No. 6 Nebraska wrestling challenged another top-five foe, but fell just short in a 17-16 dual loss to No. 2 Ohio State, 17-16, Sunday at John Cook Arena in Lincoln. The dual was hotly contested throughout, with four matches going to overtime and another decided by one point.
The dual started poorly for the Cornhuskers (9-5, 2-2 Big Ten), as the Buckeyes (14-0, 3-0 Big Ten) won the first four matches of the dual, building a 14-0 lead. But at 157 pounds, No. 5 Antrell Taylor got Nebraska back on the right track in a big way, topping No. 1 Brandon Cannon by major decision, 11-3. No. 7 LJ Araujo followed at 165 pounds, edging e’Than Birden 1-0. At 174 pounds, No. 6 Christopher Minto won a 4-1, sudden-victory over No. 4 Carson Kharchla. No. 7 Silas Allred followed with a 2-1 overtime win over No. 5 Dylan Fishback at 184 pounds, drawing to within one point of OSU for the dual. At 197 pounds, No. 9 Camden McDanel defeated No. 10 Luke Geog, 9-3, giving the Huskers a 16-14 lead with one match to go. But at heavyweight, No. 4 AJ Ferrari lost to No. 3 Nick Feldman in sudden-victory time, 4-1.
The road gets no easier for the Huskers, as Nebraska travels to No. 1 and four-time defending national champions Penn State Friday at 7 p.m., in University Park, Pa.
No. 2 Ohio State 17, No. 6 Nebraska 16
125: #2 Nic Bouzakis major dec. Kael Lauridsen 16-4 (OHST 4, NEB 0)
133: #2 Ben Davino dec. #8 Jacob Van Dee 7-2 (OHST 7, NEB 0)
141: #1 Jesse Mendez major dec. #3 Brock Hardy 14-3 (OHST 11, NEB 0)
149: #4 Ethan Stiles dec. #14 Chance Lamer 6-3 SV-1 (OHST 14, NEB 0)
157: #5 Antrell Taylor major dec. #1 Brandon Cannon 11-3 (OHST 14, NEB 4)
165: #7 LJ Araujo dec. e’Than Birden 1-0 (OHST 14, NEB 7)
174: #6 Christopher Minto dec. #4 Carson Kharchla 4-1 SV-1 (OHST 14, NEB 10)
184: #7 Silas Allred dec. #5 Dylan Fishback 2-1 TB-1 (OHST 14, NEB 13)
197: #9 Camden McDanel dec. #10 Luke Geog 9-3 (NEB 16, OHST 14)
HWT: #3 Nick Feldman dec. #4 AJ Ferrari 4-1 SV-1 (OHST 17, NEB 16)