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2008 Nov 20
NU Wrestlers Beat Mocs
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Nebraska wrestling’s first dual of the 2008-2009 campaign will go down as a 29-15 win over Tennessee-Chattanooga. But it might be better remembered as the start to a very intriguing season.
The sixth-ranked Cornhuskers unveiled an altered lineup Thursday in front of 598 fans at the NU Coliseum, moving one of their best wrestlers, junior Jordan Burroughs, from 149 pounds to 157. That means Chris Hacker and Robert Sanders, slated to battle for wrestling time at 157, will drop a weight instead vie for position there.
Burroughs, ranked No. 3 nationally, kicked off competing at his new weight by dominating No. 19 Joey Knox in a 17-7 major decision that included seven takedowns.
“Jordan had grown into a big 149-pounder,” NU Coach Mark Manning said. “So he’ll go at 157 for us. We made that decision earlier in the week. It’s gonna be good for us. Really Chris Hacker and Robert Sanders are 149-pounders.”
The move takes Burroughs out of a ultra-competitive weight class that included Iowa’s Brent Metcalf – who beat Burroughs last year – and puts him in a more wide-open national race.
“It kinda bothers me a little bit, knowing I was a 149-pounder last year,” Burroughs said after the match. “I’m just doing what’s better for myself, so I’m not really thinking about what anyone else thinks. It’s my decision. I’m just doing what’s healthy for me, and what makes me feel strong.”
The rest on Thursday was business as usual. Sort of. At 125 pounds, redshirt freshman Andy Pokorny scratched because of illness, and NU had to forfeit. At 184, Levi Wofford wrestled instead of Vince Jones and, under the circumstances, scored an impressive 15-3 major decision that included nine back points.
Fourth-ranked Brester had a quick night at 197, pinning UTC’s Ethan Winel in two minutes, 45 seconds. Brester had a takedown 19 seconds into the match, and finally worked Winel to his back for the fall just before the first period had ended. Brester joked he was trying win swiftly Thursday as his former high school, Howells, was playing a state championship football game in nearby Memorial Stadium.
“The old man told me to make it quick,” Brester said. “…You just take what’s there. I saw an opening there, and I took it, and it worked out. It’s always nice to get done early.”
No. 3 Brandon Browne shrugged off what he called a slow start to take a 12-6 decision UTC freshman Jason McCroskey, who came into the match 6-0. Browne busted an 8-5 match with a reversal late in the second period.
“As the match went on, I got more comfortable,” Browne said. “I had to relax and started doing what I do best, the points would start coming.”
At 165, Stephen Dwyer handled the Mocs’ Seth Garvin 9-3 in a defensive match. Nebraska’s Tucker Lane scored a 5-3 win over Cody Sliger thanks to a reversal early in the third period.
The Huskers’ two losses of the night were 141 and 149 pounds. At 141, Curtis Salazar held a 3-2 lead over fourth-ranked Cody Cleveland after one period, but Cleveland scored the pin just 38 seconds into the third period after Manning said Salazar got “a little tentative.” Brian Litch lost at 149 pounds to Dan Waddell 11-4. Waddell had six takedowns and a point for riding time.
Nebraska next heads to Omaha for the Kaufman-Brand Open on Nebraska-Omaha’s campus. Wrestlers from many of the nation’s top programs, including Iowa and Iowa State, will be there.
“It’ll be a grind,” Brester said. “A long day.”
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The sixth-ranked Cornhuskers unveiled an altered lineup Thursday in front of 598 fans at the NU Coliseum, moving one of their best wrestlers, junior Jordan Burroughs, from 149 pounds to 157. That means Chris Hacker and Robert Sanders, slated to battle for wrestling time at 157, will drop a weight instead vie for position there.
Burroughs, ranked No. 3 nationally, kicked off competing at his new weight by dominating No. 19 Joey Knox in a 17-7 major decision that included seven takedowns.
“Jordan had grown into a big 149-pounder,” NU Coach Mark Manning said. “So he’ll go at 157 for us. We made that decision earlier in the week. It’s gonna be good for us. Really Chris Hacker and Robert Sanders are 149-pounders.”
The move takes Burroughs out of a ultra-competitive weight class that included Iowa’s Brent Metcalf – who beat Burroughs last year – and puts him in a more wide-open national race.
“It kinda bothers me a little bit, knowing I was a 149-pounder last year,” Burroughs said after the match. “I’m just doing what’s better for myself, so I’m not really thinking about what anyone else thinks. It’s my decision. I’m just doing what’s healthy for me, and what makes me feel strong.”
The rest on Thursday was business as usual. Sort of. At 125 pounds, redshirt freshman Andy Pokorny scratched because of illness, and NU had to forfeit. At 184, Levi Wofford wrestled instead of Vince Jones and, under the circumstances, scored an impressive 15-3 major decision that included nine back points.
Fourth-ranked Brester had a quick night at 197, pinning UTC’s Ethan Winel in two minutes, 45 seconds. Brester had a takedown 19 seconds into the match, and finally worked Winel to his back for the fall just before the first period had ended. Brester joked he was trying win swiftly Thursday as his former high school, Howells, was playing a state championship football game in nearby Memorial Stadium.
“The old man told me to make it quick,” Brester said. “…You just take what’s there. I saw an opening there, and I took it, and it worked out. It’s always nice to get done early.”
No. 3 Brandon Browne shrugged off what he called a slow start to take a 12-6 decision UTC freshman Jason McCroskey, who came into the match 6-0. Browne busted an 8-5 match with a reversal late in the second period.
“As the match went on, I got more comfortable,” Browne said. “I had to relax and started doing what I do best, the points would start coming.”
At 165, Stephen Dwyer handled the Mocs’ Seth Garvin 9-3 in a defensive match. Nebraska’s Tucker Lane scored a 5-3 win over Cody Sliger thanks to a reversal early in the third period.
The Huskers’ two losses of the night were 141 and 149 pounds. At 141, Curtis Salazar held a 3-2 lead over fourth-ranked Cody Cleveland after one period, but Cleveland scored the pin just 38 seconds into the third period after Manning said Salazar got “a little tentative.” Brian Litch lost at 149 pounds to Dan Waddell 11-4. Waddell had six takedowns and a point for riding time.
Nebraska next heads to Omaha for the Kaufman-Brand Open on Nebraska-Omaha’s campus. Wrestlers from many of the nation’s top programs, including Iowa and Iowa State, will be there.
“It’ll be a grind,” Brester said. “A long day.”
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