The #5 Nebraska wrestling team put on a clinic in its final home dual of the year Sunday afternoon with a 47-0 dual win over Northwestern at the Devaney Center.
Despite winning two individual matches via forfeit, Nebraska still racked up five wins via technical fall and another by major decision in front of the home crowd that largely showed up despite it being a Super Bowl Sunday.
Nebraska bid adieu to a number of seniors who have been instrumental to the Huskers’ success in recent years, including starters Brock Hardy, Silas Allred and Chance Lamer.
The Huskers racked up 37 total takedowns through eight matches that were wrestled. I know that Northwestern is not a very good team, but this does show that the Huskers may be really starting to peak with the postseason just a month away.
Weight-By-Weight Recap
125 pounds
Getting his shot in the starting lineup, redshirt freshman Kael Lauridsen did his best with it by knocking off #26 Dedrick Novarro of Northwestern.
Lauridsen started really strong when he scored a takedown off Novarro’s first-period shot — he then tilted the Wildcat for three near-fall points and a 6-0 lead before riding the period out.
In the second, Lauridsen scored an eventual escape after a hard ride, but Novarro scored a takedown with a low double-leg shot, cutting the Husker’s lead to 7-3 before riding the period out. Novarro then chose neutral in the third and cut the lead to 7-6 with another takedown.
With 50 seconds left, Lauridsen was cut loose for an escape. Navarro shot another double shortly after, but Lauridsen came out of the ensuing scramble for the late takedown and the 11-6 decision win.
Lauridsen is now 9-7 on the year against Divison I opponents after gaining his first conference dual win. Considering this is his third win over a ranked opponent this season, Lauridsen may be the leader to get the nod in the postseason.
133 pounds
Facing Northwestern backup Luis Bazan, Nebraska’s #9 Jacob Van Dee took care of business while racking up bonus points for his team.
Van Dee scored two takedowns and four near-fall points in the first period before adding three takedowns in the second period to earn the 19-4 win via tech fall.
After losing three straight to top-shelf opponents, Van Dee got back in the win column here and improves to 13-4 on the season.
141 pounds
In his final home dual, Nebraska’s #3 Brock Hardy did Brock Hardy things — he racked up points with his cradles.
In the first period, Hardy was able to defend Northwestern’s Billy Dekraker’s shot before cutting the corner and locking up the cradle — he scored a takedown and three near-fall points before riding the period out.
In the second, Hardy scored an escape before notching a pair of takedowns. He then locked up another cradle for two near-fall points. One more ankle-pick takedown for Hardy ended the match 18-2 by tech fall.
With the win, Hardy is now 15-4 on the year and 102-28 for his career. He also leads the team with 11 wins with bonus points on the year — 4 pins, 4 techs, 3 major decisions.
149 pounds
Another guy who was shot out of a cannon for his final home dual, #14 Chance Lamer put on a takedown clinic against Northwestern’s August Hibler.
Lamer scored six takedowns in the first period before adding one more in the second period for the 22-5 win via tech fall.
With the win, Lamer is now 13-4 on the year.
157 pounds
Nebraska’s #2 Antrell Taylor earned the win here via forfeit, pushing the dual score to 24-0.
165 pounds
Nebraska earned the win here via forfeit again, pushing the dual score to 30-0.
Nebraska sent out senior Jagger Condomitti, so I was really bummed to see the forfeit. With Condomitti anticipating one final match at home in front of the fans before calling it a career, it’s unfortunate he didn’t get a match.
174 pounds
In arguably the match of the dual, Nebraska’s #4 Christopher Minto took on #27 Eddie Enright from Northwestern.
Enright struck first with a first-period takedowns, but Minto scored a late reversal. The Northwestern corner challenged the reversal call and it was overturned.
Down 3-0 to start the second period, Minto started on top and scored two near-fall points when he tilted Enright for two points. Nebraska threw a challenge brick arguing that it should have been more near-fall points, but the officials upheld the call.
Starting down in the third, Minto repeatedly tried rolling through for a reversal and was so close multiple times before eventually just taking the escape point to tie the match 3-3. Minto shot in right away after his escape. After a scramble, Minto came out on top for the takedown and the 6-3 decision win.
Minto is now 15-4 on the year.
184 pounds
Nebraska’s #6 Silas Allred took the mat against Northwestern’s J.D. Perez at this weight. Facing a former NAIA national champion in Perez, Allred showed that there are levels to this.
The Husker senior was really hunting for the first-period stick to end his home dual career, but Perez was able to get away from a pair of arm-bar attempts by Allred for reversals in the first period. Allred nonetheless scored three first-period takedowns for an 11-4 lead.
In the second, Allred scored three more takedowns before adding one in the third for the 23-8 win via tech fall.
With the win, Allred improves to 13-6 on the year and 88-30 for his career so far.
197 pounds
Facing Northwestern’s Alex Smith, #10 Camden McDanel put together a dominant effort.
McDanel scored a pair of takedowns in the first period before scoring five near-fall points to go up 11-1 going into the second. McDanel then scored a reversal and looked to have put Smith on his back for near-fall points and nearly a pin, but the Northwestern corner threw a brick, resulting in McDanel being called for locked hands on top, wiping out the near fall.
McDanel then scored two more takedowns for the 21-5 win via tech fall.
With the win, McDanel moves to 15-5 on the year.
285 pounds
Nebraska’s #4 AJ Ferrari faced Northwestern’s Dirk Morley and put on a show for the home crowd.
Ferrari scored a pair of first-period takedowns before adding two more in the second, including this impressive low-level blast double.
In the third, Ferrari added an escape and a takedown, nearly scoring one at the buzzer for the tech fall. After an official review, the late takedown call was wiped away, giving Ferrari the 17-4 win via major decision.
With the win, Ferrari moves to 10-2 on the year in his first year at Nebraska.
