Meets garner easy wins for NU grapplers

A malfunctioning scoreboard was about the only thing that went wrong for the Cornhuskers wrestling team on Sunday.

Delays to fix the scoreboards stalled both duels, but the Huskers notched easy wins over South Dakota State and Maryland.

NU coach Mark Manning was worried about his team's focus coming off the national duels. He was particularly happy with the four pins the team scored against South Dakota State.


"You like pins because guys can lose focus, and it helps keep it rolling and keeps them focused on what they're doing rather than letting their mind wander," Manning said.


Nebraska dismantled the Jackrabbits, 43-3. Four matches ended with pins, including Vince Jones' pin in his match against South Dakota State. The pin gives Jones 10 for the season. It is his third career season of double-digit pins.


Manning said part of Jones' ability to get pins was his positioning. The other part isn't always something that can be coached.


"You've got to have a little killer instinct to you, and Vince has that, and it's really good," Manning said.


The other match of importance during the duel with the Jackrabbits came in the 125 weight class. Andy Pokorny scored his first win since Nov. 27 with a 12-5 decision over Alan Marvin.


"It was a good win over a pretty good kid," Manning said.


Even during his struggles, Pokorny had the confidence of his coach. Manning said Pokorny has taken his advice. 

"Take it one day at a time like I told him, one match at a time," Manning said. "We have nine duels after this, and we are going to keep building his confidence and keep putting him out there."


Nebraska defeated Maryland 26-13 in the second dual. Craig Brester's match with Hudson Taylor was the most highly anticipated match of the day.


Last year at the NCAA Championships, Brester lost a late lead to Taylor in the consolation championship, eventually losing in overtime.

On Sunday, it almost happened again.


Brester had a 4-1 lead going into the third period before an escape and takedown by Taylor tied the score.

But Brester refused to let his mind concede.


"Keep wrestling," Brester said. "Good things happen if you keep wrestling."


Brester did exactly that. He was able to perform a reversal late in the period to secure the win.

"After a loss like that in nationals, I've been looking forward to wrestling him again this year," Brester said.


Having faced Taylor before at the NCAAs, Brester knew what to expect out of his opponent.


"I definitely knew what he was going to do," Brester said. "I had the match where I wanted it last time. Be smarter and wrestle my position."


The other big match of the day took place in the opener. Nebraska's Stephen Dwyer defeated Maryland's Brian Letters 3-2 at 165 pounds. Dwyer lost a late lead before winning the match due to his riding time advantage.


Dwyer didn't feel that he wrestled as well as he could. He had never seen video on Letters, the Atlantic Coast Conference Champion at 165 pounds.


"I didn't really know what to expect," Dwyer said. "I may not have done everything as well as I liked to have done, but I won."


Nebraska's duel season continues with a home meet against Pennsylvania on Friday night.


mikeschaefer@dailynebraskan.com