Wrestling prepares for future opponents and upcoming competitions

With a 5-3 conference campaign in the rear view mirror, the No. 8 Nebraska wrestling team is preparing for its next opponent.

Problem is, the Huskers don't yet know who that will be.

"More than likely, we're going to probably hit Ohio State," NU coach Mark Manning said speculatively.

One thing is certain, though: NU has clinched a No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. Nebraska will compete in the Stillwater, Okla., regional beside No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 10 Wyoming, Boise State and Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The Stillwater Regional is the only one of the four around the nation to feature more than two top-10 schools.

"This is a tough regional," Manning said. "Ohio State's got a lot of good challenges for us, and if we were fortunate enough to hit Wyoming or Oklahoma State, there again, a lot of good matchups."

The Huskers' first dual of the tournament will take place Sunday afternoon against the winner of the Ohio State/Boise State dual in the morning. NU has already wrestled both teams this season, defeating the Broncos 34-3 and the Buckeyes 18-16. Barring an upset in that matchup, Nebraska will wrestle Ohio State.

"We've seen them before, so we just have to go out there and wrestle and hope we get a shot at Oklahoma State in the finals," Manning said.

Despite the tough competition, NU senior Josh Ihnen is approaching the duals like any other.

"I think the competition is going to be tough throughout the year," he said. "I'm just looking at it as another dual. Obviously we want to go down there and dominate and win that first dual, and then we'll worry about the second one after that."

If the Huskers can advance past their first contest, they will meet regional host Oklahoma State, Wyoming or Chattanooga in the final. The winner of the regional will advance to the National Duals Final Four.

To Ihnen and his teammates, the tournament represents a stepping stone toward meeting their ultimate goal in March.

"I think that this is the time of the year when we definitely need to step up, and I think that we're going to do a good job of that," Ihnen said. "I think the coaches have us ready to make this push in this crunch time of the season. It's exciting."

Manning said with the final, and most prominent portion of the season waiting just around the corner, it is crucial for his team to realize the importance of the duals happening now.

"Right now the guys know the end is close. We still have six weeks left, but it's coming up quickly," Manning said. "People are really going to remember what you did in March, but every week is important."

Ihnen knows how big the National Duals are.

"You've got to be ready to go. You can't go out there lackadaisical," he said. "There are going to be good teams."

And due to a change in the tourney's format, the event will not be as grueling physically as in the past, when teams would wrestle more than two duals in a day.

"Compared to the way it's been run in the past, this is probably less of a physical grind. In the past, you could wrestle a bunch of duals in a day. It's not any different than pretty much any other weekend for us," Ihnen said.

Manning said the duals could provide a valuable spike in confidence for his team.

"Every match is important because you never know when someone can turn it around. Maybe they lost to someone from Ohio State. Maybe they can turn a match around and then that builds confidence," he said. "And then next week, they can build off that. And then, all of a sudden, you go into Big Ten with some momentum, and then you win a couple rounds you're not supposed to."

The momentum that will carry a team for the rest of the season could start taking shape in the National Duals.

"You can set yourself up to be an All-American; be a national champion," Manning said. "That's what this weekend really entails."

zachtegler@dailyNebraskan.com