Nebraska Wrestling Closes Big Ten Slate with Dominant Win Over Indiana
Nebraska wrestling wrapped up its Big Ten regular season on a high note Sunday, rolling into Bloomington and rolling over No. 25 Indiana in a statement 34-5 win. Just two days removed from a top-10 victory over Illinois, the No. 6-ranked Huskers showed no signs of a letdown, putting together nine straight wins after a rocky start at 125 pounds.
Indiana, fresh off a ranked win of its own at Wisconsin, came in with momentum, but Nebraska shut the door early and never let the Hoosiers back in. Bonus points piled up, and the Huskers looked every bit like a team rounding into postseason form.
Let’s break down what stood out from Nebraska’s final Big Ten dual of the season.
LJ Araujo Keeps Rolling with Another Ranked Win
Redshirt freshman LJ Araujo is making up for lost time-and then some. After returning to the lineup following a brief stint in South America, where he qualified to represent Team Brazil, Araujo has picked up right where he left off.
Sunday’s 165-pound bout against No. 18 Tyler Lillard wasn’t without drama.
Araujo jumped out to a commanding 7-0 lead in the second period, but Lillard didn’t go quietly. He clawed his way back with a nearfall and a couple of takedowns, cutting the deficit to just one.
But thanks to a successful challenge from head coach Mark Manning, Araujo got a crucial scoring bump that gave him enough breathing room to hold on for a 10-8 decision-his ninth ranked win of the season and second of the weekend.
This was a gritty, mature performance from a young wrestler who’s quickly becoming a key piece of Nebraska’s postseason puzzle.
Christopher Minto Guts Out a Win at 174
Christopher Minto didn’t light up the scoreboard, but he didn’t need to. The No. 4-ranked 174-pounder leaned on early offense and late resilience to grind out a 7-3 decision over Indiana’s Derek Gilcher.
Minto came out strong with two early takedowns, but things got dicey in the second and third periods. Gilcher kept it close with an escape and nearly scored on a scramble that had Indiana’s bench throwing the challenge brick-but to no avail. Minto lost a stall point and had to fight out of a tough position late, ultimately forcing a stalemate and closing out the match.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was a win that showed Minto’s ability to manage a match when things don’t go perfectly-something that could be critical come March.
Camden McDanel Delivers Late-Game Heroics
If you’re looking for drama, Camden McDanel delivered. The sophomore 197-pounder waited until the final 12 seconds to land the decisive takedown in a tight battle with No. 22 Gabe Sollars.
The bout was a slow burn-scoreless in the first, then a quick reversal by McDanel in the second to get things going. Sollars answered with a pair of escapes to tie it up, and it looked like overtime was looming. But McDanel stayed aggressive, kept working for position, and finally broke through with a late takedown that sealed the 4-2 win.
That victory moved McDanel to 7-1 in Big Ten duals-a mark that speaks to his consistency in one of the conference’s toughest weight classes.
Dominant Performances Across the Board
After dropping the opener at 125 pounds, Nebraska flipped the switch and never looked back. Here’s how the rest of the lineup fared:
- 125 lbs: Kael Lauridsen ran into a buzzsaw in No. 17 Jacob Moran, who racked up three first-period takedowns and over two minutes of riding time en route to a 19-4 tech fall. It was the only blemish on an otherwise dominant afternoon for the Huskers.
- 133 lbs: Jacob Van Dee returned to the mat after missing Friday’s dual and looked fresh, firing out to a 10-1 lead before finishing off an 18-1 tech fall over Gavin Jendreas. Van Dee’s pace and pressure were relentless, capped by a four-point nearfall that ended the match early.
- 141 lbs: Brock Hardy continues to be a bonus-point machine. The senior notched his 13th bonus win of the season with a 20-4 tech fall over No.
25 Henry Porter, improving to 3-0 in his career against the Hoosier. Hardy’s six takedowns were a showcase of his aggressive style and elite mat control.
- 149 lbs: Chance Lamer kept his momentum going with a 5-3 decision over Joey Buttler. Lamer built a lead with strong top work and held on despite giving up a late takedown. It wasn’t flashy, but it was steady-exactly what Nebraska needs in the middle of its lineup.
- 157 lbs: Antrell Taylor came out swinging-and didn’t stop. The No. 3-ranked junior put on a takedown clinic in a 21-5 tech fall over Bryce Lowery, ending the match with 38 seconds left in the second period. Taylor typically leans on patience and control, but on Sunday, he flipped the script with five takedowns in the first period alone.
- 184 lbs: Silas Allred added to Nebraska’s bonus point parade with an 11-2 major decision over No. 19 Sam Goin. Allred jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never let up, using a takedown and riding time to close the door in the third.
- 285 lbs: AJ Ferrari capped the dual with a workmanlike 9-3 win over Matt Kowalski. Ferrari had to stay patient early as Kowalski played defense, but the senior heavyweight broke through in the third with a takedown and secured riding time to put the finishing touches on Nebraska’s dominant day.
What’s Next for the Huskers
With the win, Nebraska closes out Big Ten duals at 5-3-solid footing as they head into the postseason. The Huskers will finish the regular season with a non-conference trip to Utah Valley on Saturday, Feb.
- That dual is set for an 8 p.m.
CT start.
If this weekend was any indication, Nebraska is peaking at the right time. Bonus points are flowing, ranked wins are stacking up, and the lineup looks deep, healthy, and dangerous. The postseason is right around the corner-and the Huskers are ready.