Coach Manning cites lower weights as needing improvement

Nebraska wrestling coach Mark Manning would put his upper weight classes against anyone in the country.

It's the four lower weight classes that have him worried.

"Obviously, we have a lot of room for improvement," Manning said. "We won one match out of four weight classes. From 157 through heavyweight, it put us in a tough situation. It shows a lot of resiliency as far as our team goes, but we have to get better. We have to get more competitive.

"We have a couple guys at 133, Patrick Aleksanyan and Matt Vacanti, one of those guys has to step up. Same thing at 141, Jon Burns and Curtis Salazar. We have to get those guys performing at a higher level than they are right now."

Vacanti has spent most of the season battling back from a torn ACL that ended his season last year. The year off was frustrating for him.

"I wanted to get better and I wanted to wrestle with these guys and I couldn't because I was hurt," Vacanti said.

He's back from his ACL tear but is now battling teammate Aleksanyan for a roster spot. Vacanti said there's no resentment between the two.

"That all gets left in the room," Vacanti said. "Me and Patrick are going to fight every day. We can only send one guy out and we want that guy winning."

Teammate Curtis Salazar is no stranger to Vacanti's position. The junior from Colorado is in a battle for the 141-pound spot after the coaches removed Jon Burn's redshirt when Salazar was out with a rib injury. Salazar doesn't spend much time thinking about the competition.

"I just focus on myself and do what I can for the team," Salazar said. "If I'm out there, I'm out there."

He doesn't want anything given to him, either.

"I think we should have to earn the spot."

Manning will do exactly that at both 133 and 141 pounds. He expects to continue to rotate the wrestlers until he feels comfortable with one. The key is for each wrestler to gain experience.

"I think we have given some guys chances at 133 and 141," Manning said. "It is all about gaining some experience. It is just giving them some time to see what they can do against quality opponents. See who kind of steps up and rises up. When the lights come on, see what they do. You never really know about a guy until the lights are on.

"We have some good, talented guys there, now we just have to put it together. You only get confidence and gain that experience by getting out there."

Manning doesn't think the competition will affect the wrestlers negatively.

"There comes a point in anyone's career when you have some competition in the wrestling room," Manning said. "It is going to make you better. It is going to push you to make you better and that is what we want. We want some competition. We want to see people step it up a notch and be competitive."

Nebraska's non-conference schedule continues Sunday as the Huskers take on South Dakota State before facing off against Maryland later in the day.

Vacanti knows his time is coming. He's gone through enough ups and downs this year.

"I'm trying to turn the corner to help my team," Vacanti said. "I've just got to take care of what I'm doing wrong. I have to focus on the things I'm doing right and wrong that are causing us to lose."

mikeschaefer@dailynebraskan.com