the win, Taylor is now 15-2 on the year
165 pounds
In this matchup between a pair of highly-touted redshirt freshmen with incredible length for the weight class, Nebraska’s #7 LJ Araujo took on Ohio State’s e’Than Birden.
After a scoreless first period, Araujo scored a quick escape in the second period. In the third, Birden chose neutral to start to avoid going under Araujo — Araujo was then able to hold off the Buckeye for the 1-0 win.
With the win, Araujo is now 11-5 on the year.
174 pounds
In one of the best matchups of the dual, Nebraska’s #6 Christopher Minto took on #4 Carson Kharchla of Ohio State. Kharchla beat Minto 5-1 at National Duals, but the Husker sophomore was able to get that one back at home on Sunday.
After a scoreless first period, Minto struck first with an escape before Kharchla scored an escape of his own to start the third. The match went to sudden victory where Minto hit a single-leg before doubling off and finishing for the takedown and the 4-1 decision win.
Minto improves to 14-3 on the season with the win.
184 pounds
Nebraska turned to senior #7 Silas Allred to keep the momentum going here against #5 Dylan Fishback of Ohio State — Fishback handed Allred his worst loss of the season at National Duals 8-1 by decision, but it was the Husker who came out on top in this one.
Both wrestlers traded escapes in regulation and went through sudden victory without scoring, setting up tiebreakers. In the first 30-second tiebreaker period, Allred escaped in just five seconds, forcing Fishback to choose neutral in the second tiebreaker. Allred fended off the Buckeye’s attacks for the full 30 seconds for the 2-1 decision win, bringing Nebraska within one point in the dual at 14-13.
With the win, Allred is now 12-5 on the year.
197 pounds
In a match against #9 Luke Geog of Ohio State, Nebraska sophomore #11 Camden McDanel picked up a signature win when his team absolutely needed it. In my opinion, this is a match where we all saw McDanel turn a serious corner.
In the first period, Geog scored first with a takedown, but McDanel got a quick escape and scored a takedown to go up 4-3. Geog responded with a reversal to re-take the lead, but McDanel quickly escaped to even things at 5-5.
McDanel and Geon then traded escapes in the second and third periods, tying the match at 6-6, but it was McDanel who secured the winning takedown with just seven seconds left, earning the 9-6 win to put Nebraska up 16-14 in the dual.
For a guy who generally is pretty stoic and emotionless, McDanel was as fired up as I’ve ever seen him after this one — it was something to behold.
With the win, McDanel is now 14-4 on the year.
285 pounds
With Nebraska winning five straight matches, the dual came down to heavyweight where Nebraska’s #4 AJ Ferrari took on #3 Nick Feldman in a rematch from a match at National Duals that Feldman won 5-4.
After a scoreless first period, Feldman worked hard for an escape in the second period. Ferrari then got an escape of his own in the third, sending the match to sudden victory.
In overtime, Feldman was able to throw Ferrari by for the winning takedown, earning the win in both the match and the dual for his team.
With the loss, Ferrari is now 8-2 on the year.
