This weekend marked a historic moment for college wrestling as the inaugural National Duals Invitational unfolded in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event was a major step forward for the sport, showcasing 16 of the nation’s best teams in an exciting dual tournament and awarding over $1 million in payouts. Wrestling fans witnessed a new era for the sport, but for Nebraska, the weekend was bittersweet.
**Nebraska’s National Duals Recap**
Nebraska entered the weekend with high expectations after last season’s NCAA runner-up finish. The excitement was justified as the Huskers cruised through Saturday, defeating #8 Lehigh 35-7 and #11 Michigan 24-14 in the quarterfinals. Then came Sunday, and expectations were quickly tempered. Nebraska was dominated by #4 Ohio State in the semifinals, losing 33-3 and capturing just one match. In the third-place dual against #5 Oklahoma State—where $150,000 was on the line for third and $75,000 for fourth—the Huskers again struggled, losing 33-6.
Across the two days, Nebraska went 14-6 in individual matches on Saturday, but just 3-16 on Sunday. A team that looked threatening a week ago now faces questions. Still, early season setbacks are common in wrestling, and top teams like Ohio State, Iowa, and Oklahoma State simply looked sharper this weekend. These experiences can serve as a wake-up call, though that’s little comfort for the Huskers at the moment.
If you’ve followed Nebraska’s wrestling program for years, Sunday’s performance won’t surprise you. The team often faces early-season struggles, possibly due to their training cycle. Nebraska now stands 3-2 in duals this season, without any undefeated starters except for #8 Chance Lamer, who is currently ineligible to compete. With 19 days to regroup before their next competition, the Huskers have plenty to address.
**Weight-by-Weight Breakdown**
**125 Pounds**
Nebraska has a clear gap here. Kael Lauridsen (0-3, including one match at 133) and Alan Koehler (0-2) have yet to secure a dual win at 125. Both gained valuable experience this weekend, and will need to improve for the Huskers to compete at the highest level.
**133 Pounds**
#11 Jacob Van Dee won his sole match—a 10-0 major decision over Michigan’s Gauge Botero—while wrestling with a shoulder brace. Omar Ayoub filled in, going 1-1 with a major decision win and a loss to Ohio State’s #8 Ben Davino. In the final dual, Lauridsen bumped up to 133 but fell to Oklahoma State’s Ronnie Ramirez 9-3.
**141 Pounds**
#2 Brock Hardy had a roller-coaster weekend: two dominant wins on Saturday (a pin and a tech fall), but two losses on Sunday. He lost 4-1 to #1 Jesse Mendez and 13-2 by major decision to Oklahoma State freshman Sergio Vega. The Mendez loss isn’t worrying, but Hardy looked outmatched against Vega.
**149 Pounds**
Freshman Nikade Zinkin (redshirting but filling in until Lamer is eligible) went 1-3 but impressed. He won 5-1 over Lehigh, nearly took down #2 Lachlan McNeil (Michigan), had a cradle locked against Ohio State’s #10 Ethan Stiles before getting pinned, and narrowly lost to #4 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) 7-6. Zinkin showed flashes of future star potential.
**157 Pounds**
#1 Antrell Taylor didn’t look himself, going 1-2. He lost by major decisions to #23 Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) and #9 Brandon Cannon (Ohio State), struggling to find offensive rhythm. Backup Dez Gartrell also saw time, including a match at 165, but fell to Oklahoma State’s Landon Robideau by tech fall.
**165 Pounds**
#18 LJ Araujo started strong with a pin over Lehigh’s #8 Max Brignola, but then sat out the Michigan dual and lost by major to Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher. Araujo injured his hamstring, forcing Nebraska to forfeit 165 against Oklahoma State; Gartrell filled in at 157.
**174 Pounds**
#4 Christopher Minto shined on Saturday, winning a major decision and beating Michigan’s #8 Beau Mantanona in sudden victory. Sunday brought a 5-1 loss to Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla and a tough, controversial defeat to Oklahoma State’s Alex Facundo following an official review late in the match.
**184 Pounds**
Senior #6 Silas Allred delivered one of Nebraska’s best performances. He opened with a win over Lehigh, dropped a close bout to Michigan, and lost to Ohio State’s Dylan Fishback. Allred rebounded by defeating Oklahoma State’s #4 Zack Ryder in sudden victory, cementing himself as a top contender.
**197 Pounds**
#7 Camden McDanel had a solid run, finishing 3-1: a major over Lehigh, a sudden victory against Michigan, and Nebraska’s only win vs Ohio State. A close overtime loss to Oklahoma State’s Cody Merrill capped his weekend.
**Heavyweight**
The narrative here focused on returning star AJ Ferrari. After a narrow loss to Ohio State’s Nick Feldman, Ferrari bounced back with a 2-1 win over Oklahoma State’s Konner Doucet. He looked strong overall, but could benefit from a more aggressive offensive approach.
**Final Thoughts: There’s No Need to Panic**
For Nebraska wrestling fans, Sunday’s performance may feel discouraging, but it’s far from a crisis. The season is long, and setbacks are part of the sport. Nebraska’s coaching staff has time to regroup and address weaknesses. With nearly three weeks before their next event, expect adjustments and renewed focus.
Stay tuned—this team still has plenty of potential, and early adversity could fuel a stronger finish come March.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/husker-wrestling-nebraska-starts-strong-051003630.html