Nebraska’s Brock Hardy has renewed passion for wrestling after stepping away from the mat

While eight of the 32-team tournament’s 10 weight classes were won by either first or second seeds, Hardy pulled off the biggest surprise by winning the 141-pound class as an eighth seed.

“We knew what he was capable of. That was not a shocker to us,” Nebraska coach Mark Manning said of Hardy, who pinned top-seeded Cole Mattin of Michigan in the quarterfinals and decisioned fourth-seeded Ryan Jack of North Carolina State in the semis. “It was a tough fight, but he was clearly the best guy there.”

Hardy is no stranger to winning titles. He was a four-time high school state champion in Utah and a five-time winner at the USA Folkstyle Nationals. Those titles came before he graduated from high school in 2018.

That’s when Hardy served a two-year mission in Rio de Janeiro for the Church of Latter Day Saints.

“It was an experience to step away. Up until my mission, all I thought about was wrestling,” Hardy said. “Stepping away from the sport, focusing on something else, something that’s bigger than me, really helped me mature mentally.”

Hardy, for instance, had to learn a new language. He said for the first six months, he lived with Brazilians who didn’t speak English. The mission ended up being cut short because of the COVID outbreak. At times it was hard, he said, but he calls it an enriching experience.

When it was over, it was time to turn his focus back to wrestling.

“When he went to Brazil after high school, he did no wrestling. Zero. No wrestling for two years,” Manning said. “He came back and that was the COVID year (when wrestling’s schedule was shortened by the pandemic).”

Once Hardy, who committed to Nebraska in high school, got into the Huskers’ wrestling room, he spent the past two years getting his competitive edge back. He trained with CJ Red, who was NU’s 141-pound starter for the past five years, and Ridge Lovett, an All-American at 149 last season.

“It was a process to become a competitor again, but it wasn’t a process to do the hard work,” Hardy said. “I’ve become a different wrestler since I was gone. I adapted what I’ve learned into my wrestling.”

Not surprisingly, Hardy was shaking off some rust early this season, losing two of his first three matches. But since then he’s won 13 straight, including five by pin. Manning said Hardy is just gaining momentum.

“He just has the feel for the sport,” Manning said. “He’s good on his feet, he’s good on top and bottom. His all-around wrestling skills are good, now he’s just perfecting them.”

Added Hardy: “I started the season slow, so it was good to go out (to Vegas) and get those victories and compete against some of the guys I’ll see later in the year at nationals. It was a great opportunity. I was glad the team and I were able to take advantage of it.”

Nebraska, with mostly a new lineup after featuring a senior-laden team last year, won the Cliff Keen title in a field that included 11 nationally ranked teams. Next up for NU is Sunday’s 2 p.m. dual at South Dakota State, which finished third at Cliff Keen. It’s Nebraska’s last meet before January.

Hardy said being away on the mission has given him a different perspective when he steps on the mat. He said there’s gratitude each time he gets to compete.

“There’s a lot of things I didn’t think about before,” Hardy said. “There’s a love for the sport that I didn’t have before.” ​