The No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team leaned on grit, depth, and a little freshman firepower to take down No.
9 Minnesota in a key Big Ten showdown, 21-12. Even with two true freshmen in the lineup, the Huskers showed they’re built for the long haul, improving to 9-3 on the season.
Things didn’t start smoothly for Nebraska. The Huskers dropped three of the first four bouts and found themselves in an early hole.
But that’s when returning NCAA champion Antrell Taylor stepped up and flipped the script - in dramatic fashion. His late-match heroics sparked a run that saw Nebraska win four of the final five matches after intermission, sealing a statement win on the road.
Let’s break it down, weight by weight.
125 pounds
Nebraska sophomore Alan Koehler had a tough draw in Minnesota’s No.
6 Jore Volk. Volk struck first with a slick takedown off a head snap late in the opening period.
Koehler battled back with a second-period escape but couldn’t crack Volk’s defense down the stretch. Volk added an escape of his own in the third and held on for a 4-1 decision.
Koehler moves to 10-10 on the season - a tough outing, but one that shows where the margins are razor-thin at this level.
133 pounds
This one was a clinic in defensive wrestling.
Nebraska’s No. 8 Jacob Van Dee controlled the tempo against Minnesota’s Brandon Morvari, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect much action.
After a scoreless first, Van Dee escaped quickly in the second. Morvari chose neutral in the third, hoping to break through, but Van Dee’s positioning and mat awareness were too much.
A 1-0 decision might not be flashy, but it’s a win built on fundamentals. Van Dee is now 12-1 and has only surrendered one takedown all year - and with matchups looming against three top-11 opponents, that stingy defense will be tested.
141 pounds
True freshman Jake Hockaday made his dual debut for the Huskers, stepping in for a big test against No.
10 Vance Vombaur - an All-American and Big Ten finalist. Hockaday, a four-time Indiana state champ, is coming off off-season knee surgery and got thrown right into the fire.
Vombaur controlled most of the match, scoring two takedowns en route to a 7-2 win. But Hockaday showed flashes - nearly reversing Vombaur in the second and coming close to a takedown in the third.
It’s a tough ask for a debut, but the experience will pay off. The Huskers are grooming him for the future, and this was a valuable first step.
149 pounds
With No.
12 Chance Lamer out, Nebraska turned to another true freshman in Nikade Zinkin. The two-time California state champ made his sixth dual start, facing Minnesota’s No.
27 Drew Roberts. Zinkin dropped a 6-3 decision, giving up a first-period takedown and a late reversal.
Like Hockaday, Zinkin is gaining reps that will matter down the line. He’s now 8-8 overall and 2-4 in duals - a learning curve, but one Nebraska is willing to ride out.
157 pounds
This is where the tide turned - and in spectacular fashion.
Down 9-3 in the dual, Nebraska needed a jolt. Enter No.
5 Antrell Taylor. His match against No.
20 Charlie Millard was a slow burn that ended in fireworks. After a scoreless first, Taylor escaped in the second, but Millard answered with a takedown in the third to go up 4-1.
Taylor immediately reversed him, then cut him loose. Down 5-3 and with time ticking away, Taylor got into a scramble and muscled Millard over for a dramatic pin with just two seconds left on the clock.
That tied the dual at 9-9 heading into the break - and gave Nebraska all the momentum. Taylor is now 13-2 and has ended both of his Big Ten duals with pins.
That’s a closer’s mentality.
165 pounds
Coming out of the intermission, Nebraska’s No.
8 LJ Araujo was looking to keep the momentum rolling and snap a personal three-match skid. He did just that against No.
16 Andrew Sparks, a seasoned four-time NCAA qualifier. After a scoreless first, Araujo escaped and then capitalized on a re-attack for a takedown.
He gave up a reversal late in the second but escaped again to stay in control. Sparks chose neutral in the third, trying to avoid Araujo’s top game, but couldn’t generate offense.
Araujo took the 6-2 decision with a riding-time point and improved to 10-4 on the season. A big-time bounce-back win.
174 pounds
Another ranked matchup, another win for the Huskers.
No. 6 Christopher Minto was sharp and steady against No.
23 Ethan Riddle. Minto scored takedowns in every period and added a riding-time point for an 11-4 decision.
He just missed out on a bonus point, but the performance was dominant. Minto improves to 13-2 and has now racked up 41 takedowns this season while allowing just three.
That’s elite-level control.
184 pounds
This was a rematch with some history.
Last year, Nebraska’s No. 9 Silas Allred lost by major decision to Minnesota’s No.
3 Max McEnelly. This time, Allred tightened things up and wrestled a smart, tactical match.
The two were tied 1-1 after regulation, but McEnelly found a window in sudden victory, hitting a slick duck-under for the takedown and a 4-1 win. Allred drops to 11-4, with all four losses coming to top-8 opponents.
He’s right there - just needs to find that extra gear against the elite.
197 pounds
With the dual still in the balance, Nebraska’s No.
15 Camden McDanel delivered. Facing No.
25 Gavin Nelson, McDanel took control in the second and third periods with timely takedowns and solid mat work. His 7-2 decision gave Nebraska an 18-12 lead heading into heavyweight.
McDanel is now 12-4 and continues to be a steady hand in the upper weights.
285 pounds
Despite off-the-mat headlines this week, Nebraska’s No.
4 AJ Ferrari suited up and delivered when it mattered. He squared off with No.
9 Koy Hopke in a high-stakes heavyweight clash. After a scoreless first, Ferrari escaped quickly in the second for a 1-0 lead.
In the third, he started on top and rode hard, racking up nearly two minutes of riding time. He gave up an escape with eight seconds left but held off a final flurry to win 2-1, thanks to the riding-time point.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was calculated - and it sealed the dual.
Final Thoughts
Nebraska showed a lot in this one - resilience after a slow start, trust in its young talent, and a knack for winning the key matches when it mattered most.
With true freshmen like Hockaday and Zinkin gaining valuable reps and veterans like Taylor and Ferrari delivering in the clutch, the Huskers are building something serious. This wasn’t just a win over a Top-10 opponent - it was a blueprint for how to win in January and beyond.