 "Photo: Daily Nebraskan 2009")
It was a good week to be Craig Brester.
After the Howells, Neb., native took down rivals Max Askren of Missouri and Jake Varner of Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference Championships, the accolades kept coming.
On Monday, Brester was named Wrestler of the Week by recruiting Web site TheMat.com after wins over No. 4 Askren and top-ranked Varner.
With his performance on Saturday at the NU Coliseum, the Nebraska junior improved his season record to 29-3. Of those 29 wins, Brester scored bonus-point victories 21 times, earning the nickname “Bonus-Point Brester” from teammates.
After the conference championship, NU coach Mark Manning said the 197-pounder’s work ethic and dedication has been a big contributor to the Cornhuskers’ journey.
Nebraska is set to take six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships: Jordan Burroughs at 157 pounds, Stephen Dwyer at 165, Brandon Browne at 174, Vince Jones at 184, Brester at 197 and Tucker Lane at heavyweight.
“We want to have some guys be national champions,” Manning said. “That’s the ultimate (goal). Obviously, that’s tough.”
The team is still waiting to find out if any of its four lighter weight wrestlers will be granted a wild card bid.
Senior Rob Sanders at 149 pounds and sophomore Matt Vacanti at 133 pounds have both been on the tournament bubble all season. Manning said he thought it may be possible that redshirt freshman Andy Pokorny would have a chance because of the tough schedule the 125-pounder has faced.
Last year, the Huskers took eight wrestlers to the national tournament, finishing fourth place in the team standings.
This year, the return of four All-Americans from last year’s squad and the improvement shown by Jones and redshirt freshman Lane have the Nebraska sitting in a good position heading into the National Championships.
“They know what’s ahead,” Manning said. “We have a very mature group. They understand.”
Be the first to comment on this article!