Detroit – Husker sophomore Ridge Lovett (149) ended his stellar run at the 2022 NCAA Championships with a runner-up finish, and the Nebraska wrestling team scored 59.5 points to claim fifth overall.
Lovett, the first Husker finalist since Tyler Berger in 2019, faced top-ranked and undefeated Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell. Diakomihalis scored first with a takedown in Period 1 before Lovett responded with an escape. Diakomihalis then scored three takedowns and an escape and Lovett trailed 9-3. In Period 3, Lovett tallied two escapes, but it was not enough as Diakomihalis claimed the 11-5 victory and his third National Championship title.
As a team, the Huskers’ fifth-place marks their first Top 5 finish since 2009 and ninth all-time. The Penn State Nittany Lions (131.5 pts) led all teams with five champions. Michigan (95.0 pts) took second place, while Iowa (74.0 pts) and Arizona State (66.5 pts) rounded out the Top 5.
Overall, five of the eight Huskers who competed this week earned All-America honors, which ties for the most since 2008. Additionally, Coach Manning has had three or more wrestlers claim this honor in seven of the last eight years.
Junior Mikey Labriola (174) became the third four-time All-American in Nebraska history, as he joined Husker greats Bryan Snyder and James Green.
Senior Eric Schultz (197) made his fourth NCAA Championships appearance this year and became a two-time All-American. He finished his Nebraska career with a 103-42 record. Fellow senior Christian Lance capped his career with the Huskers’ first All-American honor for the heavyweight since Tolly Thompson in 1997. Lance recorded his 100th career victory at the Championships and finished with a 101-41 career record.
The fifth and final All-American of the week was sophomore Peyton Robb (157) who climbed the consolation bracket and garnered NCAA All-American status for the first time.
Detroit –2022 NCAA Championships
Detroit, Mich. | Little Caesar’s Arena
Individual Results
141 pounds: #19 Chad Red Jr. (3-2) DNP
First Round: #19 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) dec. #14 Dresden Simon (CMU), 6-5
Second Round: #3 Sebastian Rivera (RUT) dec. #19 Chad Red Jr. (NEB), SV-1 7-6
Cons. Second Round: #19 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) dec. #13 Ian Parker (ISU), 7-5
Cons. Third Round: #19 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) dec. #21 Dylan Droegemueller (NDSU), 7-6
Round of 12: #8 Grant Willits (ORST) pinned #19 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) (3:45)
149 pounds: #10 Ridge Lovett (4-1) 2nd
First Round: #10 Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. #23 Jaden Abas (STAN), 4-2
Second Round: #10 Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. #7 Joshua Heil (CAMP), 8-1
Quarterfinals: #10 Ridge Lovett (NEB) pinned #2 Tariq Wilson (NCST) (4:16)
Semifinals: #10 Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. #11 Bryce Andonian (VT), 5-4
Finals: #1 Yianni Diakomihalis (COR) dec. #10 Ridge Lovett (NEB), 11-5
157 pounds: #10 Peyton Robb (6-2) 4th
First Round: #10 Peyton Robb (NEB) pinned #23 Markus Hatman (ARMY) (1:51)
Second Round: #7 Josh Humphreys (LEH) dec. #10 Peyton Robb (NEB), 8-5
Cons. Second Round: #10 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. #24 Doug Zapf (PENN), 3-2
Cons. Third Round: #10 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. #16 Brady Berge (PSU), 8-3
Round of 12: #10 Peyton Robb (NEB) pinned #4 Ed Scott (NCST) (4:36)
Cons. Quarterfinals: #10 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. #17 Hunter Willits (ORST), 4-1
Cons. Semifinals: #10 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. #3 Jacori Teemer (ASU), 6-4
3rd-Place Match: #1 David Carr (ISU) dec. #10 Peyton Robb (NEB), 7-2
165 pounds: #27 Bubba Wilson (1-2) DNP
First Round: #6 Cameron Amine (MICH) dec. #27 Bubba Wilson (NEB), 3-1
Cons. First Round: #27 Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. #22 Rodrick Mosley (GW), 3-1
Cons. Second Round: #12 Zach Hartman (BUCK) maj. dec. #27 Bubba Wilson (NEB), 13-3
174 pounds: #9 Mikey Labriola (4-2) 7th
First Round: #9 Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. #24 Joel Devine (ISU). 5-2
Second Round: #9 Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. #25 Gerrit Nijenhuis (PUR), 3-2
Quarterfinals: #1 Carter Starocci (PSU) dec. #9 Mikey Labriola (NEB), 6-1
Round of 12: #9 Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. #20 Hayden Hastings (WYO), 5-3
Cons. Quarterfinals: #5 Michael Kemerer (IOWA) dec. #9 Mikey Labriola (NEB)
7th-Place Match: #9 Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. #10 Clay Lautt (UNC), 3-2
184 pounds: #10 Taylor Venz (3-2) DNP
First Round: #10 Taylor Venz (NEB) dec. #23 Travis Stefanik (PRIN), 9-2
Second Round: #7 Kaleb Romero (OHST) dec. #10 Taylor Venz (NEB), 5-1
Cons. Second Round: #10 Taylor Venz (NEB) maj. dec. #24 Caleb Hopkins (CAMP), 10-0
Cons. Third Round: #10 Taylor Venz (NEB) dec. #17 Jeremiah Kent (MIZZOU), 3-2
Round of 12: #4 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec. #10 Taylor Venz (NEB), 7-5
197 pounds: #3 Eric Schultz (4-2) 7th
First Round: #3 Eric Schultz (NEB) maj. dec. #30 Cole Urbas (PENN), 15-6
Second Round: #3 Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. #14 Greg Bulsak (RUT), 4-3
Quarterfinals: #6 Jacob Warner (IOWA) dec. #3 Eric Schultz (NEB), 2-0
Round of 12: #3 Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. #17 Jay Aiello (UVA), 4-2
Cons. Quarterfinals: #7 Rockey Elam (MIZZ) dec.#3 Eric Schultz (NEB), 3-2
7th-Place Match: #3 Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. #14 Greg Bulsak (RUT), 3-2
285 pounds: #12 Christian Lance (3-3) 8th
First Round: #12 Christian Lance (NEB) dec. #21 Tyrie Houghton (NCST), 3-2
Second Round: #12 Christian Lance (NEB) dec. #5 Wyatt Hendrickson (AF), 5-4
Quarterfinals: #4 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) dec. #12 Christian Lance (NEB), 7-1
Round of 12: #12 Christian Lance (NEB) dec. #18 Lewis Fernandes (COR), SV-1 4-2
Cons. Quarterfinals: #9 Lucas Davison (NU) dec. #12 Christian Lance (NEB), 2-1
7th-Place Match: #3 Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) dec. #12 Christian Lance (NEB), 2-0
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