Nebraska Head Soccer Coach John Walker has received a contract extension through the 2027 season, Nebraska Vice Chancellor, Director of Athletics Trev Alberts announced on Friday, Feb. 2. 

“We are fortunate to have a leader like Coach Walker in charge of our soccer program,” Alberts said. “John and his team had a remarkable season in 2023, reaching the Elite Eight and earning a share of the Big Ten Conference Championship.  His teams play with toughness, tenacity, and teamwork which is a testament to his leadership. It is also impressive to me that Coach Walker has been our head coach for three decades, but he has continued to adapt and improve to ensure Nebraska Soccer continues to compete at a high level.”  

The only head coach in Nebraska soccer history, Walker completed his 30th season at the helm in 2023, leading his team to a 17-4-3 record, a Big Ten Championship and an Elite Eight appearance. Additionally, the 2023 Big Ten Coach of the Year and his staff were named the North Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches, and the team ended the year ranked No. 7. 

“First, I am thankful to Trev Alberts, Jamie Vaughn and Jonathan Bateman for the opportunity to continue to lead our soccer program and their ongoing support,” Walker said. “I am so appreciative of our soccer staff and all the great people within our athletic department and the work they do behind the scenes to help all our teams and student athletes.”

“Finally and most importantly, I want to thank our players. I get a chance to work daily with a driven group of exceptionally talented and competitive student athletes that inspire me to be at my best every day. Their commitment to development, competition and each other is outstanding. Our team achieved great success this past season, and I am committed to helping them improve and reach their potential in 2024.” 

A coach of the year in both the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences, Walker has amassed a 365-193-61 record at Nebraska. In his 30 seasons leading the program, Walker has won 11 conference titles while leading the Huskers to 13 NCAA Tournaments, nine NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and three trips to the Elite Eight.

HALL SHATTERS 41-YEAR-OLD POOL RECORD

Nebraska swimming and diving leads Rutgers 113-54 after the first day of the dual. Junior Maia Hall set a pool record with her time of 2:10.93 in the 200 breaststroke, besting the record set by Jeanne Childs in 1983 (2:13.35).

A team of Sarah Barton, JoJo Randby, Beatrix Tanko and Emily Haimes started the day off with a win in the 200 medley relay (1:41.52). Gabby Donahue, Anna Vlachou, Lexi Kucera and Hall took second (1:41.66).

Gena Jorgenson captured two individual wins for the Huskers. She touched the wall in 4:45.16 to win the 500 freestyle, while Caterina Bisiacchi finished second (4:50.66). Jorgenson also took first in the 200 backstroke (1:58.17). Barton finished closely behind with a time of 1:58.39. Barton added another runner-up finish for the Huskers in the 200 IM (2:01.72) and Hall took third (2:02.47).

NU captured the top-three finishes in the 100 freestyle. Giulia Marchi finished first (50.67), Haimes placed second (51.01) and Vlachou took third (51.19).

Anastasia Tichy set a career-best with a 200 butterfly victory. The freshman from Salzburg, Austria logged a time of 1:58.20 to top her previous career best of 1:58.87. Kucera added a third place finish in the 200 butterfly (2:00.75) and Bisiacchi finished fourth (2:00.91).

The Huskers ended the day with another relay win. Tanko, Randby, Vlachou and Haimes topped the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:32.75. Marchi, Kucera, Donahue and Caitlin Cairns finished second (1:34.51).

In the three-meter diving competition, Kelsey Clairmont logged a second-place finish, with a score of 311.48. Antonina Harned finished closely behind to secure the third-place finish (304.95). 

The Huskers return to action tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. (CT) for day two against the Scarlet Knights. Senior Day festivities will precede the first event.  

Live results will be available on Meet Mobile and huskers.com, with live video provided on the Huskers YouTube page.

Nebraska vs. Rutgers
Feb. 3, 2024
Lincoln, Neb. (Devaney Natatorium)
10 a.m. CT

Order of Events
Saturday
1M Diving
400 Medley Relay
5 Minute -BREAK
1650 Freestyle
50 Freestyle
10 Minute -BREAK
100 Backstroke
100 Breaststroke
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
400 Individual Medley
10 Minute -BREAK
400 Freestyle Relay

HUSKERS WELCOME ILLINOIS ON SUNDAY

On a four-match winning streak, the No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team (9-1, 4-1 Big Ten) will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday afternoon at the Devaney Center. The dual is set for 2 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus. 

Prior to the matchup, the Huskers will welcome youth wrestlers around the state for the Nebraska USAW District Duals Finals. Action is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. (CT) with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. (CT). 

Illinois (3-5, 0-2 Big Ten) enters Sunday’s dual with two-straight losses to Big Ten foes, Ohio State (36-6) and Iowa (36-6). Before coming to Lincoln, the Fighting Illini will face Michigan State on Friday night. Illinois’ projected lineup features six wrestlers inside the Top 33 of their weight class: No. 33 Tony Madrigal (133), No. 27 Danny Pucino (141), No. 8 Kannon Webster (149), No. 30 Chris Moore (165), No. 9 Edmond Ruth (174) and No. 28 Dylan Connell (184). 

Six of the 10 bouts will potentially feature ranked matchups. Nine Huskers enter the weekend ranked, led by No. 1 Ridge Lovett (149), No. 3 Lenny Pinto (184), No. 7 Brock Hardy (141) and No. 9 Peyton Robb (157). This group boasts a collective 27-7 record and has scored 111 dual points for the Big Red this season. 

History: Nebraska leads the all-time series against Illinois, 10-4 with the first meeting between the teams dating back to 1939. Most recently, the Huskers defeated the Fighting Illini last season in Illinois, 27-19. 

Last Time Out: The Huskers earned three bonus-point victories and won seven bouts overall as NU defeated No. 21 Wisconsin 28-9 on Sunday afternoon. 

Up Next: NU will close out home dual competition on Friday, Feb. 9 as they host Michigan. Action is slated to begin at 6 p.m. (CT) and will be aired on BTN. 

Nebraska’s Projected Lineup:
125 - No. 15 Caleb Smith (15-5) or Alan Koehler (3-1)
133 - No. 17 Jake Van Dee (15-5) or Kyle Burwick (3-3)
141 - No. 7 Brock Hardy (12-5) or Blake Cushing (13-3)
149 - No. 1 Ridge Lovett (19-0)
157 - No. 9 Peyton Robb (14-4) or Ethan Stiles (15-2)
165 - No. 17 Antrell Taylor (14-4)
174 - No. 33 Bubba Wilson (11-7) or Christopher Minto (12-3)
184 - No. 3 Lenny Pinto (15-3)
197 - No. 14 Silas Allred (17-4)
HWT - Harley Andrews (10-9) or Nash Hutmacher (3-1)

Illinois’ Projected Lineup:
125 – Justin Cardani (2-6)
133 – No. 33 Tony Madrigal (1-3)
141 – No. 27 Danny Pucino (8-6)
149 – Jake Harrier (2-6) or No. 8 Kannon Webster (12-1)
157 – Joe Roberts (5-5) or Braeden Scoles (6-3)
165 – No. 30 Chris Moore (7-6)
174 – No. 9 Edmond Ruth (12-2)
184 – No. 28 Dylan Connell (4-4)
197 – Isiah Pettigrew (5-6) or Chase Waggoner (2-6)
285 – Peter Marinopoulos (4-2)

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR FOOTBALL ROAD RACE

Registration is open for the 12th-annual Nebraska Football Road Race presented by The Home Agency with support from The Lincoln Track Club. The one-mile Fun Run begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K run will follow with an estimated start time of 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 14 in Lincoln.

The history of the Nebraska Football Road Race is directly tied to the inspirational relationship created in 2012 between former Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead and pediatric brain cancer patient Jack Hoffman, who became famous as a 7-year-old by running for a 69-yard touchdown in the 2013 Spring Game.

Because of this relationship, the Nebraska football team has been committed to raising awareness and funds for pediatric brain cancer research. More than $145,000 has been raised through the first 11 road races.

New this year, all participating runners will get to run 69 yards on Tom Osborne Field much like Jack did. Both the 1 mile and 5K will start and finish in Memorial Stadium being cheered on by the Husker Football team and student-athletes from multiple other Husker teams.

Select players will participate in the one-mile Fun Run, and registrants will have opportunities to interact with the members of the Nebraska football team during the event.

Fans can register for the races by going to https://huskers.com/roadrace. Online registration is open until Saturday, July 13th at 6 p.m. CT. The entrance fee is $25 for the one-mile Fun Run and $35 for the 5K. On Wednesday, July 10th at 6 p.m., registration fees will increase by $10. Lastly, individuals can register in-person for a late registration fee of $55 for the 5K and $45 for the one-mile Fun Run the morning of the race.

Runners will also receive a commemorative race-day T-Shirt and Nebraska Football Road Race Bracelet. All proceeds will go directly to pediatric brain cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.