On the third floor of Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, the 2007-08 Nebraska wrestling team hosted its annual postseason banquet. Team and staff were honored for the hard work put into the school's most successful season in more than a decade.
"I think our guys understand that we had a great year," NU Coach Mark Manning said. "We made a lot of strides in a lot of ways. We achieved a lot of things."
Associate athletic director Bob Burton recognized the team's success with its second-place finish in the Big 12 Conference Championships and fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, its highest since 1993.
NU junior Paul Donahoe - the 2008 Big 12 champion and All-American at 125 pounds - was given the Spirit of Excellence award. Winning third-place honors at nationals, Donahoe said he may have fallen short this year after losing to Minnesota's Jayson Ness in the semifinals by a 4-3 decision. He said he was prepared mentally and physically, but the 10 seconds he stopped wrestling cost him his second straight national championship title.
Next year will be his last chance, and Donahoe said it will be a good one.
"I still got one more shot, got one more season left," Donahoe said, "and me and the coaches are on the same page."
In Donahoe's four years at Nebraska, he said this team has been unlike any other. Now the Huskers believe a championship is within their reach.
"I've known we've had a tough team since the day I got here," Donahoe said. "But the guys believe now."
Two NU seniors were recognized for their time and dedication put into the team. NU senior Jon May will graduate after five seasons with the Huskers. NU's Rob Plambeck will take his career into medical school next year and won't be returning as a Husker. Both departing wrestlers spoke about their memories at Nebraska and were given a framed Husker singlet for the senior awards.
NU's strength and conditioning Coach Jason Mester honored NU junior Craig Brester as the Lifter of the Year. He said Brester has never missed a practice. Assistant Coach Tony Ersland gave out the Most Dedicated wrestler award to All-American NU sophomore Stephen Dwyer for his competitive spirit. Jordan Burroughs was honored as the team's best Big 12 wrestler and won the Huskers' Outstanding Wrestler award after compiling a 34-6 record this season.
NU junior and two-time NCAA qualifier Vince Jones said the season helped him learn how to be consistent. Jones' pin over No. 2-ranked Roger Kish of Minnesota on Jan. 13 was shown in the wrestling highlight film. Jones said there may have been some big wins this season, but they still wanted to be the best.
"We took fourth this year," Jones said. "We are not going to settle for nothing less than a Big 12 title or to win the national championships."
With only two wrestlers leaving the team, Manning said the team will be a tough competitor next season.
"Our work ethic and commitment is going to be tremendous in the off-season," Manning said. "I think our guys have a lot of unfinished business in their heads. They feel they can do greater things."
danaahrens@dailynebraskan.com
