Huskers Battle, But Fall to Michigan

After a hard-fought conference matchup against No. 3 Michigan, the No. 8 Huskers fell short 20-13. The Huskers finished the night with victories in four bouts including one major decision. 
 
The meet started at 149, where No. 8 Ridge Lovett faced Pat Nolan and provided the Huskers with their first victory of the night by a 11-3 major decision. Lovett had a takedown in the first period and a quick reversal and near fall points in the second period to take a 6-0 lead and remained in control throughout the final period. Each of Nolan’s points were from escapes. Lovett also scored a bonus point for his riding time.
 
No. 5 Peyton Robb (157) squared off with No. 13 Will Lewan for the first of seven ranked matches of the night. Entering the final period, Lewan was up 1-0 after an escape point. Robb had an escape in the third period to tie it and force a fourth period. Lewan outlasted Robb in overtime, with a takedown to win the match, 3-1.
 
No. 29 Bubba Wilson (165) upset No. 12 Cameron Amine in the third bout of the night and recorded his first top-20 win of the season. Heading into the final period, Wilson had a 3-2 advantage after a pair of escapes and a locked hands penalty against Amine. The Michigan wrestler had an escape to tie it, but Wilson answered with a takedown in the final ten seconds to secure the victory. 
 
In another ranked matchup, No. 5 Mikey Labriola (174) battled No. 6 Logan Massa. The two competitors are no strangers, as they wrestled for third at the Big Ten Championships last season. In that match, Labriola defeated Massa by a major decision. Midway through the third period, it was tied at one, with both wrestlers getting escapes. Massa had a takedown in the final moments of the match to get the 4-1 win.
 
In the 184 weight class, No. 9 Taylor Venz fell to No. 2 Myles Amine with an 8-2 decision. Amine had a takedown and reversal within the first two periods. Venz got within reach after a reversal in the third period, but Amine ultimately prevailed to bring Michigan its first lead of the night with a team score of 9-7.
 
No. 3 Eric Schultz (197) entered the meet with an undefeated dual record on the season, and he continued the streak with an 8-5 decision win over No. 10 Patrick Brucki. Michigan had the first takedown, but Schultz answered with a takedown and an escape to go up 3-2 in the first period.  Brucki recorded a pair of escapes, while Schultz had a takedown in the second period to enter the final period with a one-point lead. In the final period, Schultz had an additional escape and takedown to cap off the match and bring NU’s team score to a 10-9 lead.
 
No. 12 Christian Lance (285) faced his fourth-straight ranked wrestler when he wrestled No. 4 Mason Parris. Heading into the final period, the only point scored was an escape from Parris. Within the last minute, Lance had an escape of his own to tie it up, but Parris answered quickly with a takedown to prevail and win the match 4-1.
 
Next, freshman Jeremiah Reno (125) and Jack Medley grappled in the eighth match of the night. Three takedowns and near fall points put Medley up 8-2 after the first period. A reversal and a trio of takedowns increased Medley’s lead heading into the final period. In the 24-8 technical fall loss, each of Reno’s points were from escapes.
 
Coming off of his first Big Ten victory, Dominick Serrano wrestled No. 8 Dylan Ragusin. The match was tied at 2 going into the final period after a quick takedown from Ragusin and a pair of Serrano escapes. An escape and takedown in the third propelled Michigan’s Ragusin to a 6-2 decision.
 
In the final match of the night, four-time All-American Chad Red Jr. defeated No. 11 Stevan Micic. Red was the first to score with a takedown, but Micic responded with a takedown and escape to take the lead. A pair of escapes, a takedown and a point for riding time from Red brought him to his 7-3 decision. 
 
After the loss, the Huskers fall to 5-3 and 2-3 in the Big Ten, while Michigan improves to 9-1 and 5-1 in the conference.
 
NU is back in action this Sunday, Feb. 6 when it hits the road to take on top-ranked Penn State in University Park, Pa. Dual meet action will begin at 11 a.m. (CT) and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
 
#3 Michigan 20, #8 Nebraska 13
149: No. 8 Ridge Lovett (NEB) maj. dec. Pat Nolan (MICH), 11-3 (NEB 4, MICH 0)
157: No. 13 Will Lewan (MICH) dec. No. 5 Peyton Robb (NEB), 3-1 SV-1 (NEB 4, MICH 3)
165: No. 29 Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. No. 12 Cameron Amine, 5-3 (NEB 7, MICH 3)
174: No. 6 Logan Massa (MICH) dec. No. 5 Mikey Labriola, 4-1 (NEB 7, MICH 6)
184: No. 2 Myles Amine (MICH) dec. No. 9 Taylor Venz, 8-2 (MICH 9, NEB 7)
197: No. 3 Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. No. 10 Patrick Brucki 8-5 (NEB 10, MICH 9)
HWT: No. 3 Mason Parris (MICH) dec. No. 12 Christian Lance 4-1 (MICH 12, NEB 10)
125: Jack Medley (MICH) tech. fall Jeremiah Reno 24-8 (MICH 17, NEB 10)
133: No. 8 Dylan Ragusin (MICH) dec. Dominick Serrano 6-2 (MICH 20, NEB 10)
141: No. 8 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) dec. No. 11 Stevan Micic 7-3 (MICH 20, NEB 13)