The No. 11 Nebraska wrestling team (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) heads to Brookings, S.D. for its first road dual of the season against South Dakota State at Frost Arena on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
The Huskers are making their second trip to South Dakota this season after appearing in the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open on Nov. 3. Three Huskers won individual titles at the tournament, including South Dakota natives Robert Kokesh (Wagner) and Collin Jensen (Mobridge). Kokesh is projected to start at 174 pounds this weekend and Jensen could see time at heavyweight against the Jackrabbits.
Head Coach Mark Manning, who is in his 14th season at Nebraska, is also a South Dakota native. Manning hails from Vermillion and will be going for his 200th career victory on Sunday afternoon.
Nebraska looks to continue its momentum from a 25-16 triumph over then-No. 19 Northwestern in the season-opening dual at the Devaney Center. Newcomers Colton McCrystal (133) and Anthony Abidin (141) along with redshirt freshman Tim Lambert (125) helped the Huskers jump out to an early 9-0 lead against the Wildcats before reigning All-Americans Kokesh (won by forfeit) and James Green (157) added bonus points to secure the victory. Redshirt freshman TJ Dudley (184) added a pin in his first dual for the Huskers.
Lambert, McCrystal and Abidin are all projected to start at their respective weight classes following close victories. Junior Jake Sueflohn (149) looks to rebound from back-to-back losses this weekend against South Dakota State’s Alex Kocer.
Green and Kokesh will start at 157 and 174 pounds, respectively, as Dudley has earned the spot at 184 pounds. Sophomore Austin Wilson is expected to start at 165 pounds following a loss against Northwestern.
Junior Spencer Johnson is projected to start for NU at 197 pounds after a third-place finish at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open last weekend. Johnson pinned four of his opponents in Ames, Iowa.
At heavyweight, Nebraska could start either Jensen or Nyle Bartling. Jensen is 4-0 this season and Bartling is 3-3.
Nebraska leads the all-time series with South Dakota State, 18-16-2. Last season the Huskers won eight matches against the Jackrabbits to post a 32-7 victory at the NU Coliseum. NU earned bonus points from Green, Kokesh, Skylar Galloway, Caleb Kolb and then-senior Josh Ihnen. Nebraska holds a 10-dual win streak over South Dakota State, dating back to 1982.
Sunday’s dual can be tracked on Twitter by following @HuskerWrestling.