NU wrestlers seek improvement after losses in duels

After escaping with two thrilling victories Saturday at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Duels, the NU wrestling team wasn't able to replicate the feat Sunday. The Cornhuskers lost two duels to the top two teams in nation: Iowa and Iowa State.

Down by four in the consolation finals, heavyweight Tucker Lane needed a major decision to rally the Huskers over the Cyclones. Lane took an early lead and nearly pinned ISU's Dave Zabriskie, the nation's third-ranked heavyweight wrestler. The redshirt freshman came away with a  7-6 decision, good for only three points.

The Huskers fell 20-19 to the Cyclones, netting the team a fourth-place finish in the duels.


Lane said that the team wasn't satisfied with the weekend.

"We are never satisfied," Lane said. "Even if we had won this tournament, we wouldn't have been satisfied with it."


Lane said he didn't think the losses would affect the Huskers much.


"We use it as motivation," Lane said. "We know that we have to get better. Not getting too high or too low. Use every win and every loss as a learning experience to help us in the long run."


Nebraska lost its first two duels of the season last weekend, ending with an 8-2 record on the season.


The redshirt freshman played a key part in both of the Huskers victories on Saturday. Trailing Northwestern in the opening duel, Lane's 8-5 decision gave the Huskers three points and a 19-18 victory.

Against Penn State, a technical fall by 197-pound Craig Brester gave the Huskers a 17-16 lead. In the duel's final match, it was Lane again that produced a 4-2 decision to advance Nebraska to the semifinals with a 20-16 win.


In the semifinals, Nebraska fell to No. 1-ranked Iowa. The Hawkeyes dominated the Huskers' lower weight classes until Jordan Burroughs won the 157-pound match.

Down 13-5, Stephen Dwyer fell 3-2 to third-ranked Ryan Morningstar at 165 pounds. The loss ended any realistic chance of a Nebraska comeback.


At 174 pounds, Brandon Browne won a personally meaningful match over Iowa's Jay Borschel, who defeated Browne for third-place at the NCAA Championships last season.


Browne said he was confident going into the match.


"I know exactly how he wrestles," Browne said. "Mainly, it was just about doing the right things at the right moments. I got down early, but I was able to keep the pressure on and score some points."


Browne and Burroughs were the only wrestlers that went undefeated over the weekend. Each wrestler is ranked second in his respective weight class. They carried the weight of the team on their shoulders.


"I think someone told me we were out-scored in the lower weights 58-3," Browne said. "It really sucks to battle back. You can't make any mistakes, there can't be any upsets. We are very strong in the upper weight classes. Every time we got down, we knew what to do. Our coach would come over and tell us ‘We win out, and we win.' When it gets to that point you can't think about the team, you have to go out and win your match. We were able to do it the first two duels."


Burroughs didn't mind the pressure. He looks forward to it.


"It's not really pressure on me," Burroughs said. "I know what I have to do for the team: Always wrestle my best. I mean, it's a great feeling to be a leader of the team that's going to get points for our team. I like to lead by example; it's a great feeling. I like to go out there and win for the team."


Burroughs wasn't happy where the Huskers finished Sunday, but he does like where the team is headed.


"We are always getting better," Burroughs said. "We are working hard every day. This weekend is going to give us a lot of stuff to work on and come back this weekend in better shape and more prepared for our next opponent."


mikeschaefer@dailynebraskan.com