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Husker Wrestling: Nebraska Starts Strong But Falls Flat Sunday at National Duals

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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

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Nebraska Women’s Basketball Dominates Samford 80-46

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Nebraska seemed to pick up right where they left off last game, but instead of Claire Johnson and Britt Prince, it was Jessica Petrie and Britt Prince leading the charge. That’s the great thing about this team and the depth they have—it can be anyone’s night. You know Prince is going to get her points, but who will be the one to step up as well? It will be interesting to see this year, especially when everyone is back from injuries.

Starting lineups were the same as the last game with Prince, Callin Hake, Hailey Weaver, Petra Bozan, and Petrie. Logan Nissley was also in street clothes, though the reason for this was unclear. If anyone has information, feel free to share in the comments.

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### First Quarter

Nebraska started out strong on defense. The Huskers took the ball down the court, and Petra Bozan knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Hailey Weaver. Weaver then drove to the hoop for a bucket, followed by a block on the defensive end—a solid series for her so far.

Britt Prince got a two-point basket, and immediately after, Jessica Petrie had a chance at a three-point play but missed the free throw, putting Nebraska up 9-0.

Claire Johnson, the Samford transfer, checked into the game for the first time. Petrie quickly accumulated six points, prompting Samford to call a timeout with 5:39 left in the first quarter, Nebraska leading 13-0.

Samford came out of the timeout and drained a three, but Petrie responded with one of her own and was perfect from the floor, up to 9 points on 4-for-4 shooting.

Defensively, Callin Hake was doing what she does best—getting a steal and assisting Amiah Hargrove on a basket to extend Nebraska’s lead to 18-3. The Huskers forced their second shot clock violation of the night; the defense looked as strong as advertised.

However, Nebraska then went on a familiar scoring drought of nearly three minutes. During this stretch, Callin Hake took a charge—something Nebraska fans know all too well.

Kennadi Williams was fouled and went to the free-throw line, splitting the pair. After a Samford turnover, Bozan hit a baseline fadeaway jumper to end the quarter with Nebraska leading 21-5.

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### Second Quarter

Britt Prince started the second quarter with a tough floater, immediately followed by a steal and score. Nebraska had already forced Samford into 13 turnovers with seven minutes remaining in the first half.

Jessica Petrie was hustling all over the court, not only tallying 11 points but also saving the ball from going out of bounds leading to a Prince bucket, pushing the lead to 29-5.

The game was being played at a fast pace. Petrie continued to dominate, putting Nebraska up by 23 points with 4:43 left before a Samford timeout.

Claire Johnson, who scored 21 points in the last game, remained scoreless so far tonight.

Samford made a small run with free throws and a three-pointer, but Hargrove, Petrie, and Bozan kept the game well out of reach.

An official review determined Nebraska had last touched the ball. Hailey Weaver made two free throws to push the Huskers’ lead to 40-23. If I had a nickel for every time Britt Prince hit a buzzer-beater, I’d be rich by now.

The first half ended with Nebraska leading Samford 42-25.

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### Halftime Stats

– **Jessica Petrie:** 15 points, 4 rebounds
– **Britt Prince:** 10 points, 2 assists
– **Petra Bozan:** 7 points
– **Callin Hake:** 5 assists

Nebraska was shooting 58% from the field but only 17% from three-point range. Samford was shooting 41% overall, including 33% from beyond the arc. The Huskers led the rebounding battle 16-13.

Samford had committed 15 turnovers compared to Nebraska’s 7. Nebraska had assisted on 13 of their shots.

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### Third Quarter

Nebraska gave up an early basket, but Bozan responded with a put-back two. Jessica Petrie continued her breakout performance, up to 20 points after hitting an and-1 play, pushing the lead to 49-27.

Callin Hake scored her first points on a pair of free throws. Prince and Hake then hit back-to-back three-pointers, extending the lead to 57-30.

Kennadi Williams was called for a questionable foul, sending Samford to the line with one of two free throws made. After a Samford blocking call, Williams assisted Prince, who hit a wide-open three-pointer (61-34).

A media timeout was taken with four minutes left in the third. Amiah Hargrove was set to shoot three free throws after the break.

The remainder of the quarter was quiet, with only one field goal coming from another Prince three-pointer. Nebraska struggled with turnovers late in the quarter but held a commanding 66-36 lead heading into the final period.

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### Fourth Quarter

Britt Prince began heating up, slicing through the defense for a layup to bring her total to 21 points. Samford hit back-to-back threes but trailed 70-46.

At this stage, Prince seemed unstoppable against the Bulldog defense. Hargrove’s steal and layup prompted Samford to take a timeout with 5:25 remaining.

Jessica Petrie got a block leading to an Amiah Hargrove layup. After another Samford turnover, Nebraska took a media timeout with 4:21 left.

Bozan made a layup, Hargrove sank a jumper, and Bozan added a steal as Nebraska went on a 10-0 run over the last six minutes—although they had been on a lengthy 3:39 scoring drought prior.

Hargrove delivered a big block, and with not much action left, Kennadi Williams dribbled out the clock as Nebraska cruised to an 80-46 victory.

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### Postgame Stats

– **Britt Prince:** 23 points (10/13 FG)
– **Jessica Petrie:** 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
– **Petra Bozan:** 13 points, 6 rebounds
– **Amiah Hargrove:** 12 points, 11 rebounds
– **Callin Hake:** 7 assists
– **Kennadi Williams:** 5 assists

Nebraska shot 51% from the field, including 26% from three-point range, compared to Samford’s 33% shooting overall and 30% from distance.

The Huskers recorded 17 steals and 22 assists, won the rebounding battle 37-31, and committed 14 turnovers compared to Samford’s 27.

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### Looking Ahead

Nebraska’s next game will be against the Creighton Bluejays. The in-state rivals will meet at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, November 12th, with tip-off set for 8:00 PM.

Stay tuned for more exciting Husker basketball this season!
https://www.cornnation.com/nebraska-womens-basketball/88396/nebraska-womens-basketball-dominates-samford-80-46

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“Guys, we have cancer survivors in the crowd”- Rebekah Allick opens up about Bergen Reilly’s advice that helped Nebraska Volleyball team push limits

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Nebraska Volleyball Team Player Rebekah Allick Opens Up About Teammate Bergen Reilly’s Inspiring Advice

The Nebraska Cornhuskers recently showcased their dominance by winning against the Northwestern University Wildcats with a clean 3-0 sweep. In the post-match press conference, Rebekah Allick and teammate Teraya Sigler discussed the cancer awareness campaign promoted by the Nebraska Volleyball team throughout the current season.

Allick echoed Sigler’s sentiments about raising awareness for cancer survivors who were present during the match. In her words,

“Wow, well said. Um, yeah. I feel like one thing that really resonated with me was when Bergen, right before our second set, she hit the nail on the head. I felt we could’ve played better in those first two [sets], and she goes, ‘Guys, we have cancer survivors in the crowd. Let’s give them a show.’ And I’m like, ‘That’s the freaking truth.’”
[7:10 onwards]

Continuing Their Winning Streak

This victory marked the Nebraska Volleyball team’s 19th consecutive win. The Huskers are now preparing to face the Wisconsin Badgers on October 31 at the UW Field House in Madison, Wisconsin.

Insights Into Nebraska Volleyball’s Mindset

During the same press conference, Rebekah Allick shared insights about the team’s mindset and work ethic. Reflecting on advice from head coach Dani Busboom Kelly, Allick said,

“I don’t even know how to explain it. We’re just really freaking good. I’m going to say it. We’re just really freaking good. We have pushed ourselves since January. December 21st is playing in all of our heads. It has always been that John used to, and Dani like they are always thinking like ‘Every match is a National Championship’, and so when we go to practice, like we go in sixes.”

The game against Northwestern was also the 10th consecutive time the Cornhuskers didn’t lose a single set throughout a match, highlighting their consistency and dominance.

Team Morale and Practice Culture

Allick further opened up about the team morale during practice sessions, sharing,

“It feels like a Saturday Night match when we play sixes like we’re cheering on the ground, like tears are being shed. It can be really frustrating when you push yourself so hard all week and it doesn’t show for an hour and a half. It can be really frustrating as a competitor, but personally, as a senior, I couldn’t be more proud.”

Recently, the Nebraska Volleyball team also marked its 11th consecutive sweep by defeating the Michigan State Spartans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

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About the Author
**Animesh Pandey** is a seasoned content writer at Sportskeeda with over eight years of experience. A graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing, Animesh has covered numerous major sporting events including World Championships and the Olympics. Known for his dedication to thorough research and ethical reporting, Animesh has been an active sports columnist since 2017.

He was notably invited to the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2018 at Rashtrapati Bhavan after winning a MyGov quiz on Indian Sports, where he engaged with celebrated athletes such as Rahi Sarnobat, Hima Das, Jinson Johnson, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, and Subedar Neeraj Chopra, his favorite Olympian.

Though a field hockey enthusiast, Animesh’s cherished Olympic moments include Wayde Van Niekerk’s world record in the 400 meters at Rio and Chopra’s historic gold medal in Tokyo. Outside sports, he enjoys quality cinema regardless of language.

*Edited by Animesh Pandey*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/olympics/news-guys-cancer-survivors-crowd-rebekah-allick-opens-bergen-reilly-s-advice-helped-nebraska-volleyball-team-push-limits