MADISON, Wisc. – The No. 14 Nebraska wrestling team defeated No. 7 Wisconsin 22-12 to earn its first conference victory of the season on Friday evening. The Huskers (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) won seven of 10 bouts, while earning a bonus point victory, to hand the Badgers (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten) their first loss of the season.
The meet started at 149. No. 4 Ridge Lovett faced No. 8 Austin Gomez in the night’s first of five ranked bouts. Lovett, coming off a victory last weekend against Minnesota, scored an escape in the first and second periods but was unable to hold off Gomez who recorded two takedowns and won by decision 4-2.
No. 5 Peyton Robb (157) then squared off against No. 27 Garrett Model. Robb started in an impressive fashion with three takedowns and four nearfall points in the first period to take the 10-2 lead. Model responded with three escapes and three takedowns, but Robb prevailed and grabbed the 17-11 victory.
At 165, Bubba Wilson faced Wisconsin’s #8 Dean Hamiti. Wilson tallied an escape in the first period, but Hamiti, undefeated in dual competition, worked quickly and pinned Wilson.
No. 5 Mikey Labriola (174) got the Huskers back on track with a dominate 14-4 major decision over the Badgers’ No. 22 Andrew McNally. Labriola, now 12-1 on the year with seven ranked wins, tallied four takedowns and four nearfall points en route to the victory.
No. 11 Taylor Venz (184) and Chris Weiler grappled in the fifth bout of the night. Venz attacked early with a takedown and reversal, while also gaining a stall warning point, to hold a 5-1 lead after two periods. Venz closed out the match in the third to take a 7-1 victory and help the Huskers grab the 10-9 lead.
In the fourth ranked match of the night, No. 3 Eric Schultz (197) defeated No. 22 Braxton Amos 3-1 to remain undefeated against dual meet competition on the season. Schultz scored all three of his points in the second period and outlasted May, whose lone point came in the third period.
After last year’s sudden victory loss, No. 11 Christian Lance rematched with No. 8 Trent Hillger and won by decision 5-3. Lance tallied two takedowns and an escape and held off Hillger to grab the victory and extend the Husker lead to 16-9.
Action then shifted to 125. Facing No. 8 Eric Barnett, Jeremiah Reno battled to hold off any extra points, with Barnett recording three takedowns and an escape to take the 6-0 decision.
Making the first dual start of his career, freshman Dominick Serrano earned his first career Big Ten victory and first dual meet match win with a solid 10-8 decision over Wisconsin grappler No. 25 Kyle Burwick. Serrano recorded three takedowns and an escape, and the two were knotted up at eight to send the match into sudden victory. Seven seconds into overtime, Serrano attacked and got the takedown to claim the win.
The final bout of the day featured No. 9 Chad Red Jr. (141) and Joe Zargo. Red recorded two takedowns to hold the 4-1 lead entering the last period. Red held his ground and earned the 8-3 decision.
NU is back in action on Sunday when it stays on the road and faces No. 21 Northwestern on Jan. 23. Dual meet action is slated to get underway at 2 p.m. with online streaming available via B1G+.
#14 Nebraska 22, #7 Wisconsin 12
149: #8 Austin Gomez (UW) dec. #4 Ridge Lovett (NEB) 4-2 (UW 3, NEB 0)
157: #5 Peyton Robb (NEB) dec. #27 Garrett Model (UW) 17-11 (NEB 3, UW 3)
165: #8 Dean Hamiti (UW) pinned Bubba Wilson (NEB) (1:53) (UW 9, NEB 3)
174: #5 Mikey Labriola (NEB) maj. dec. #22 Andrew McNally (UW) 14-4 (UW 9, NEB 7)
184: #11 Taylor Venz (NEB) dec. Chris Weller (UW) 7-1 (NEB 10, UW 9)
197: #3 Eric Schultz (NEB) dec. #22 Braxton Amos (UW) 3-1 (NEB 13, UW 9)
HWT: #11 Christian Lance (NEB) dec. #8 Trent Hillger (UW) 5-3 (NEB 16, UW 9)
125: #8 Eric Barnett (UW) dec. Jeremiah Reno (NEB) 6-0 (NEB 16, UW 12)
133: Dominick Serrano (NEB) dec. #25 Kyle Burwick (UW) SV-1 10-8 (NEB 19, UW 12)
141: #9 Chad Red Jr. (NEB) dec. Joe Zargo (UW) 8-3 (NEB 22, UW 12)
