B1G Recap: Five Huskers Advance to Semis

Lincoln, Neb. — The Nebraska wrestling team sits in fourth place as five Huskers will wrestle in the semifinal bouts on Saturday evening after the first session of the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. 

Session 1 

Ridge Lovett dominated the 149-pound bracket, taking a 2-0 decision over Rutgers’ six-seed Mike Van Brill in the quarterfinals after winning his first match against Purdue’s Alec White, 8-1. 

At 157 pounds, Peyton Robb shut out Joseph Roberts (Illinois), 4-0, in the first round to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals. In his second match of the day, Robb upset the four-seed Kendall Coleman of Purdue in sudden victory, 6-4. 

Mikey Labriola (174) continued his regular-season success into the postseason with a 15-5 major decision victory over Nate Jimenez (Michigan State) in Saturday’s first round. In the quarterfinals, Labriola defeated Minnesota’s Bailee O’Reilly by medical forfeit to advance to the semifinals. 

At 184 pounds, Taylor Venz took down Purdue’s Max Lyon, 6-2, to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals. In his second match of the day, the senior picked up a 4-2 decision over Iowa’s Abe Assad. 

Top-seeded Eric Schultz will make his fourth Big Ten Championships semifinal appearance Saturday afternoon after defeating Ohio State’s Gavin Hoffman in a 3-1 decision in the quarterfinals. 

At heavyweight, Christian Lance defeated Purdue’s Michael Woulfe by decision, 7-2. The senior then met Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet in the quarterfinal bout and lost by decision, 7-1.

Bubba Wilson grabbed his first win of the day in the first round with a 5-1 decision over Minnesota’s Cael Carlson. In the quarterfinals, Wilson battled, but lost to the one-seed Carson Kharchla of Ohio State, 7-2.

Jeremiah Reno, Chad Red Jr. and Dominick Serrano fell in the first round of the championship bracket in the opening session. Reno (125) fell to four-seed Malik Heinselman (Ohio State), Red Jr. (141) dropped his matchup to Indiana’s Cayden Rooks and Serrano (133) fell to Northwestern’s Chris Cannon and all went on to the consolation bracket. In consolation, Reno fell to Jacob Moran of Indiana, Serrano received a bye and Red Jr. defeated Michigan State’s Matt Santos to advance. 

The Huskers finished the first session in fourth place with 47.5 points, 21 points behind first-place Michigan. 

Wrestling resumes Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. (CT) with wrestlebacks and semifinal matches to follow starting at 7:30 p.m. (CT). 

Big Ten Championships

Pinnacle Bank Arena | Lincoln, Neb.

Sessions I & II

March 5, 2022 

125 Pounds: No. 13 Jeremiah Reno 

First Round: No. 4 Malik Heinselman (OSU) maj. dec. Jeremiah Reno (NEB), 10-1

Cons. Second Round: No. 12 Jacob Moran (IND) dec. Jeremiah Reno (NEB), SV-1 13-11

133 Pounds: No. 10 Dominick Serrano  

First Round: No. 7 Chris Cannon (NU) dec. Dominick Serrano (NEB), 7-3

Cons. Second Round: Bye

141 Pounds: No. 4 Chad Red Jr.  

First Round: No. 13 Cayden Rooks (UI) dec. Chad Red Jr. (NEB), 9-8

Cons. Second Round: Chad Red Jr. (NEB) pinned No. 12 Matt Santos (MSU) (6:39)

149 Pounds: No. 3 Ridge Lovett  

First Round:  Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. No. 14 Alec White (PUR), 8-1

Quarterfinals: Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. No. 6 Mike Van Brill (RUT), 2-0

157 Pounds: No. 5 Peyton Robb 

First Round:  Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. No. 12 Joseph Roberts (ILL), 4-0

Quarterfinals: Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. No. 4 Kendall Coleman (PUR), SV-1 6-4

165 Pounds: No. 8 Bubba Wilson 

First Round:  Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. No. 9 Cael Carlson (MINN), 5-1

Quarterfinals: No. 1 Carson Kharchla (OSU) dec. Bubba Wilson (NEB), 7-2

174 Pounds: No. 3 Mikey Labriola 

First Round:  Mikey Labriola (NEB) maj. dec. No. 14 Nate Jimenez (MSU), 15-5

Quarterfinals: Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. No. 6 Bailee O’Reilly (MINN), Inj. (3:27)

184 Pounds: No. 4 Taylor Venz 

First Round: Taylor Venz (NEB) dec. No. 13 Max Lyon (PUR), 6-2

Quarterfinals: Taylor Venz (NEB) dec. No. 1 Abe Assad (IOWA), 4-2 

197 Pounds: No. 1 Eric Schultz

First Round:  Bye

Quarterfinals: Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. No. 9 Gavin Hoffman (OSU), 3-1

285 Pounds: No. 6 Christian Lance 

First Round: Christian Lance (NEB) dec. No. 11 Michael Woulfe (PUR), 7-2

Quarterfinals: No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) dec. Christian Lance (NEB), 7-1