LINCOLN, Neb. — The No. 8 Nebraska wrestling team, without three of its regular starters, battled No. 18 Purdue to the end but ultimately it was the Boilermakers (6-2, 1-0 Big Ten) who secured an 18-15 triumph in front of 1,702 fans at the Devaney Center on Friday night.
The meet started at 125. Jeremiah Reno squared off against No. 5 Devin Schroder. Schroder tallied a takedown in all three periods and claimed the technical fall.
Alex Thomsen (133) then took on Purdue’s Matt Ramos. Thomsen recorded an escape in the first period, but that was not enough as Ramos scored a takedown and an escape in the third period to record the 3-1 decision.
At 141, Tucker Sjomeling faced No. 25 Parker Filius in the third match of the night. Sjomeling recorded an escape in both the second and third period, but Filius tallied three takedowns and nearfall points in route to the 12-2 major decision.
No. 8 Ridge Lovett (149) put the Big Red back on track and recorded the first win for the Huskers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) of the night. Lovett, who faced Purdue’s Trey Kruse, attacked early with a takedown in the first period, while holding Kruse scoreless. In the final two periods, Lovett recorded two reversals, two more takedowns and secured the riding time point to grab the 10-3 decision.
Jevon Parrish got the start at 157 for the Huskers and continued the positive momentum. Parrish grappled Purdue’s Cooper Noehre to a scoreless first period. In the second, Parrish tallied an escape and a takedown, but Noehre responded and the wrestlers entered sudden death. Parrish persevered and scored a takedown to claim the 5-3 victory.
Bubba Wilson (165) followed suit as he tallied the third Husker win of the night and first Big Ten victory of his career. Wilson took down Hayden Lohrey in the first period, while holding Lohrey scoreless. In the second period, Lohrey grabbed an escape point, but Wilson finished with an escape in the third on his way to a hard-fought 3-1 decision victory.
No. 3 Mikey Labriola’s matchup with No. 21 Gerrit Nijenhuis at 174 was one of three bouts between ranked wrestlers on the evening. Nijenhuis attacked first with an early takedown, but Labriola responded with an escape. Labriola started the second period with another escape and a takedown of his own, but it was not enough as Nijenhuis tallied three points in the third period to claim the 6-4 decision.
Like Labriola, Taylor Venz (184) faced another ranked opponent in Purdue’s No. 23 Max Lyon. Venz found himself down early as Lyon recorded a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second period, while holding Venz scoreless. In the third, Venz fought back with a takedown, but fell by decision, 7-2.
At 197, No. 3 Eric Schultz remained undefeated in dual matches this season and kept the Huskers in the match as he faced No. 15 Thomas Penola. Schultz scored two takedowns and an escape in route to his 5-2 victory by decision.
In the final bout of the day, No. 11 Christian Lance (285) battled Michael Woulfe with the Huskers trailing 18-12 overall. They wrestled a scoreless first period before Lance took the lead in the second period with an escape and a takedown. Woulfe responded with an escape, but Lance finished out the match in the third period with three takedowns and a reversal on his way to the 11-4 victory by decision.
Up next, the Big Red travel to No. 13 Minnesota (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) to continue conference competition on Jan. 14. Wrestling from the Maturi Pavilion will begin at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on BTN and the Fox Sports App.
#8 Nebraska 15, #18 Purdue 18
125: No. 5 Devin Schroder (PUR) tech. fall Jeremiah Reno (NEB), 17-0 (NEB 0, PUR 5)
133: Matt Ramos (PUR) dec. Alex Thomsen (NEB), 3-1 (NEB 0, PUR 8)
141: No. 25 Parker Filius (PUR) maj. dec. Tucker Sjomeling (NEB), 12-2 (NEB 0, PUR 12)
149: No. 8 Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. Trey Kruse (PUR), 10-3 (NEB 3, PUR 12)
157: Jevon Parrish (NEB) dec. Cooper Noehre, (PUR), 5-3 SV-1 (NEB 6, PUR 12)
165: Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. Hayden Lohrey (PUR), 3-1 (NEB 9, PUR 12)
174: No. 21 Gerrit Nijenhuis (PUR) dec. No. 3 Mikey Labriola (NEB), 6-4 (NEB 9, PUR 15)
184: No. 23 Max Lyon (PUR) dec. No. 10 Taylor Venz (NEB), 7-2 (NEB 9, PUR 18)
197: No. 3 Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. No. 15 Thomas Penola (PUR), 5-2 (NEB 12, PUR 18)
HWT: No. 11 Christian Lance (NEB) dec. Michael Woulfe (PUR), 11-4 (NEB 15, PUR 18)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login