So NU is a solid 2nd, though it’s possible that OkSU overtakes us. NU could end up #1 but that won’t happen. PSU has all 10 wrestlers as all Americans, NU has 8 which is the most we’ve ever had.
NU has 3 in the title match and good matchups all.
This is by far the best showing for Nebraska wrestling.
Penn State already has the title wrapped up, their 12th in the last 14 years.
Penn State coach Cael Sanderson is now just 3 behind Iowa’s Dan Gable in NCAA national championships.
Yes. NU has a 15 point lead over OkSU for 2nd place. Both teams have 3 in the finals. PSU is 4 points from setting the record for points, and have two in the finals.
So far our point total would have won the team championship many years.
Andy
Andy may post a more comprehensive update, but Lovett and Taylor both won their championship matches and the Huskers finished in 2nd place at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
LJS link for those with LJS access:
I had to travel back home today
As Mike mentioned, NU wrestling finished in 2nd place, winning 2 of 3 finals matches.
We entered the finals with a remote chance of being passes for 2nd place. That didn’t happen.
We finished with 117 points, 8 All Americans and 2 national champions. 2nd place is our highest place, 6 AAs was the previous high and we had 2 NCs once in the early 80s.
Coach Mark Manning won the NCAA tournament coach of the year for 2025.
Overall, place winners were 197# Fr Cameron McDaniel (8th place). 125# Sr Caleb Smith, 133# So Jacob VanDee and 184# JR Silas Allred all took 7th. 165# Fr Chris Minto took 4th while 141# JR Brock Hardy took 2nd place. Champions were 149# Sr Ridge Lovett and 157# So Antrell Taylor.
The finals were all against known opponents. Hardy was 1-2 against his opponent, winning in the B1G tournament, Lovett was also 1-2 and Taylor was 2-1 against his opponent from Purdue
Barring transfers we will return 6 AAs next year. I don’t know if NU will add a high level transfer but the coaches may try.
Andy
Only two seniors is great. A great start for next year barring transfers. X was a buzz last night with all the Husker fans posting updates all evening.
Some more (mildly) interesting trivia from the NCAA wrestling championship:
125# champion, rFr Richardson from NC State was a 2 time runner up in HS in Illinois. Considering 3 and 4 time HS champs wash out at D1, that is a shock.
133# champion Byrd (Sr from U of Ill) has a 6’3 girlfriend, since he is maybe 5-7, their pictures are humorous.
184# champ Starocci (Sr from PSU) was a 5 time National Champ (won his first year in 2020 which didn’t count)
174# champ Hamiti and 285# champ Erikson (both Sr from OkSU) and #165 Sr Caliendo (runner up form Iowa) were AA transfers lured to their new schools by a serious about of NIL money. Erikson was a transfer from Air Force and will server after he completes is Masters this year.
The vast majority of the AA (80 in all) were personally congratulated by President Trump, talking and taking selfies. This was not Trump’s 1st time at the NCAA, I saw him there 2 years ago as well.
NIL money is getting pretty bad, it is going to be hard to keep high performers. Teams like Iowa, PSU, Mich and OkSU have a some deep pockets for NIL and have poached returning AA from other schools. This is a trend that will continue. Reportedly incoming FR PJ Duke (OkSU) was promised $6M in NIL money. NU is not in the top tier for NIL for wrestling but I hope they can get some cash coming in with this success.
I certainly expect someone like Richardson from NCState to get some unsolicited, unofficial offers from a big time school or three. Considering the champ from 2 years ago (Allariez from Northern Colorado) took an Olympic redshirt year last year and then lost in the R16 this year, you would almost be a fool not to take the $ when offered. I am lost nervous about Taylor from NU, 1st as a SO, there are very few teams that would not welcome him and open up the checkbooks.
Andy