Lovett Advances to Finals, Five Huskers Named All-Americans

Detroit – Ridge Lovett advanced to the finals and Peyton Robb, Mikey Labriola, Eric Schultz and Christian Lance joined Lovett with All-American honors. After two days of wrestling, Nebraska sits in fifth place with 54 points.

Nebraska’s five NCAA All-Americans ties for the most since 2008 and marks the fifth time the program has had 5 or more claim the honor. Since 2012, Nebraska has had at least two wrestlers receive All-America honors and the program has earned a total of 127 combined awards from 71 wrestlers.

Lovett faced Virginia Tech’s #11 Bryce Andonian Friday night in the semifinals. The Husker scored first in Period 1 with a takedown, but Andonian responded with a reversal. The two were tied 2-2 to start the second period and traded reversals to hold the tie, but Lovett grabbed the win as he secured the riding time point and will face top-seeded and undefeated Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell in the finals tomorrow night. 

Robb (157) started the night with his third pin of the season over NC State’s #4 Ed Scott (NCST). The junior scored a takedown and four near fall points before getting the fall at 4:36 to survive the Round of 12. In his next match, he met No. 17 Hunter Willits of Oregon State. Robb scored first with a takedown and recorded escapes in the first two periods to grab the 4-1 and a spot in the consolation semifinals. 

Labriola (174), Schultz (197) and Lance (HWT) all earned victories in the blood rounds and will wrestle for a seventh-place finish. Up first, Labriola grabbed the win over No. 20 Hayden Hastings of Wyoming. The junior recorded two takedowns and an escape for the 5-3 decision. In the consolation quarters, Labriola forced sudden death, but Iowa’s No. 5 Michael Kemerer prevailed with a 3-1 decision. Schultz also got a victory by decision in the Round of 12 as he defeated Virginia’s No. 17 Jay Aiello, 4-2. In the consolation quarters, Schultz (197) faced No. 7 Rockey Elam of Missouri. Elam got a takedown in Period 1 and Schultz responded with a pair of escapes to tie the match. In Period 3, Elam tallied an escape of his own and grabbed the 3-2 decision. Rounding out the group was Lance as he matched up with No. 18 Lewis Fernandes of Cornell in the Round of 12. The two were tied after Period 3 and Lance recorded a takedown in sudden victory to advance. The senior then faced No. 9 Lucas Davison of Northwestern where he fell by decision, 2-1.

Chad Red Jr. (141) and Taylor Venz (184) dropped their matches in the Round of 12 and wrapped up their run in the tournament. Red finishes the 2022 NCAA Championships 3-2 to make his career record at the championships 17-10. Venz’ 3-2 finish improves his overall NCAA post-season record to 14-8. 

Medal rounds begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and will be televised on ESPNU with individual mat camera streams available on ESPN3. 

Detroit –2022 NCAA Championships 

Detroit, Mich. | Little Caesar’s Arena  

Individual Results – Sessions III and IV

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 (4-0)

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

157 pounds: #10 Peyton Robb (5-1)

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

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 (3-1) 

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)

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 (3-2)

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

285 pounds: #12 Christian Lance (3-2)

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

Team Results (Top 10)

1 Penn State 108.0

2 Michigan 84.5

3 Arizona State 63.5

4 Iowa 62.0

5 Nebraska 54.0

6 Northwestern 49.0

7 Virginia Tech 48.0

8 Cornell 45.0

9 Missouri 42.0

9 Ohio State 42.0