Fargo, N.D. - The No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team dominated North Dakota State, recording five bonus-point victories to defeat NDSU (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) 31-12 on Saturday afternoon.

#14 Caleb Smith (125) started the day off strong for the Huskers as he used a reversal, two takedowns and an escape to claim the 9-5 decision and his first career Husker victory. Jacob Van Dee then got the start at 133 as he recorded a takedown, escape and the riding time point for the 5-1 victory.

At 141, NDSU tallied its first win of the day as sophomore Blake Cushing was tied with Gavin Drexler 4-4 after two periods, but fell by decision 9-4. #1 Ridge Lovett (149) got the Huskers back on track as he earned the first bonus-point victory for NU. Lovett used a takedown in each period to claim the 11-1 major decision win over NDSU’s #11 Kellyn March. 

With the 10-3 overall team lead, #3 Peyton Robb kept the Huskers rolling at 157. The Husker senior scored two takedowns and two nearfall points in the opening period and added a reversal and a takedown in each of the following periods en route to the 18-3 tech. fall against NDSU’s Landen Johnson. Next up at 165, Antrell Taylor came out quickly as he tallied a pin in the opening period of the match to help the Huskers hold the 15-3 advantage with four matches remaining. 

At 174, sophomore #20 Elise Brown Ton got the start. He recorded an opening-period takedown, but it was not enough as NDSU’s Aidan Brenot topped Brown Ton by decision, 8-3. The next two matches of the day saw the Big Red rack up two-straight tech. falls. #9 Lenny Pinto used six takedowns in his match at 184 to claim the 19-4 fall in Period 3. #7 Silas Allred followed suit at 197 as he tallied five takedowns and four nearfall points to earn the 20-4 victory.

With the 31-6 lead, heavyweight Harley Andrews battled but was pinned in Period 3 by NDSU’s Devon Dawson. 

NU (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) will return to action next week as the team hosts Campbell on Friday, Nov. 10. Action is set for 7 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.

#9 Nebraska 31, North Dakota State 12
125: #14 Caleb Smith dec. Carlos Negrete Jr. (NDSU) 9-5 (NEB 3, NDSU 0)
133: Jake Van Dee dec. Fernando Barreto (NDSU) 5-1 (NEB 6, NDSU 0)
141: Gavin Drexler (NDSU) dec. Blake Cushing 9-4 (NEB 6, NDSU 3)
149: #1 Ridge Lovett major dec. #11 Kellyn March (NDSU) 11-1 (NEB 10, NDSU 3)
157: #3 Peyton Robb tech. fall Landen Johnson (NDSU) 18-3 6:58 (NEB 15, NDSU 3)
165: Antrell Taylor pinned Brendan Howes (NDSU) 2:29 (NEB 21, NDSU 3)
174: Gaven Sax (NDSU) dec. #20 Elise Brown Ton 8-3 (NEB 21, NDSU 6)
184: #9 Lenny Pinto tech. fall Aidan Brenot (NDSU) 19-4 6:24 (NEB 26, NDSU 6)
197: #7 Silas Allred tech. fall Spencer Mooberry (NDSU) 20-4 5:25 (NEB 31, NDSU 6)
HWT: Devon Dawson (NDSU) pinned Harley Andrews 6:23 (NEB 31, NDSU 12)

BREEDLOVE LEADS OVERALL, HUSKERS SECURE THIRD PLACE SEED

Houston, Texas - The Nebraska bowling team dominated the lanes during day two of the 2023 Track Kat Klash with a 5-0 sweep, tallying a total pinfall of 10,211. The Huskers secured a third overall seed for tomorrow's final bracket placements.

Coming off a sixth place standing after day one, the Huskers were ready to start day two against Texas Southern. Sophomore anchor Jillian Martin led the Huskers with a 247, followed by freshman Lani Breedlove at 222. Anna Callan tallied a total of 198 followed by leadoff Alexis Buchert at 183. Freshman Brenna Hartzler rounded out the first match with a 169, giving the Big Red its first win of the day 1019-892.

Feeling good on the fresh oil, the Cornhuskers then faced Oklahoma Christian. Callan would lead the Huskers in match two with a massive 276. Breedlove continued the fire adding a 244 to her total with Buchert close behind at 221. Hartzler added a 193 to the team total with Martin rounding the Big Red out at 182, for an 1116-1040 win.

Nebraska was ready for match three: a top-ten matchup featuring No. 8 Sam Houston, the tournament host. Breedlove took a strong lead in the standings by leading the team at 266 with Hartzler tallying a 227. Buchert provided a 205 with Martin close at 201 before Callan would round out the Cornhuskers at 190, good for a 1089-916 win.

Match four would prove to be a battle of consistency as both teams come out of the gate with multiple five baggers and large marks setting both teams up. Callan would step into the anchor position by leading the Big Red at 249 with Hartzler right behind at 243. Breedlove, still leading the individual standings, tallied a 212 and Buchert at 211. Senior Kayla Verstraete, jumping into the second slot, would shoot a 204, helping the Huskers to a high 1119-1035 win continuing the undefeated streak for the day.

The final match of the day would prove to be the most difficult of all against Prairie View A&M. Demanding lanes would keep all five Huskers at bay below 190 with Breedlove leading the pack at 186 and Verstraete at 182. Buchert followed with a 169 and Callan tallied a 166. Hartzler would round out the Big Red at 158, bringing the match to a 861-861 tie, forcing a five frame rolloff.

Nebraska started strong with a mark in the first frame for both the Cornhuskers and the Panthers. Spares in frame two would tie it up for both before a split in Prairie View’s third frame would allow the Huskers to strike in the third giving the Big Red the lead. The Panthers would push for a lead in the 10th, with their anchor adding a double, and Callan shooting eight pins in the first shot. Callan would secure the win, cleaning up a spare in the 10th, before her final shot bringing the rolloff total 86-75, completing a Saturday 5-0 sweep for Nebraska.

Four Huskers finished in the top 20 of overall individual standings of the tournament. Freshman Lani Breedlove led the overall standings in first with a 1130 pinfall and a 226.00 average. Callan finished in seventh with 1079 total and 215.80 average. Brenna Hartzler finished at 18th with 990 and 198.00 average and Alexis Buchert rounding the team out at 19th with 989 and a 197.80 average.

The tournament will conclude tomorrow morning beginning at 8:20 (CT) with a bracket-play championship for final placements. Each team will play three best-of-seven Baker matches to finalize overall tournament standings based on total pinfall seeding.

Stay up to date with the action by following the Nebraska Women's Bowling Twitter (@HuskerBowling), Instagram (@huskerbowling) and Facebook.

Track Kat Klash Day two Standings (Total Pinfall):

No. 10 Louisiana Tech (10,321)
No. 9 Maryville (10,301)
No. 3 Nebraska (10,211)
No. 8 Sam Houston (10,200)
No. 4 North Carolina A&T (10,063)
No. 13 Newman (9,891)
No. 12 University of Maryland Eastern Shore (9,841)
Oklahoma Christian (9,469)
Lewis (9,439)
No. 19 University of Central Missouri (9,371)
Alabama State University (8,969)
Southern University (8,916)
Prairie View A&M (8,657)
No. 21 Lincoln Memorial (8,500)
Texas Southern (8,493)
Grambling State (6,925)

HUSKERS GRAB WIN AGAINST BULLDOGS

Charleston, S.C. - The No. 4 Nebraska rifle team moved to 3-3 on the season after grabbing a 4,704-4,632 win over The Citadel on Saturday.

NU took four of the top five spots overall. Sophomore Emma Rhode placed first with an aggregate score of 1,182 and sophomore Tori Watts was second with the same score. The tiebreaker was determined by the number of 10-point shots by each athlete. Senior Cecelia Ossi (third, 1,175) and freshman Charlie Mick (fourth, 1,174) rounded out the top finishers.

“The team didn’t have a great performance today,” Head Coach Mindy Miles said. “There were moments of pride depending on the position and athlete, but the team is missing out on major points due to consistency.”

The Huskers also grabbed the top five spots in the air rifle. Watts posted a 597 in the event to finish in first. Her score ties for the second-highest in program history. Rhode was second (594) while Ossi finished third (592). Junior Mackenzie Strauch (592) and Mick (591) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Rhode earned a first-place finish in the smallbore with a score of 588. Watts finished in second with a 585, while Ossi placed third (583) and Mick was fourth (583).

Nebraska will travel to Morgantown, W.V., to take on No. 1 WVU, No. 5 Air Force and No. 11 Murray State in the Fall Classic on Nov. 11 and 12.