Five Top Five Seeds Highlight Nebraska’s Big Ten Championships Preliminary Seeding

Five Nebraska wrestlers received top five seeds in the preliminary seeding for this weekend’s 2021 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, the Big Ten Conference announced Tuesday afternoon. The two-day championship event is set to begin Saturday, March 6 from the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. and will be carried entirely on the Big Ten Network. 
 
Pre-seeds are determined by a vote by conference coaches and rank 14 wrestlers in all 10 weight classes. Nebraska received nine top ten pre-seeds. 
 
Eric Schultz, currently rated No. 1 in the nation at 197 pounds, earns the top seed at the conference championships for the Huskers. He becomes the first Nebraska wrestler since 2015 to earn a one-seed at the event. 
 
Both Liam Cronin (125 pounds) and Mikey Labriola (174 pounds) received No. 2 seeds for their respective weight classes. At 141 pounds, Chad Red Jr. enters the 2021 conference tournament seeded fourth. Christian Lance received a five-seed at heavyweight. 
 
Rounding out the top 10 seeds for the Huskers are Taylor Venz, Ridge Lovett, Peyton Robb and Caleb Licking. Venz received a sixth seed at 184 pounds while Lovett and Robb are seeded seventh at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively. Licking is the 10-seed at 157 pounds. 
 
Licking, Lance and Tucker Sjomeling, who is seeded 11 at 133 pounds, will make their first career appearances at the Big Ten Championships this weekend. 
 
Last season at the Big Ten Championships, NU earned its best conference championship result since 2009 and best as a member of the Big Ten Conference with a second-place finish. Led by a second-place finish from Schultz, five Huskers finished in the top three while the entire lineup clinched automatic bids for the NCAA Championships. Six members of last season’s Big Ten Championships lineup will wrestle at this year’s event. 
 
For the first time, the Big Ten Network will offer live linear and streaming coverage of the entire Big Ten Wrestling Championships. Session I begins Saturday, March 6 at 9 a.m. (CT) and Session II semifinals start at 6:30 p.m. (CT). The championship coverage continues Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT) with consolation matches on BTN+ and returns to BTN at 3 p.m. (CT) for the final bouts. Additional mat coverage can be streamed on BTN+ (additional subscription required) for every session. 

2021 Big Ten Wrestling Championships – Pre-Seeds

125 LBS.

1. Spencer Lee, Iowa
2. Liam Cronin, Nebraska
3. Malik Heinselman, Ohio State
4. Patrick McKee, Minnesota
5. Rayvon Foley, Michigan State
6. Eric Barnett, Wisconsin
7. Devin Schroder, Purdue
8. Michael DeAugustino, Northwestern
9. Dylan Ragusin, Michigan
10. Justin Cardani, Illinois
11. Robert Howard, Penn State
12. Jacob Moran, Indiana
13. Dylan Shawver, Rutgers
14. Zach Spence, Maryland

133 LBS.

1. Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State
2. Austin DeSanto, Iowa
3. Sammy Alvarez, Rutgers
4. Lucas Byrd, Illinois
5. Chris Cannon, Northwestern
6. Jack Medley, Michigan
7. Boo Dryden, Minnesota
8. Jordan Decatur, Ohio State
9. Jacob Rundell, Purdue
10. Kyle Burwick, Wisconsin
11. Tucker Sjomeling, Nebraska
12. Jordan Hamdan, Michigan State
13. Kyle Luigs, Indiana
14. Jackson Cockrell, Maryland

141 LBS.

1. Jaydin Eierman, Iowa
2. Nick Lee, Penn State
3. Sebastian Rivera, Rutgers
4. Chad Red Jr., Nebraska
5. Dylan Duncan, Illinois
6. Marcos Polanco, Minnesota
7. Dylan D’Emilio, Ohio State
8. Drew Mattin, Michigan
9. Parker Filius, Purdue
10. Cayden Rooks, Indiana
11. Danny Bertoni, Maryland
12. Matt Santos, Michigan State
13. Colin Valdiviez, Northwestern
14. Dominic Dentino, Wisconsin

149 LBS.

1. Sammy Sasso, Ohio State
2. Max Murin, Iowa
3. Griffin Parriott, Purdue
4. Yahya Thomas, Northwestern
5. Kanen Storr, Michigan
6. Michael Blockhus, Minnesota
7. Ridge Lovett, Nebraska
8. Mike VanBrill, Rutgers
9. Graham Rooks, Indiana
10. Peyton Omania, Michigan State
11. Beau Bartlett, Penn State
12. Drew Scharenbrock, Wisconsin
13. Christian Kanzler, Illinois
14. Michael North, Maryland

 157 LBS.

1. Ryan Deakin, Northwestern
2. Kaleb Young, Iowa
3. Brayton Lee, Minnesota
4. Kendall Coleman, Purdue
5. Brady Berge, Penn State
6. Will Lewan, Michigan
7. Chase Saldate, Michigan State
8. Garrett Model, Wisconsin
9. Elijah Cleary, Ohio State
10. Caleb Licking, Nebraska
11. Michael Doetsch, Maryland
12. Johnny Mologousis, Illinois
13. Luke Baughman, Indiana

165 LBS.

1. Alex Marinelli, Iowa
2. Dan Braunagel, Illinois
3. Ethan Smith, Ohio State
4. Cameron Amine, Michigan
5. Andrew Sparks, Minnesota
6. Joe Lee, Penn State
7. Peyton Robb, Nebraska
8. Jake Tucker, Michigan State
9. Nick South, Indiana
10. Gerrit Nijenhuis, Purdue
11. Jonathan Spadafora, Maryland
12. David Ferrante, Northwestern
13. Brett Donner, Rutgers
14. Josh Otto, Wisconsin

174 LBS.

1. Michael Kemerer, Iowa
2. Mikey Labriola, Nebraska
3. Carter Starocci, Penn State
4. Logan Massa, Michigan
5. Donnell Washington, Indiana
6. Kaleb Romero, Ohio State
7. Jackson Turley, Rutgers
8. Jared Krattiger, Wisconsin
9. Jake Allar, Minnesota
10. Drew Hughes, Michigan State
11. DJ Shannon, Illinois
12. Emil Soehnlen, Purdue
13. Troy Fisher, Northwestern
14. Philip Spadafora, Maryland

184 LBS.

1. Aaron Brooks, Penn State
2. Christopher Weiler, Wisconsin
3. Layne Malczewski, Michigan State
4. Owen Webster, Minnesota
5. John Poznanski, Rutgers
6. Taylor Venz, Nebraska
7. Max Lyon, Purdue
8. Zach Braunagel, Illinois
9. Nelson Brands, Iowa
10. Rocky Jordan, Ohio State
11. Kyle Cochran, Maryland
12. Jaden Bullock, Michigan
13. Jon Halvorsen, Northwestern
14. Santon Cantu III, Indiana

197 LBS.

1. Eric Schultz, Nebraska
2. Myles Amine, Michigan
3. Jacob Warner, Iowa
4. Cam Caffey, Michigan State
5. Lucas Davison, Northwestern
6. Thomas Penola, Purdue
7. Michael Beard, Penn State
8. Matt Wroblewski, Illinois
9. Gavin Hoffman, Ohio State
10. Billy Janzer, Rutgers
11. Garrett Joles, Minnesota
12. Jaron Smith, Maryland
13. Nick Willham, Indiana
14. Andrew Salemme, Wisconsin

 
285 LBS.

1. Gable Steveson, Minnesota
2. Mason Parris, Michigan
3. Tony Cassioppi Iowa
4. Luke Luffman, Illinois
5. Christian Lance, Nebraska
6. Trent Hillger, Wisconsin
7. Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State
8. Tate Orndorff, Ohio State
9. Christian Rebottaro Michigan State
10. Jack Heyob, Northwestern
11. Christian Colucci, Rutgers
12. Dorian Keys, Purdue
13. Rudy Streck, Indiana
14. Garrett Kappes, Maryland