Huskers Overpower Tar Heels 27-6

LINCOLN – The No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team dominated No. 15 North Carolina allowing only six points and recording three-straight bonus point victories to defeat the Tar Heels (2-2, 0-0 ACC) 27-6 at the Devaney Center on Wednesday night. 
 
#17 Liam Cronin (125) started the night off strong for the Huskers with a takedown and an escape in route to a defeat of Spencer Moore by decision, 3-1. North Carolina then scored its only points of the dual as #30 Alex Thomsen (133) and #5 Chad Red Jr. (141) kept their matches close but lost by decision, and North Carolina took a 6-3 lead before Nebraska won the remaining seven bouts.
 
At 149, #14 Ridge Lovett continued his early season success as he upset No. 6 Zach Sherman by decision 4-3. Lovett is now 3-0 on the season.
 
The night’s most exciting match took place at 157 as #16 Peyton Robb followed suit and defeated defending national champion #2 Austin O’Connor, holding him to only two points in a 5-2 win by decision. Robb now holds an impressive 33-13 career record. 
 
Action continued as Bubba Wilson (165) battled Sonny Santiago recording an escape and a takedown on his way to a 3-2 win by decision. Returning three-time All-American #3 Mikey Labriola (174) made his season debut in an impressive fashion as he tallied a 3-2 win over #22 Clay Lautt, and the Huskers took a 15-6 lead with three bouts to go. 
 
The final three matches of the night saw the Big Red rack up its first bonus points. Two-time All-American #10 Taylor Venz (184) recorded six points in the first period on his way to a major decision victory over Hunter Queen. Fellow All-American #12 Eric Schultz (197) recorded his second win of the season with a dominating 16-3 win by major decision over Mark Chaid before #13 Christian Lance closed out the dual using a seven-point second period to earn a major decision over Brandon Whitman. 
 
NU (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) will return to action this Sunday at the Daktronics Open in Brookings, S.D. before the team travels to the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. on December 3.     
 
#9 Nebraska 27, #15 North Carolina 6
125: #17 Liam Cronin (NEB) dec. Spencer Moore (UNC) 3-1 (NEB 3, UNC 0)
133: #10 Jaime Hernandez (UNC) dec. #30 Alex Thomsen (NEB) 10-4 (NEB 3, UNC 3)
141: #13 Kizhan Clarke (UNC) dec. #5 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) 3-1 (UNC 6, NEB 3)
149: #14  Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. #6 Zachary Sherman (UNC) 4-3 (NEB 6, UNC 6)
157: #16 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. #2 Austin O’Connor (UNC) 5-2 (NEB 9, UNC 6)
165: Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. Sonny Santiago (UNC) 3-2 (NEB 12, UNC 6)
174: #3 Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. #22 Clay Lautt (UNC) 3-2 (NEB 15, UNC 6)
184: #10 Taylor Venz (NEB) maj. dec. Hunter Queen (UNC) 15-2 (NEB 19, UNC 6)
197: #12 Eric Schultz (NEB) maj. dec. Mark Chaid (UNC) 16-3 (NEB 23, UNC 6)
HWT: #13 Christian Lance (NEB) maj. dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC) 17-6 (NEB 27, UNC 6)