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Lovett and Hardy B1G Champs, Huskers Take Second

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Lovett and Hardy B1G Champs, Huskers Take Second
Huskers.com

Evanston, Ill. - Ridge Lovett (149) and Brock Hardy (141) claimed Big Ten Championships on Sunday evening, highlighting the Nebraska wrestling campaign for its second-place team finish. The Huskers wrapped the two-day tournament with 137 points, the most ever recorded by Nebraska in a conference tournament.

Lovett secured his second-straight title, the first Husker to do so since Robert Kokesh in 2014 and 2015. Lovett and Hardy’s wins made the duo the first in 11 years to bring home multiple champions for the Big Red (2014 - James Green and Kokesh).

The runner-up Big Ten finish for the team is the highest since finishing second in 2020.

Four Huskers placed above their designated pre-seeds, No. 7 Camden McDanel in fifth, No. 3 Lenny Pinto in second and No. 3 seeds Hardy and Lovett taking home titles. Nine represented Nebraska on their respective podiums, and punched their tickets for the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pa., with automatic qualifications.

No. 7 Caleb Smith opened the championship bouts in Evanston, facing No. 8 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) in the final at 125. The Nittany Lion struck first, putting three on the board with a takedown in the first period. Smith used an escape to notch a point, and earned two more from PSU penalties, but with an extra escape from Lilledahl, the Husker fell after 7:00. Smith took two ranked wins en-route to his runner-up finish and will continue his postseason campaign in Philadelphia.

In the 141 final, No. 6 Hardy took on No. 8 Vance Vombaur (MINN). Hardy did not take long to strike with a takedown, but followed through to pin the Gopher in 1:59. The championship fall was the Husker’s fifth of the season, and his 50th career bonus-point win. Hardy leaves Evanston a Big Ten Champion, and an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championships.

Going for back-to-back Big Ten titles, Lovett met Kannon Webster (ILL) on the mat at 149. The pair tussled, but in the end an escape from the Husker made the decision after regulation. Lovett won by 1-0 decision, becoming the first Husker since Kokesh in 2015 to claim consecutive Big Ten titles. The senior’s victory in the final also made it the first time in 11 years that the Big Red had two champions.

In the third place match at 157, Antrell Taylor faced No. 7 Joey Blaze for the third time this season. It was a tight bout, as the pair forced overtime twice, but Blaze came out on top, defeating the Husker 3-2. Taylor finished fourth, claiming an automatic qualification for NCAAs.

At 174, Lenny Pinto took on No. 2 Levi Haines (PSU) in the championship bout. Haines scored early, and went into the third period with an 11-1 lead. No. 8 Pinto battled, but was not able to stop the No. 2, falling 12-1. The junior finished second, set to head to his third NCAA Championships later this March.

In the 184 fifth-place match, No. 7 Silas Allred battled No. 8 Gabe Arnold (IOWA). The Hawkeye got on the board first, to lead 4-0 as the pair went into the third period. Allred fought back, but Arnold stuck it out to win 4-3. The Husker ended his Big Ten campaign in sixth, and punched a ticket for Philadelphia.

To start day two, the Big Red had five wrestlers in session III, vying for higher possible spots on the podium. Heavyweight Harley Andrews was first on the mat in the 11th-place bracket. The Husker took on Filipovich (PUR) for the second time this season, and fell to the Boilermaker, this time in a 16-3 major decision. Andrews went on to wrestle Rosenfeld (WIS) and was defeated 10-3. The sophomore did not place at the Big Ten Championships, but could still make the trip to Philadelphia if he secures an at-large bid.

Taylor at 157 kicked off consolation semifinal action for Nebraska, up against the No. 1 seed Ethen Miller. The pair put up an even seven minutes, taking the bout to SV-1 tied 1-1. Taylor attacked the Scarlet Knight and used a dominant fall in 7:46, his fifth pin of the season, to secure the win and his spot in the third-place match.

At 184, Allred faced Smith (MD) in the consolation semifinal. The No. 11 Terrapin came out on top, defeating No. 7 Allred with a 4-2 decision. Freshman No. 20 McDanel met No. 18 Braunagel (ILL) at 197, but fell in another low-scoring, tight bout, as the Illini won by 2-1 decision. McDanel was slated to wrestle No. 2 Josh Barr (PSU) again in the 5th-place match, but the Nittany Lion lost via MFFL. The freshman Husker notched the 5th-place finish, and a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

At 165, Christopher Minto medically forfeited his seventh-place match. The redshirt freshman finished in eighth, with an automatic qualification for the NCAA Tournament. Jacob Van Dee also used a medical forfeit in his seventh-place match, after an injury in his last bout.

UP NEXT
The 2024-25 NCAA Championships will be held in Philadelphia, Pa., at the Wells Fargo Center, March 20-22. Session I is set to begin at 11 a.m. (CT) on Thursday.

Team Results/Final Standings:
1. Penn State (181.5 pts)
2. Nebraska (137.0 pts)
3. Iowa (112.0 pts)
4. Minnesota (108.5 pts)
5. Illinois (105.5 pts)
6. Ohio State (95.5 pts)
7. Michigan (71.0 pts)
8. Maryland (54.0 pts)
9. Rutgers (46.0 pts)
10. Purdue (44.5 pts)
11. Indiana (33.0 pts)
12. Northwestern (21.5 pts)
13. Wisconsin (19.0 pts)
14. Michigan State (11.5 pts)

No. 7 Caleb Smith (125) 2nd (2-1) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 19-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 19-5 won by tech fall over Dedrick Navarro (Northwestern) 19-12 (TF-1.5 6:05 (17-2))
Semifinal - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 19-5 won in sudden victory - 1 over Dean Peterson (Rutgers) 20-6 (SV-1 3-1)
1st Place Match - Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) 19-2 won by decision over Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 19-5 (Dec 4-3)

No. 15 Jacob Van Dee (133) 8th (2-3) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 14-9 won by major decision over Dustin Norris (Purdue) 8-12 (MD 12-4)
Quarterfinal - Braxton Brown (Maryland) 22-4 won by decision over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 14-9 (Dec 2-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 14-9 won by tech fall over Massey Odiotti (Northwestern) 14-16 (TF-1.5 4:34 (20-4))
Cons. Round 3 - Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) 21-6 won by injury default over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 14-9 (Inj. 1:05)
7th Place Match - Angelo Rini (Indiana) 20-9 won by medical forfeit over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 14-9 (M. For.)

No. 6 Brock Hardy (141) 1st (4-0) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 23-3 won by tech fall over Jaden Crumpler (Michigan State) 6-17 (TF-1.5 4:58 (17-1))
Quarterfinal - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 23-3 won by major decision over Joseph Olivieri (Rutgers) 18-8 (MD 11-1)
Semifinal - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 23-3 won by decision over Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) 25-2 (Dec 9-8)
1st Place Match - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 23-3 won by fall over Vance Vombaur (Minnesota) 23-4 (Fall 1:59)

No. 4 Ridge Lovett (149) 1st (4-0) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 20-2 won by tech fall over Royce Nilo (Wisconsin) 0-13 (TF-1.5 2:21 (19-4))
Quarterfinal - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 20-2 won by major decision over Andrew Clark (Rutgers) 22-13 (MD 13-2)
Semifinal - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 20-2 won by major decision over Kyle Parco (Iowa) 20-3 (MD 14-2)
1st Place Match - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 20-2 won by decision over Kannon Webster (Illinois) 14-6 (Dec 1-0)

No. 4 Antrell Taylor (157) 4th (3-2) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 22-4 won by tech fall over Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State) 5-16 (TF-1.5 2:50 (17-2))
Quarterfinal - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 22-4 won by decision over Joey Blaze (Purdue) 20-5 (Dec 4-3)
Semifinal - Tyler Kasak (Penn State) 17-1 won by fall over Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 22-4 (Fall 1:18)
Cons. Semi - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 22-4 won by fall over Ethen Miller (Maryland) 22-3 (Fall 7:46)
3rd Place Match - Joey Blaze (Purdue) 20-5 won in tie breaker - 1 over Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 22-4 (TB-1 3-2)

No. 8 Christopher Minto (165) 8th (2-3) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 19-5 won by decision over Jay Nivison (Michigan State) 10-15 (Dec 5-3)
Quarterfinal - Braeden Scoles (Illinois) 15-5 won by decision over Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 19-5 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 19-5 won by decision over Cody Goebel (Wisconsin) 10-9 (Dec 14-9)
Cons. Round 3 - Maxx Mayfield (Northwestern) 18-10 won by decision over Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 19-5 (Dec 8-1)
7th Place Match - Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State) 7-3 won by medical forfeit over Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 19-5 (MFFL)

No. 8 Lenny Pinto (174) 2nd (3-1) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 22-5 won by tech. fall over Aiden Vandenbush (Northwestern) 4-17 (TF-1 4:53 (21-6))
Quarterfinal - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 22-5 won by fall over Joseph Walker (Michigan) 12-9 (Fall 6:33)
Semifinal - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 22-5 won by decision over Dan Braunagel (Illinois) 12-9 (Dec 9-8)
1st Place Match - Levi Haines (Penn State) 20-1 won by major decision over Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 22-5 (MD 12-1)

No. 7 Silas Allred (184) 6th (3-3) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 19-6 won by fall over Dylan Russo (Wisconsin) 3-14 (Fall 2:46)
Quarterfinal - Edmond Ruth (Illinois) 13-7 won by decision over Silas Allred (Nebraska) 19-6 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 19-6 won by fall over Lucas Daly (Michigan State) 13-14 (Fall 1:50)
Cons. Round 3 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 19-6 won by medical forfeit over Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) 21-11 (MFFL)
Cons. Semi - Jaxon Smith (Maryland) 20-6 won by decision over Silas Allred (Nebraska) 19-6 (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match - Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 17-4 won by decision over Silas Allred (Nebraska) 19-6 (Dec 4-3)

No. 20 Camden McDanel (197) 5th (4-2) NCAA Qualifier
Champ. Round 1 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 20-11 won by fall over Remy Cotton (Michigan State) 11-11 (Fall 4:01)
Quarterfinal - Josh Barr (Penn State) 16-3 won by tech fall over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 20-11 (TF-1.5 4:05 (17-2))
Cons. Round 2 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 20-11 won by major decision over Gabe Sollars (Indiana) 15-11 (MD 16-8)
Cons. Round 3 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 20-11 won by decision over Evan Bates (Northwestern) 19-10 (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Semi - Zac Braunagel (Illinois) 14-6 won by decision over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 20-11 (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 20-11 won by medical forfeit over Josh Barr (Penn State) 16-3 (M. For.)

No. 23 Harley Andrews (HWT) DNP (1-3)
Round 1 - Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) 15-6 won by decision over Harley Andrews (Nebraska) 11-13 (Dec 6-4)
Cons. Round 1 - Harley Andrews (Nebraska) 11-13 won by fall over Gannon Rosenfeld (Wisconsin) 6-12 (Fall 4:38)
Cons. Round 2 - Luke Luffman (Illinois) 16-4 won by fall over Harley Andrews (Nebraska) 11-14 (Fall 6:04)
Semifinal - Hayden Filipovich (Purdue) 1-0 won by major decision over Harley Andrews (Nebraska) 0-1 (MD 16-3)
 
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