Nebraska’s trip to Chapel Hill, N.C., will be more than just a doubleheader of duals.
The Cornhuskers plan to take their Midwest work ethic and championship mentality to the East Coast, showing possible recruits and parents what Big Red wrestling is all about. NU head coach Mark Manning said the annual East Coast trip allows high school athletes to see where the program is heading and lets them know that Nebraska is a winning program.
“We recruit nationally, and we recruit out on the East Coast, so we want to allow our kids to wrestle close to their home state, if not wrestle in it,” Manning said. “To get their parents and their friends to be able to watch them, it’s real important we wrestle all over.
“It shows kids that we’re not afraid to wrestle anyone.”
Of the squad’s 29 members, four hail from the East Coast.
Most notably, starters Jordan Burroughs and Vince Jones from Sicklerville, N.J., have added to the team’s core talent. In addition, freshman Jon Burns from Apex, N.C., came out of his redshirt year to help the team at 141 pounds.
But Saturday’s stage will also host a familiar crowd as nearby parents plan to make the trip to Chapel Hill.
“It’s going to be kind of fun to go back to the East Coast,” Burroughs said. “My parents are coming down, so it should be interesting and exciting.”
Another wrestler getting the opportunity to shine in front of his parents will be sophomore Alex Ward from Davidsonville, Md. The 165-pounder is expected to get a start in place of junior Stephen Dwyer in NU’s opening dual against UNC-Greensboro.
While the Spartans don’t boast any ranked wrestlers according to InterMat’s Top 20, Nebraska won’t be taking any of their opponents lightly.
“You come here to wrestle,” Ward said. “You don’t come here really to be a back-up. Our (wrestling) room’s pretty competitive. Whenever coaches give me an opportunity to wrestle in the varsity lineup, it’s exciting.”
While Ward plans to make the most out of his opportunity on the mat, the experience will be especially sweet after his previous road dual to Mount Pleasant, Mich., ended with him sitting out of the lineup.
After Ward’s father, Kelly, flew in to surprise his son, a tight dual with Virginia Tech forced Manning to wrestle all of his starters. Chapel Hill will give Ward a second chance to wrestle, this time in front of both his parents.
“It feels good,” Ward said. “It tells me that coach has the confidence to put me out there, and that gives me confidence.”
Manning said he plans to get a solid effort out of each wrestler he brings and expects the newcomers to capitalize on the opportunity.
“Every match out is important,” Manning said. “They understand the sense of urgency. It’s all about getting out there and performing.”
davehoufek@dailynebraskan.com
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