Six Huskers Advance to Midlands Semifinals – North Platte Post Archive

Wednesday's action begins at noon (CT) and will be streamed on BTN2Go. (Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications) — Wednesday’s action begins at noon (CT) and will be streamed on BTN2Go. (Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications)

Evanston, Ill. – Six Husker wrestlers punched tickets to the semifinals after the first day of action in the 53rd Ken Kraft Midlands Championships at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Tuesday.

Nebraska is in second place as a team with 78 points heading into Wednesday. Iowa leads the team competition with 96 points, and Rutgers rounds out the top three with 62 points.

No. 10 Tim Lambert (125) won all three of his matches on Tuesday by decision to advance to the semifinals. Lambert, a junior from Forest Hills, Mich., extends his winning streak to nine matches and improves to 14-1 this season.

No. 7 Jake Sueflohn (149) won four matches en route to a semifinal berth. After a pair of decisions to open his tournament, the senior from Watertown, Wis., won by major decision over Wisconsin’s Andrew Crone before pinning No. 14 B.J. Clagon of Rider in the quarterfinals.

No. 12 Micah Barnes (174) earned one pin and two decisions on his way to the semifinals. Barnes, a junior from Inver Grove Heights, Minn., improves to 14-1 on the season heading into Wednesday’s action.

All-American TJ Dudley (184) advanced to the semifinals after a pin and two decisions on Tuesday. Dudley, the eighth-ranked wrestler by InterMat, will face No. 16 Abram Ayala of Princeton in the semifinals.

Two 197-pounders for Nebraska advanced to the semifinals. No. 16 Aaron Studebaker and redshirt freshman Derek White each notched three victories on Tuesday.

No. 15 Collin Jensen (HWT) was a quarterfinalist, but fell to top-ranked Nick Gwiazdowski of NC State. Kris Williams (125 – unattached), No. 14 Eric Montoya (133), No. 18 Tyler Berger (157) and No. 11 Austin Wilson (165) also remain alive in the consolation bracket for Wednesday.

Dustin Williams (165), No. 17 Anthony Abidin (141), Colton McCrystal (141) and Brian Peska (133) also competed in the Midlands Championships, but were each eliminated on Tuesday.

The Midlands Championships continue on Wednesday with Session III, starting at noon (CT) on BTN2Go (subscription required). The tournament concludes with Session IV on Wednesday at 8 p.m., live on the Big Ten Network.