2008 Woodie Awards
Huskers to end regular season against No. 6 ISU
Dana Marie Ahrens
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Sports
The 2007-2008 dual schedule will come to an end in Ames, Iowa, on Sunday.
The No. 2-ranked Cornhusker wrestling team will go head-to-head against No. 6 Iowa State at 2 p.m. After last weekend's competition in New Jersey, the Huskers have improved to 14-2 on the season.
NU Coach Mark Manning said the team is prepared for the matchup against the Cyclones, who stand with a record of 15-4 and 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference. He said the matches are going to be neck-and-neck.
"This is going to be a really tough dual meet," Manning said. "They stack up real well against us, so there is going to be a lot of great matches."
On Sunday, Nebraska has a chance to make school history in the dual. In 98 years, the Huskers have never finished undefeated in conference play. The Huskers stand at 3-0 in the conference.
NU has nine wrestlers ranked nationally in the top 20. The Cyclones boast eight.
No. 7-ranked NU sophomore, Craig Brester was honored as the wrestler of the week on TheMat.com and in the Big 12 Conference. He will face No. 18 David Bertolino of ISU. In last year's dual, Brester won one of the three matches the Huskers captured out of 10. He is the only returner who got a win for the team.
NU No. 10 sophomore Kenny Jordan at 133 pounds will face No. 6 Nick Fanthorpe. In 2007, Fanthorpe wrestled at 125 pounds and upset NU's soon-to-be national champion Paul Donahoe with a 6-3 decision.
Jordan said he has been wrestling since he was four years old, so the nerves won't be much of a factor this weekend. After all, he said, the sport is too tough to get nervous.
Since the end of the season is coming quickly, Jordan said the team is hoping to peak as it heads into postseason play.
"It seems like everyone is starting to come around," Jordan said. "We are just hoping for the best."
NU junior and No. 13-ranked Vince Jones at 184 pounds said he is prepared to face Iowa State's No. 1 undefeated sophomore, Jake Varner. In order for Jones to win on Sunday, he said he needs to wrestle his pace and keep an upper position. Jones said he is going to need to be "hyped" up going against the No. 1 wrestler in the nation.
"I think it is just like any other match," Jones said. "I need to stick to the game plan and wrestle my match."
Because NU has gone undefeated since the national duals in early January, Jones said the team morale is high right now.
The matches are big ones for Jones and Jordan, Manning said.
"They are both wrestling with good confidence right now," Manning said. "They are looking forward to the end of the year."
Manning said the wrestlers have fed off each other for momentum during duals throughout the season. Now they are working for their goals to make it to the end of the season.
If they do well, it will likely be recognized Sunday.
"It is going to be exciting," Manning said. "We are going to be ready for it."
danaahrens@dailynebraskan.com
The No. 2-ranked Cornhusker wrestling team will go head-to-head against No. 6 Iowa State at 2 p.m. After last weekend's competition in New Jersey, the Huskers have improved to 14-2 on the season.
NU Coach Mark Manning said the team is prepared for the matchup against the Cyclones, who stand with a record of 15-4 and 2-1 in the Big 12 Conference. He said the matches are going to be neck-and-neck.
"This is going to be a really tough dual meet," Manning said. "They stack up real well against us, so there is going to be a lot of great matches."
On Sunday, Nebraska has a chance to make school history in the dual. In 98 years, the Huskers have never finished undefeated in conference play. The Huskers stand at 3-0 in the conference.
NU has nine wrestlers ranked nationally in the top 20. The Cyclones boast eight.
No. 7-ranked NU sophomore, Craig Brester was honored as the wrestler of the week on TheMat.com and in the Big 12 Conference. He will face No. 18 David Bertolino of ISU. In last year's dual, Brester won one of the three matches the Huskers captured out of 10. He is the only returner who got a win for the team.
NU No. 10 sophomore Kenny Jordan at 133 pounds will face No. 6 Nick Fanthorpe. In 2007, Fanthorpe wrestled at 125 pounds and upset NU's soon-to-be national champion Paul Donahoe with a 6-3 decision.
Jordan said he has been wrestling since he was four years old, so the nerves won't be much of a factor this weekend. After all, he said, the sport is too tough to get nervous.
Since the end of the season is coming quickly, Jordan said the team is hoping to peak as it heads into postseason play.
"It seems like everyone is starting to come around," Jordan said. "We are just hoping for the best."
NU junior and No. 13-ranked Vince Jones at 184 pounds said he is prepared to face Iowa State's No. 1 undefeated sophomore, Jake Varner. In order for Jones to win on Sunday, he said he needs to wrestle his pace and keep an upper position. Jones said he is going to need to be "hyped" up going against the No. 1 wrestler in the nation.
"I think it is just like any other match," Jones said. "I need to stick to the game plan and wrestle my match."
Because NU has gone undefeated since the national duals in early January, Jones said the team morale is high right now.
The matches are big ones for Jones and Jordan, Manning said.
"They are both wrestling with good confidence right now," Manning said. "They are looking forward to the end of the year."
Manning said the wrestlers have fed off each other for momentum during duals throughout the season. Now they are working for their goals to make it to the end of the season.
If they do well, it will likely be recognized Sunday.
"It is going to be exciting," Manning said. "We are going to be ready for it."
danaahrens@dailynebraskan.com
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