Top-ranked 174-pounder Robert Kokesh garnered Big Ten Wrestler-of-the-Week accolades from the conference on Tuesday.
He receives the award after winning the 174-pound title at the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Kokesh, a senior from Wagner, S.D., won six matches at the tournament to lead the Huskers to a fourth-place team finish.
Kokesh pinned his first three opponents before notching a major decision over 18th-ranked Kyle Crutchmer of Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals. He topped Missouri’s John Eblen in the semifinals, 5-2, before defeating No. 4 Matt Brown of Penn State in the finals, 3-2.
Kokesh, a two-time All-American, improves to 21-0 on the season, which includes six pins, two technical falls and four major decisions. He has six wins against ranked opponents and has held the No. 1 ranking at 174 pounds in every major NCAA wrestling poll since Dec. 9.
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Senior All-Americans Robert Kokesh (174) and James Green (157) each captured weight class titles at the Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle at McKenzie Arena on Friday.
The Huskers finished fourth as a team with 116 points. Four-time defending national champion Penn State took home the team title with 165 points, while Missouri (150) and Oklahoma State (135.5) also notched top-three finishes.
Kokesh, the top-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, completed his tournament run with a 3-2 decision over No. 4 Matt Brown of Penn State in the finals. Over the course of the Southern Scuffle, Kokesh collected three pins and one major decision. He improves to 21-0 on the season and wins his third tournament title.
Green, the No. 1 seed at 157 pounds, took down Jason Nolf of Penn State in the finals by a 7-4 margin. Green’s performance at the tournament included one pin and two major decisions over the span of five matches. He is now 18-1 this season and wins his second tournament title of the 2014-15 campaign.
No. 20 Anthony Abidin took third place at 141 pounds after a 6-1 showing during the two-day event. No. 17 Tim Lambert placed fifth with a 6-2 record at the Southern Scuffle. Unattached wrestler Tyler Berger (149) earned a sixth-place finish at the tournament, while 184-pounder TJ Dudley finished eighth.
Eric Montoya (133), Justin Arthur (149), Austin Wilson (165), Aaron Studebaker (184), Spencer Johnson (197), Micah Barnes (197) and Collin Jensen (HWT) also competed for the Huskers at the Southern Scuffle. Dustin Williams (165) and Derek White (197) each wrestled unattached at the tournament.
The Huskers return home to host Purdue next weekend at the Devaney Center. The dual, set for Jan. 9 at 7 p.m., will be part of Tumble N’ Rumble, which will also feature a Nebraska women’s gymnastics meet on the Devaney floor at the same time.
Tournament Finishes
125: No. 17 Tim Lambert (5th) 6-2
133: Eric Montoya (DNP) 3-2
141: No. 20 Anthony Abidin (3rd) 6-1
149: Justin Arthur (DNP) 3-2
149: Tyler Berger (unattached) (6th) 5-3
157: No. 2 James Green (1st) 5-0
165: No. 20 Austin Wilson (DNP) 2-2
165: Dustin Williams (unattached) (DNP) 0-2
174: No. 1 Robert Kokesh (1st) 6-0
184: No. 19 TJ Dudley (8th) 4-2
184: Aaron Studebaker (DNP) 4-2
197: Spencer Johnson (DNP – Medical Forfeit) 3-0
197: Micah Barnes (DNP) 1-2
197: Derek White (unattached) (DNP) 2-2
HWT: No. 14 Collin Jensen (DNP) 2-2
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Six Husker wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Defense Soap & Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle after Thursday’s action from McKenzie Arena.
Nebraska is second in the team standings with 48 points heading into the final day as the Huskers trail four-time defending national champion Penn State by four points. Missouri rounds out the top three of the loaded 32-team field, which includes over half of last season’s top 25 team finishers from the NCAA Championships.
No. 1 Robert Kokesh (174) pinned all three of his opponents on Thursday to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Kokesh, who improves to 18-0 on the season, will face 18th-ranked Kyle Crutchmer of Oklahoma State on Friday.
At 157 pounds, No. 2 James Green, the top seed, pinned Campbell’s Daniel Luty before collecting a 12-4 major decision over Craig Eifert of Cornell in the round of 16. Green, a three-time All-American, battles No. 19 Anthony Collica of Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals.
Spencer Johnson (197) picked up the biggest upset of the day with his 5-3 decision over top-ranked Kyven Gadson of Iowa State in the round of 16. Prior to that match, Johnson won by fall and decision to open the Southern Scuffle. He is set to face No. 15 Elliott Riddick of Lehigh in Friday’s quarterfinals.
No. 17 Tim Lambert (125), No. 20 Anthony Abidin (141) and No. 14 Collin Jensen (HWT) also advanced to the quarterfinals following Thursday’s action from McKenzie Arena. Lambert earned a pair of major decisions and added a decision on his way to the quarterfinals. Abidin opened with a decision before adding a major decision after a first-round bye. Jensen also had a bye, but collected a technical fall and decision on Thursday.
Eric Montoya (133) and Aaron Studebaker (184) each won two matches for the Huskers before falling into the consolation bracket. Justin Arthur (149), Austin Wilson (165), TJ Dudley (184) and Micah Barnes (197) each won one match on Thursday, but will begin Friday in the consolation bracket.
Wrestling unattached, Tyler Berger (149) and Derek White (197) each remain alive in the wrestleback bracket. Dustin Williams went 0-2 at 165 pounds and was eliminated.
The Southern Scuffle continues on Friday at 8 a.m. (CT) with the championship quarterfinals. The championship finals and medal matches are set for 6 p.m., after the semifinals and consolation bouts.
After nearly three weeks off from competition, Nebraska will open 2015 at the Defense Soap & Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Thursday and Friday.
Live scoring and updated brackets will be available on TrackWrestling.com. Live video streaming will be provided by Flowrestling.org, with a paid subscription required to view the matches. Event information can be found at TheSouthernScuffle.com.
Thursday’s action begins at 8 a.m. (CT) and will consist of three championship rounds and three consolation rounds. Friday’s slate starts at 8 a.m., with the quarterfinals, before the championship finals and medal matches, set for 6 p.m.
Lincoln, Neb.– No. 8 Nebraska (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday night as the Huskers fell to Wisconsin, 23-14, at the Devaney Center.
No. 1 Robert Kokesh got NU started on the right track with his 16-5 major decision over Frank Cousins in the opening bout at 174 pounds. The senior All-American raced out to a 9-1 lead after the first period and never looked back before adding a point for riding time. Kokesh, who ascended to the top spot at 174 pounds in every major poll this week, improves to 15-0 on the season.
Ranked Huskers Tim Lambert (No. 18 at 125), Anthony Abidin (No. 20 at 141) and James Green (No. 2 at 157) also posted victories for the Huskers. Lambert shutout Johnny Jimenez in the fifth match of the night, scoring a takedown in the first period before a reversal from the bottom position in the second period. He tacked on a riding time point in his 5-0 decision.
Abidin took an early lead against Jesse Thielke before a dominant third period gave the Husker junior an 11-2 major decision. Abidin earned three takedowns in the match and added a point for riding time.
Green, a three-time All-American, collected three takedowns in the first period against Jarod Donar and built a 9-3 lead midway through the second stanza before holding off the pesky Badger for a 9-7 win. Green is 13-1 on the season and holds a 5-0 record in duals.
Following Kokesh’s win in the opening match, Nebraska’s TJ Dudley (184), Aaron Studebaker (197) and Collin Jensen (HWT) each lost as the Badgers gained a 10-4 advantage. Eric Montoya fell to No. 18 Ryan Taylor at 133 pounds, while No. 19 Justin Arthur dropped an 8-7 decision to Rylan Lubeck at 149 pounds and Austin Wilson (165) was pinned by No. 7 Isaac Jordan in the final match of the dual.
The Huskers return to action Jan. 1-2 at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. More event information will be available on Huskers.com closer to the tournament.
No. 8 Nebraska (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) returns home for its final dual of 2014 when the Huskers host Big Ten rival Wisconsin on Saturday at the Devaney Center at 6 p.m. (CT). The dual can be followed on TrackWrestling.com as well as on Twitter by following @HuskerWrestling.
NU enters the matchup after a sixth-place finish at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev., last weekend. Senior Robert Kokesh won the 174-pound title, while James Green (2nd at 157), Justin Arthur (4th at 149) and TJ Dudley (7th at 184) also placed for the Big Red. Following the competition, Kokesh ascended to No. 1 in the country at 174 pounds in every major NCAA wrestling poll.
The Huskers last competed in a dual on Nov. 22 when NU defeated Duke and NC State on the road. Nebraska opened the season with a road victory over No. 25 Wyoming and added a home win over Maryland at the NU Coliseum.
The Badgers are 3-1, with a 1-0 record in Big Ten competition. Saturday’s dual will mark the 18th meeting in series history, with Wisconsin holding a 9-6-2 advantage. Last season, NU emerged with a 22-15 triumph in Madison, Wis., on Feb. 21, 2014.
In addition to Nebraska’s placers in Las Vegas, Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133), No. 20 Anthony Abidin (141), No. 20 Austin Wilson (165) and No. 14 Collin Jensen are all projected to start this weekend. At 184 pounds, either TJ Dudley or Aaron Studebaker will start, while the Huskers could see Micah Barnes or Spencer Johnson at 197 pounds.
Senior All-American Robert Kokesh moved up to No. 1 at 174 pounds in every major NCAA wrestling poll this week following his first-place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational over the weekend.
Kokesh, a Wagner, S.D., native, earned the top spot from InterMat, WIN Magazine, TheOpenMat.com and Asics Flo Rankings. He entered the weekend ranked second before reeling off five wins en route to the 174-pound title in Las Vegas, Nev. Kokesh opened with a pair of major decisions before knocking off ranked wrestlers Mark Martin of Ohio State (No. 12), Tanner Weatherman of Iowa State (No. 6) and Blaise Butler of Virginia (No. 9).
Kokesh is 14-0 on the season with a 4-0 dual record, and claimed first place at the Cowboy Open on Nov. 8. Kokesh has four victories against ranked opponents to go along with three pins, two technical falls and two major decisions.
The two-time All-American ranks seventh in school history in career victories with 119. He finished fourth at the 2014 NCAA Championships after taking third in 2013. Kokesh is also the reigning Big Ten champion at 174 pounds.
The Huskers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) host Big Ten rival Wisconsin on Saturday at 6 p.m. (CT) at the Devaney Center. The dual will mark Nebraska’s final competition of 2014 before it opens 2015 at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 1-2.
Las Vegas, Nev.– Senior All-American Robert Kokesh captured the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational crown at 174 pounds at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Saturday.
Four Huskers placed in the tournament, with senior James Green taking runner-up honors at 157 pounds. Sophomore Justin Arthur (149) notched a fourth-place finish and TJ Dudley (184) finished seventh. Nebraska finished sixth as a team with 89 points.
Kokesh, the No. 2 seed, started his day with a 7-2 decision over third-seeded Tanner Weatherman of Iowa State in the semifinals. In the finals, Kokesh took down No. 5 seed Blaise Butler of Virginia, 6-2. In the first period, the Husker senior earned one takedown to build a 2-0 lead. He started the second period on bottom and escaped to take a 3-0 advantage into the third stanza.
Both wrestlers started the final period in the neutral position, but Butler took down Kokesh to cut the lead to 3-2. After a quick escape, Kokesh extended his lead with a takedown at the buzzer. For the tournament, the two-time All-American notched two major decisions in five matches. He improves to 14-0 on the season.
Green, the No. 2 seed at 157 pounds, opened Saturday with an 11-6 semifinal victory over third-seeded Anthony Perrotti of Rutgers to set up a matchup against No. 1 Dylan Ness of Minnesota in the finals. The Husker senior took an early 2-0 lead after a first-period takedown, but ultimately fell to the Gopher by a 4-3 decision.
Arthur (149) started his day in the consolation bracket and went 3-1. His wins came against nationally ranked wrestlers Ken Theobold of Rutgers (No. 18), Sal Mastriani of Virginia Tech (No. 9) and Cody Ruggirello of Hofstra (No. 15). Arthur fell to Iowa State’s Gabe Moreno, 6-1, in the third-place match.
Sophomore TJ Dudley (184) went 2-1 on Saturday en route to a seventh-place finish. Dudley, 17th-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds, opened with a 4-0 decision over Jakob Scheffel of West Virginia before falling to No. 6 seed Ophir Bernstein of Brown in the consolation quarterfinals, 11-10. Dudley responded with a pin in the seventh-place match against 11th-seeded Austin Gabel of Virginia Tech in 4:41.
Austin Wilson (165) and Collin Jensen (HWT) each competed in one match on Saturday, but did not place.
The Huskers return home next weekend to face Wisconsin on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. (CT) at the Devaney Center.
Tournament Finishes
125: #13 Tim Lambert DNP (1-2)
133: Eric Montoya DNP (2-2)
141: #15 Anthony Abidin DNP (2-1)
149: Justin Arthur 4th (6-2)
157: #2 James Green 2nd (4-1)
165: #17 Austin Wilson DNP (2-2)
174: #2 Robert Kokesh 1st (5-0)
184: #17 TJ Dudley 7th (5-2)
197: Micah Barnes DNP (1-2)
HWT: #14 Collin Jensen DNP (2-2)
Las Vegas, Nev.– Senior All-Americans James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174) each advanced to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational semifinals to lead Nebraska on Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Huskers are in seventh place with 54.5 points heading into Saturday’s action. Minnesota leads the team race with 85.5 points.
Green, the No. 2 seed at 157 pounds, won by technical fall in each of his first two matches against California Baptist’s Nolan Kistler and Bakersfield’s Spencer Hill. He notched a 15-5 major decision over seventh-seeded Justin Staudenmayer of Brown in the quarterfinals. Green will face No. 3 seed Anthony Perrotti of Rutgers in Saturday’s semifinals.
Kokesh, the No. 2 seed at 174 pounds, opened the tournament with a 14-4 triumph over Columbia’s Shane Hughes before taking down Harvard’s Josef Johnson in the second round, 13-5. In the quarterfinals, the Husker senior won a 6-2 decision over No. 7 seed Mark Martin of Ohio State. Kokesh will battle third-seeded Tanner Weatherman of Iowa State in the semifinals.
Junior Austin Wilson went 2-1 at 165 pounds, falling to top-seeded Nicholas Sulzer of Virginia in the quarterfinals, 14-3. Wilson, the No. 8 seed, opened with a 12-2 major decision over Hofstra’s Nick Terdick before notching a 4-2 decision over Army’s Chandler Smith in the second round. Wilson is set to wrestle Air Force’s Jesse Stafford in the consolation bracket.
Collin Jensen, the No. 7 seed at heavyweight, also went 2-1 and will wrestle in the consolation bracket on Saturday. In the first round, Jensen defeated West Virginia’s Anthony Vizcarrondo, 5-3, and took down 10th-seeded Michael Hughes of Hofstra, 6-1, in the second round. Jensen was pinned by Michigan’s Adam Coon in the quarterfinals.
Justin Arthur (149) and TJ Dudley (184) will also wrestle in the consolation bracket on Saturday. Arthur went 3-1 on Friday with one pin and will face Ken Theobold of Rutgerson Saturday. Dudley also compiled a 3-1 mark with two major decisions and is set to grapple against West Virginia’s Jakob Scheffel in the consolation bracket.
No. 13 Tim Lambert (125), Micah Barnes (197), Eric Montoya (133) and No. 15 Anthony Abidin (141) also competed at the tournament, but were eliminated on Friday. First day results are available at arena.flowrestling.org.
The Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational continues on Saturday with Session III at 11 a.m. (CT). The championship finals are set for 5 p.m.
After nearly two weeks off from competition, Nebraska travels to Las Vegas, Nev., on Friday and Saturday for the 33rd Annual Cliff Keen Invitational at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The event will be streamed on Flowrestling.org, with a subscription required to view the matches. Friday’s competition begins at 11 a.m. (CT) with the pigtail round and first two rounds as well as consolation matches. The quarterfinals are slated for 8 p.m.
On Saturday, consolation matches continue at 11 a.m. before the semifinals and consolation finals (fifth- and seventh-place matches) take place in the afternoon. The championship finals are set for 5 p.m.
Last season, the Huskers finished second at the tournament as James Green captured the 157-pound title.
