Five Huskers Advance to Saturday’s Big Ten Semis

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Five Huskers will wrestle in the semifinals of their respective weight classes, as the Nebraska wrestling team sits in fifth place with 45.0 points after the first session of the 2023 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.

Quarterfinals:

In the first NU quarterfinal bout of the day, No. 2 Liam Cronin (125) used a big second and third period to defeat Maryland’s No. 7 Braxton Brown, 11-7. Brown held the 4-1 advantage at the end of the first, but Cronin had an escape and a pair of takedowns to grab the 6-5 lead entering the final two minutes. From there, Cronin attacked with two more takedowns and the riding time point to earn a bid to the semifinal.

At 149, No. 3 Brock Hardy went on to dominate Wisconsin’s No. 11 Joseph Zargo in the quarterfinal to earn a 12-0 major decision victory. In the first period, Hardy jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a takedown and four near-fall swipes. Continuing the momentum, Hardy recorded an escape, a takedown and two more nearfall points to stretch his lead. After securing the riding time point, he earned his spot in the semifinals during tonight’s session.

Top-ranked Peyton Robb (157) began his chase for a title with a 12-3 major decision over Northwestern’s No. 8 Trevor Chumbley in the quarterfinals. Robb showed a strong offensive performance throughout the bout, starting with a pair of takedowns, an escape and two near-fall points to take the 7-0 lead at the end of the second period. Chumbley recorded a third-period escape and takedown to put three points on the board. With a takedown, an escape and the riding time point in the third period, Robb got the major and will wrestle in the semifinal tonight.

At 174, No. 2 Mikey Labriola started his championship venture with a 5-2 decision over Iowa’s No. 7 Nelson Brands. In the first three minutes, Labriola opened with a takedown, while Brands recorded an escape. With an escape in the second period and a takedown in the third, Labriola grabbed his semifinals spot.

No. 2 Silas Allred (197) added a win in the quarters for the Big Red in a 6-2 decision over Ohio State’s No. 7 Gavin Hoffman. Allred tallied a takedown and an escape in the first two periods to go up 3-1. A Hoffman escape made it a one-point match, but Allred pulled away with another escape and the riding-time point to clinch the win.

In No. 7 Lenny Pinto’s quarterfinal match, he fell to Ohio State’s No. 2 Kaleb Romero in a narrow 4-3 decision. Pinto led for a majority of the match with a takedown and an escape. In the third period, Romero recorded an escape and a takedown to take control and win the bout.

Consolation First Round: 

In the first round of consolations, Burwick dropped a 3-1 decision to Purdue’s No. 13 Dustin Norris, Morton lost by 3-1 decision to Purdue’s No. 14 Jaden Reynolds in sudden victory and Emerson fell to Minnesota’s No. 11 Garrett Joles by decision, 3-1.

Wilson will wrestle in the second round of the consolation bracket after receiving a bye in the first round.

First Round:

Pinto (184) notched his fifth pin of the season in the first round, sticking Wisconsin’s No. 10 Tyler Dow in 1:46. That marked Pinto’s second-straight pin, as recorded a fall over 20th-ranked Anthony Montalvo in the Arizona State dual.

At 141, Hardy secured the first win of the meet for Nebraska, with a 6-0 decision over No. 14 Kal Miller from Maryland. Hardy got a takedown in the first period and an escape and takedown in the second to take the 5-0 advantage. At the end of regulation, Hardy earned the riding time point to add to his lead.

No. 12 Kyle Burwick (133), No. 11 Dayne Morton (149), No. 10 Bubba Wilson (165) and No. 14 Austin Emerson all battled, but fell in the first round and moved on to the consolation.

Big Ten Championships

March 4, 2023

125: No. 2 Liam Cronin

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinals: No. 2 Cronin (NEB) dec. No. 7 Braxton Brown (MD) 11-7

133: No. 12 Kyle Burwick

First Round: No. 5 Dylan Ragusin (MICH) dec. No. 12 Burwick (NEB) 10-4

Cons. First Round: No. 13 Dustin Norris (PUR) dec. No. 12 Burwick (NEB) 3-1

141: No. 3 Brock Hardy

First Round: No. 3 Hardy (NEB) dec.  No. 14 Kal Miller (MD) 6-0

Quarterfinals: No. 3 Hardy (NEB) maj. dec. No. 11 Joseph Zargo (WIS) 12-0

149: No. 11 Dayne Morton

First Round: No. 6 Michael Blockhus (MINN) pinned No. 11 Morton (NEB) (6:40)

Cons. First Round: No. 14 Jaden Reynolds (PUR) dec. No. 11 Morton (NEB) SV-1, 3-1

157: No. 1 Peyton Robb

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinals: No. 1 Robb (NEB) maj. dec. No. 8 Trevor Chumbley (NU) 12-3

165: No. 10 Bubba Wilson

First Round: No. 7 Caleb Fish (MSU) pinned No. 10 Wilson (NEB) (4:45)

Cons. First Round: Bye

174: No. 2 Mikey Labriola

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinals: No. 2 Labriola (NEB) dec. No. 7 Nelson Brands (IOWA) 5-2

184: No. 7 Lenny Pinto

First Round: No. 7 Pinto pinned No. 10 Tyler Dow (WIS) (1:46)

Quarterfinals: No. 2 Kaleb Romero (OSU) dec. No. 7 Pinto 4-3

197: No. 2 Silas Allred

First Round: Bye

Quarterfinals: No. 2 Allred (NEB) dec. No. 7 Gavin Hoffman (OSU) 6-2

HWT: No. 14 Austin Emerson

First Round: No. 3 Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) maj. dec. No. 14 Emerson (NEB) 10-0

Cons. First Round: No. 14 Emerson (NEB) vs. No. 11 Garrett Joles (MINN)

Team Score (Points):

Iowa – 63.5

Penn State – 63.5

Minnesota – 52.0

Ohio State – 45.5

Nebraska – 45.0

Michigan – 43.0

Northwestern – 25.0

Wisconsin – 23.0

Indiana – 18.0

Michigan State – 16.5

Illinois – 15.5

Purdue – 15.5

Maryland – 6.5

Rutgers – 4.0