NU Notes: Otabor, Petersen Break Javelin Records at Michael Johnson
Nebraska track and field wrapped up the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas on Saturday with two school records, two facility records and six event titles.
NU swept the top three spots of the women's javelin, behind a school record-breaking performance from Rhema Otabor. With a distance of 194-6 (59.28m), Otabor leads the NCAA. Maddie Harris finished as runner-up with a 183-3 (55.86m) and Mirta Kulisic claimed third with a distance of 171-4 (52.24m). All three throwers now rank in the top ten on the all-time list.
Arthur Petersen continued the javelin success on the men's side, breaking the 24-year-old school record with a 252-10 (77.08m) to place second. That is the sixth-best mark in the NCAA this season. Tyler Brown finished fourth with a distance of 200-4 (61.07m).
Axelina Johansson broke the facility record in her shot put victory wiith a 61-4 (18.69m). That puts Johansson at second in the NCAA this season. Taylor Latimer placed second with a season-best mark of 55-9 3/4 (17.01m) and Kalynn Meyer finished fourth with a 51-4 1/4 (15.65m).
Maxwell Otterdahl threw a personal-best 65-9 3/4 (20.06m) to win the men's shot put and climb to No. 3 on the all-time list. That distance is also the sixth-best in the NCAA this season. Jonah Wilson placed second with a 65-2 (19.86m) and Kevin Shubert finished fifth with a 61-5 (18.72m).
Darius Luff secured another title with a time of 13.43 in the men's 110m hurdles final. That time is the fastest ever run at the Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium. Luff's last time competing was at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, where he broke the school record. In the women's 100m hurdles, Johanna Ilves finished 11th with a 13.73.
In the women's high jump, Jenna Rogers tied her personal-best to finish first with a clearance of 6-1 1/4 (1.86m). That moves Rogers to fourth in the NCAA. Madison Yerigan (5-10,1.78m) and Brooklyn Miller (5-8, 1.73m) pitched in season-best clearances to finish third and sixth, respectively.
Tyus Wilson and Michael Hoffer each cleared 6-11 1/2 (2.12m) in the men's high jump to claim third and fourth.
Ieva Turke won the women's triple jump crown with a leap of 43-3 (13.18m). Rhianna Phipps took third with a mark of 42-9 3/4 (13.05m).
Micaylon Moore finished second in the men's triple jump, moving up to seventh on the all-time list with a 53-0 (16.15m). Terrol Wilson added a fourth-place finish with a 50-8 (15.44m).
Niko Schultz and Sam Easley cruised to second and third place in the 800m with personal-best times of 1:49.10 and 1:49.13.
In the pole vault, Drake Burton and Till Steinforth each cleared 16-2 1/2 (4.94m) to tie for sixth.
Nick Bryant ran a personal-best 46.55 in the 400m, placing ninth.
Kavian Kerr was Nebraska's top finisher in the 100m, placing 11th with a 10.54. Lorenzo Paissan pitched in a 14th-place finish, clocking a 10.62.
The Husker men (Luff, Kerr, Paissan, Garrett Kaalund) raced to a third-place finish in the 4x100m relay with a time of 39.76.
Bryant, Steinforth, Jacob Hyde and Joseph Clifford ran a 3:11.66 in the 4x400m relay to take seventh.
Nebraska returns to competition April 27-29 at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.
Four Huskers Named NWCA Scholar All-Americans
The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) recognized four Husker wrestlers, Silas Allred, Kyle Burwick, Brock Hardy and Peyton Robb, as 2023 Division I Scholar All-Americans.
Allred (197) was recognized after an impressive 2022-23 season as he became the first Big Ten Champion since Robert Kokesh won in 2015. A transfer from Wisconsin, Burwick (133) finished the season with an 11-9 record and took first place finishes at the Wyoming Open and the Younes Hospitality Open. Hardy (141), had a breakout season, becoming a NCAA All-American and finishing the season with a 30-8 record overall. Rounding out the group is Robb (157) who is receiving this award for his third-career time. After finishing the regular season with an undefeated 23-0 record, Robb became a three-time All-American after his sixth-place performance at the 2023 NCAA Championships.
Scheve in Second Place Through 36 Holes
Urbana, Ill. - Gentry Scheve used two stellar rounds to vault himself into second place to lead the Huskers at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate Saturday afternoon.
On a day where the course average was five strokes over par, Scheve navigated the Atkins Golf Course and its Par-71, 7,538-yard layout masterfully, completing his first round with a two-under 69. That score paced the field through the completion of the first round.
Scheve continued his momentum in the second round, where he finished with a 72 (+1). The native of Emporia, Kan. will be looking for his first career top five finish.
His effort helped Nebraska to a two-round mark of 594 (297-297) and a current 5th place spot in the team standings. No.3 Illinois, tournament hosts and favorites, sit in first with a team score of 571, three shots over par.
Will Marshall sits in 18th place through two rounds, which is second best among Huskers. The Illinois native battled through blustery conditions in his home state and ended his day with a two solid rounds (75-74). He will be looking for his third straight top-25 finish in his final-round Sunday.
Davis Johnson finished Saturday with the third best mark among Huskers with a 153 (+11). The freshman, who sits tied for 32nd, will golf Sunday seeking his best career finish (36th).
Evan McDermott and Grant Jabenis, both first-year Huskers, matched each other's scores Saturday. Both finished with a two-round tally of 155 (+13). McDermott is competing as an individual.
Reed Malleck bounced back from a first-round 84 (+13) and managed a 76 (+5) in his second round to push his aggregate score to 160 (+18).
Caleb Badura, the second Husker competing as an individual, rounded out Nebraska's day with a 36-hole score of 158 (+16), good for 50th place.
Final round action from Illinois will tee off at 8:00 a.m. (CT) Sunday. For updates and scoring, follow on Twitter and Instagram at HuskersGolf. Live scoring can be found at Golfstat.com.
Nebraska Lineup
2. Gentry Scheve 69-72=141 (-1)
T18. Will Marshall 75-74= 149 (+7)
T30. Davis Johnson 78-75=153 (+11)
T39. Evan McDermott 78-77=155 (+13)*
T39. Grant Jabenis 75-80=155 (+13)
50. Caleb Badura 80-78=158 (+16)*
T55. Reed Malleck 84-76=160 (+18)
*Competed as Individuals outside Nebraska lineup
Team Leaderboard
1. Illinois 291-280=571 (+3)
2. Loyola Marymount Univ. 296-293=589 (+21)
3. Ball State 299-293=592 (+24)
4. Northwestern 297-296=593 (+25)
5. Nebraska 297-297=594 (+26)
T6. Indiana 295-301=596 (+28)
T6. Michigan State 300-296=596 (+28)
8. Eastern Michigan 305-302=607 (+39)
9. Michigan 315-308=623 (+55)
Huskers Close Out Regular Season With Win
Madison, Wisc. – The No. 49 Nebraska men's tennis team (13-9, 5-4 Big Ten) defeated No. 54 Wisconsin 4-3 (11-10, 4-5 Big Ten) on Saturday afternoon to close out the regular season.
The Huskers started strong in doubles, with Nic Wiedenhorn and Shunya Maruyama picking up a 6-2 win over Wisconsin's Jason Hildebrandt and Jared Pratt in the No. 2 spot. Wisconsin answered back as Sebastian Vile and Robin Parts defeated Calvin Mueller and Lars Johann 7-5 in the No. 3 spot.
Nebraska clinched the doubles point in the No. 1 spot as William Gleason and Leo Linquet upset the No. 64 duo of Michael Minasyan and Gabriel Huber 7-5.
Wisconsin bounced back in singles to even the score at 1-1 as Minasyan defeated Gleason 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 5 spot. NU then added another point with Mueller defeating Parts 6-0, 7-5 in the No. 6 spot. Johann quickly followed with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Huber in the No. 4 spot to make it 3-1.
Mihailo Popovic defeated Hietaranta 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 2 spot to cut the Husker lead to one.
Maruyama clinched the Husker win with a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the No. 3 spot over Vile.
The final match was played out with Pratt defeating Linquet 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to make the final score 4-3.
Nebraska's 13 wins are the most in a season since 2016 when the Huskers finished 14-13. The five conference victories ties a program record for the most Big Ten wins, which was set last season.
Up next is the Big Ten Tournament in Bloomington, Ind., from Thursday, April 27 through Sunday, April 30. More information will be provided in the coming week.
Tennis Match Results Nebraska vs Wisconsin 4/22/2023
#49 Nebraska 4, #54 Wisconsin 3
Singles competition
1. Jared Pratt (WIS) def. Leo Linquet (NEB) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
2. Mihailo Popovic (WIS) def. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) 6-2, 6-4
3. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Sebastian Vile (WIS) 7-5, 6-3
4. Lars Johann (NEB) def. Gabriel Huber (WIS) 6-3, 6-3
5. Michael Minasyan (WIS) def. William Gleason (NEB) 6-2, 6-1
6. Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. Robin Parts (WIS) 6-0, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. William Gleason/Leo Linquet (NEB) def. #64 Gabriel Huber/Michael Minasyan (WIS) 7-5
2. Nic Wiedenhorn/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Jason Hildebrandt/Jared Pratt (WIS) 6-2
3. Robin Parts/Sebastian Vile (WIS) def. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB) 7-5
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,6,4,2,3,1)
Huskers Upset No. 31 Illinois, 4-3
Champaign-Urbana, Ill. – The No. 68 Nebraska women's tennis team (15-8, 4-6 Big Ten) upset No. 31 Illinois (17-7, 8-2 Big Ten) 4-3 at the Atkins Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
The match began with a thrilling performance in doubles play. In the No. 3 position, Lucy Loy and Anfisa Danilchenko fell to Kida Ferrari and Violeta Martinez, 6-0. Closely contested matches played out on Courts 1 and 2. Ana Carmen Zamburek and Isabel Adrover Gallego battled Josie Frazier and Emily Casati on Court 2, winning the match 7-5. The deciding match played out on Court 3. The No. 89 ranked doubles team of Samantha Alicea and Raphaëlle Lacasse got their 14th win as a duo when they upset the No. 15 ranked doubles team of Kate Duong and Megan Heuser, 7-6 (5).
The thrilling performance continued in singles play. On Court 3, Carmen Zamburek was bested by Heuser, 6-3, 6-2. Adrover Gallego defeated Duong in the No. 1 position, 6-3, 6-4. In the No. 4 spot, Lacasse fell to Illinois' Kasia Treiber, 6-2, 7-5, making the overall score 2-2. NU's Jillian Roa fell to Martinez in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Alicea bested No. 85 ranked singles player, Ashley Yeah, in three sets, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (2). With both teams within one point of victory, the deciding match played out on Court 5. Danilchenko clinched the win for Nebraska in a hard fought-battle against Ferrari, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5.
Up next, NU concludes regular season play when it faces Northwestern at the Combe Tennis Center on Sunday at noon CT.
Tennis Match Results
Nebraska vs. Illinois
4/22/23 at Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
(Atkins Tennis Center)
Illinois 3, Nebraska 4
Singles Competition
1. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Kate Duong (ILL), 6-3, 6-4
2. Samantha Alicea (NEB) def. #85 Ashley Yeah (ILL), 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (2)
3. Megan Heuser (ILL) def. Ana Carmen Zamburek (NEB), 6-3, 6-2
4. Kasia Treiber (ILL) def. Raphaëlle Lacasse (NEB) 6-2, 7-5
5. Anfisa Danilchenko (NEB) def. Kida Ferrari (ILL) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
6. Violeta Martinez (ILL) def. Jillian Roa (NEB) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. #89 Samantha Alicea/Raphaëlle Lacasse (NEB) def. #15 Kate Duong/Megan Heuser (ILL), 7-6 (5)
2. Ana Carmen Zamburek/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Josie Frazier/Emily Casati (ILL), 7-5
3. Kida Ferrari/Violeta Martinez (ILL) def. Lucy Loy/Anfisa Danilchenko (NEB), 6-0
Match Notes
Nebraska 15-8
Illinois 17-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3, 1, 4, 6, 2, 5)
Huskers Surge at Big Ten Championship
Kelli Ann Strand produced another strong round to climb into the individual top 10, helping the Nebraska women's golf team surge into the top five after 36 holes at the Big Ten Championship in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Strand carded a one-over-par 72 on the 6,045-yard layout of the Fox Chapel Golf Club on Saturday to close the second round at 146 (+4) through two rounds. The freshman from Challis, Idaho registered 11 pars along with three birdies and four bogeys to move into a tie for 10th on the leader board heading to Sunday's final round.
The Big Red also got a boost from Miu Takahashi, who matched Strand's round with a 72 of her own. The sophomore from Nasu-machi, Japan also had 11 pars, three birdies and four bogeys after being knocked out of Friday's first round by illness.
With Strand and Takahashi leading the way, the Huskers ended the day with a 294 (+10), pushing their two-round total to 594 (+26). Nebraska, which entered the round in eighth place, climbed into fifth heading to the final round.
Juniors Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) and Michaela Vavrova (Bojnice, Slovakia) produced Nebraska's other counting scores of the day with matching rounds of 75 (+4).
Thiele, who ended the day in a tie for 21st at 149 (+7), posted 13 pars, one birdie, three bogeys and one double-bogey in a steady round.
Vavrova added 12 pars and a birdie to go with five bogeys to end the round in a tie for 45th at 153 (+11).
Graduate student Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) managed a round of 77 (+6) to close the day in a tie for 47th at 154 (+12), just one shot behind Vavrova. Sophomore Andrea Velez (Pereira, Colombia) rounded out Nebraska's day with an 81 (+10) to sit in a tie for 62nd at 156.
Ohio State put up the best round of the tournament so far with a 285 (+1) to take over the top spot in the team standings at 577 (+9). Illinois slipped to second with a 292 (+8) on Saturday to head to Sunday's final 18 holes at 578 (+10), just one shot back of the Buckeyes. Northwestern added a strong round with a 286 (+2) to sit in a tie for third at 581 (+13) with Maryland. The Terrapins totaled 287 (+3) on Saturday.
Illinois teammates Crystal Wang and Isabel Sy sit atop the individual leaders at 139 (-3) through two rounds, while Northwestern's Kelly Sim sits two shots back in third at 141 (-1). Although Wang, Sy and Kim are the only players under par through 36 holes.
The Big Ten Championship concludes with the final round on Sunday at Fox Chapel Golf Club beginning with tee times at 7 a.m. (CT).
Big Ten Championship
April 21-23, 2023
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Fox Chapel Golf Club (Par 71, 6,045 Yards)
Team Standings (Second Round)
1. Ohio State - 292-285=577 (+9)
2. Illinois - 286-292=578 (+10)
T3. Northwestern - 295-286=581 (+13)
T3. Maryland - 294-287=581 (+13)
5. Nebraska - 300-294=594 (+26)
6. Wisconsin - 295-302=597 (+29)
7. Penn State - 307-292=599 (+31)
8. Michigan State - 302-298=600 (+32)
9. Indiana - 296-305=601 (+33)
T10. Michigan - 301-301=602 (+34)
T10. Iowa - 303-299=602 (+34)
12. Purdue - 297-306=603 (+35)
13. Minnesota - 301-303=604 (+36)
14. Rutgers - 311-307=618 (+50)
Individual Leaderboard (Second Round)
T1. Crystal Wang, Illinois - 71-68=139 (-3)
T1. Isabel Sy, Illinois - 69-70=139 (-3)
3. Kelly Sim, Northwestern - 72-69=141 (-1)
T4. Patricie Mackova, Maryland - 72-70=142 (E)
T4. Emily Lauterbach, Wisconsin - 69-73=142 (E)
T6. Maria Vittoria Corbi, Maryland - 75-68=143 (+1)
T6. Lauren Peter, Ohio State - 74-69=143 (+1)
T8. Kary Hollenbaugh, Ohio State - 72-73=145 (+3)
T8. Isabella McCauley, Minnesota - 71-74=145 (+3)
T10. Kelli Ann Strand, Nebraska - 74-72=146 (+4)
T10. Leigha Devine, Rutgers - 72-74=146 (+4)
T10. Shannon Kennedy, Michigan State - 70-76=146 (+4)
T10. Kailie Vongsaga, Ohio State - 70-76=146 (+4)
Nebraska Individuals
T10. Kelli Ann Strand - 74-72=146 (+4)
T21. Lindsey Thiele - 74-75=149 (+7)
T45. Michaela Vavrova - 78-75=153 (+11)
T47. Megan Whittaker - 77-77=154 (+12)
T62. Andrea Velez - 75-81=156 (+14)
DNF - Miu Takahashi - WD-73
Huskers Drop Series Opener at Iowa
Nebraska suffered an 11-6 setback in the series opener at Iowa on Friday night at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa.
The Huskers (21-12-1, 7-3 Big Ten) scored six runs on seven hits and an error, while the Hawkeyes (27-10, 5-5 Big Ten) had 11 runs on nine hits.
Emmett Olson dropped to 5-2 on the season after allowing five runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. Corbin Hawkins replaced Olson and tied his career high with 3.1 innings of relief. Hawkins surrendered one run on one hit while striking out two and walking three Hawkeyes. Jake Bunz and Shay Schanaman teamed up to pitch an inning of relief, allowing five runs, one earned, on two hits. Drew Christo pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout.
Max Anderson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Brice Matthews was 1-for-4 with a double and two runs, while Casey Burnham had a 1-for-2 night after being hit by pitch twice and scoring two runs. Gabe Swansen drove in a team-high two RBI and went 1-for-3, while Josh Caron and Dylan Carey had one hit each.
A five-run inning in the second had the Hawkeyes out front to an early 5-0 lead. An RBI sacrifice bunt and an RBI single made it a 2-0 game, before Keaton Anthony drilled a three-run homer to right to grow the lead to five.
Garrett Anglim and Charlie Fischer led off the fourth with back-to-back walks and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, before a second wild pitch in the inning brought home Anglim to plate Nebraska's first run of the game. Carey followed with a two-out RBI single to shortstop, recording the Huskers' first hit of the night and scoring Fischer to bring the Big Red within 5-2 in the fourth.
The Hawkeyes loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with three consecutive walks, and an RBI groundout back to the pitcher with one out made it a 6-2 game after four innings complete.
Nebraska cut the deficit in half in the fifth with two runs on one hit. Matthews began the inning with a double to left-center, before Burnham was plunked on an 0-1 count. Anderson drew a walk on full count to load the bases with no outs, while Fischer was hit by pitch with one out to plate Matthews. Swansen followed by lifting a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Burnham to make it a two-run game in the fifth.
The Huskers looked to threaten in the seventh after back-to-back singles by Burnham and Anderson to open the inning, but Iowa escaped the jam with a double play to maintain the 6-4 lead.
Iowa poured in five runs in the bottom of the seventh to blow the game open at 11-4. A sacrifice fly made it 7-4, before the Hawkeyes tacked on four more runs after a two-out throwing error by Nebraska extended the inning.
Matthews and Burnham opened the ninth with a walk and a hit by pitch, before Anderson lined an RBI single down the right-field line to score Matthews. After two straight strikeouts, Swansen smacked an RBI single off the third baseman and into left field to plate Burnham and make it an 11-6 game.
