Five Huskers Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals

Tulsa, Okla. – Five Huskers advance to the 2023 NCAA Championship quarterfinals after claiming victories in their respective second round matches on Thursday evening. Seven qualifying Nebraska wrestlers remain alive as the team ends the first day in sixth with 15.5 points. 
 
Second Round 
No. 3 Liam Cronin (125) was the first Husker to earn a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals, using a trio of takedowns and a reversal to defeat No. 19 Braxton Brown (MD). The bout was scoreless through the first period, but Cronin tabbed his takedown in the second period and went on to score six points in the third period to secure the 8-4 decision. 
 
At 141, No. 4 Brock Hardy grabbed the 5-1 decision over Minnesota’s Jakob Bergeland. Hardy had a takedown in the first period and went on to add another in the third period, while securing the riding time point as time expired.
 
No. 3 Peyton Robb (157) was the third-straight Husker to advance, dominating No. 19 Garrett Model (WIS) with a technical fall in 5:40. Robb tallied 14 unanswered points in his second-consecutive technical fall. 
 
At 174, No. 2 Mikey Labriola moved on to quarterfinals with a hard-fought 3-1 decision over No. 15 Demetrius Romero (UVU). Romero held the 1-0 advantage after two periods, but Labriola prevailed with an escape and takedown in the final two minutes.
 
In a rematch of this year’s Big Ten Championships, No. 8 Silas Allred repeated as victor over Penn State’s No. 9 Max Dean. The grapplers were tied at two until Allred scored a takedown in the final seconds of the second period. An additional takedown at the end of period three and the riding time point gave Allred the 7-2 decision and a spot in the quarterfinals.
 
At 165, No. 25 Bubba Wilson fell to No. 9 Shane Griffith (STAN) in a 10-0 major decision and moved down to the consolation bracket. 
 
Cons. First Round 
No. 13 Lenny Pinto grabbed an early 4-1 lead in the first round of consolations with a pair of takedowns. Through the final periods, Pinto extended it with an escape and another takedown to defeat North Dakota State’s No. 29 Deanthony Parker, 7-1.
 
First Round 
In the opening round of the NCAA Championships, the Huskers saw six wrestlers advance in the championship bracket. Cronin (125), Hardy (141), Robb (157), Wilson (165), Labriola (174) and Allred (197) all tallied victories in their first matches to qualify for the second round. Pinto (184) battled, but fell and moved on to the consolation bracket. 
 
NCAA Championships
BOK Center | Tulsa, Okla. 
Sessions I – II
March 16, 2023
 
125: No. 3 Liam Cronin
First Round: No. 3 Cronin dec. No. 30 Antonio Lorenzo (POLY) 9-4
Second Round: No. 3 Cronin dec. No. 19 Braxton Brown (MD) 8-4
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Cronin vs. No. 27 Eddie Ventresca (VT)
 
141: No. 4 Brock Hardy 
First Round: No. 4 Hardy major dec. No. 29 Jordan Titus (WVU) 12-4
Second Round: No. 4 Hardy dec. No. 20 Jakob Bergeland (MINN) 5-1
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Hardy vs. No. 12 Parker Filius (PUR)
 
157: No. 3 Peyton Robb 
First Round: No. 3 Robb tech. fall No. 30 Jared Hill (OU) 15-0 (6:11)
Second Round: No. 3 Robb tech. fall No. 19 Garrett Model (WIS) 16-1 (5:40)
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Robb vs. No. 6 Daniel Cardenas (STAN)
 
165: No. 25 Bubba Wilson 
First Round: No. 25 Wilson dec. No. 8 Matthew Olguin (ORST) 3-1, SV-1
Second Round: No. 9 Shane Griffith (STAN) maj. dec. No. 25 Wilson 10-0
Cons. Second Round: No. 25 Wilson vs. No. 23 Connor Brady (VT)
 
174: No. 2 Mikey Labriola 
First Round: No. 2 Labriola dec. No. 31 Tyler Stoltzfus (LEH) 9-6
Second Round: No. 2 Labriola dec. No. 15 Demetrius Romero (UVU) 3-1
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Labriola vs. No. 7 Peyton Mocco (MIZ)
 
184: No. 13 Lenny Pinto 
First Round: No. 20 Neil Antrassian (UVU) dec. No. 13 Pinto 11-6
Cons. First Round: No. 13 Pinto dec. No. 29 Deanthony Parker (NDSU) 7-1
Cons. Second Round: No. 13 Pinto vs. No. 14 Will Feldkamp (CLAR)
 
197: No. 8 Silas Allred 
First Round: No. 8 Allred dec. No. 25 Michael Battista (UVU) 13-7
Second Round: No. 8 Allred dec. No. 9 Max Dean (PSU) 7-2
Quarterfinals: No. 8 Allred vs. No. 1 Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT)
 
Team Score (Points): 
1 Penn State (26.0)
2 Iowa (21.5)
3 Missouri (17.5)
4 Minnesota (16.5)
4 NC State (16.5)
6 Cornell (15.5)
6 Nebraska (15.5)
8 Michigan (14.5)
8 Ohio State (14.5)
10 Arizona State (13.0)
10 Virginia Tech (13.0)
10 Wisconsin (13.0)