NU wrestlers look to contend for NCAA title
Brandon Browne wasn’t at the 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships, but he did live the experience.
In fact, Browne, his teammates and his coaches say it still serves as motivation and inspiration for a Nebraska team that has put together one of the most historic wrestling seasons in school history.
Today, Browne and seven of his Husker teammates will take the mats in St. Louis and be among the teams expected to contend for the title.
It’s something that may not have been possible if it weren’t for the emotional ripples created when NU’s Paul Donahoe won the 125-pound national title last year.
Donahoe, then a sophomore, overcame his biggest nemesis — Oklahoma’s Sam Hazewinkel, who had dominated their three previous meetings — with an overtime takedown and earned college wrestling’s top prize only 30 miles from his hometown of Davison, Mich.
In the back of Donahoe’s mind was his longtime friend, Chase Metcalf, who had died during their high school years.
The emotion Donahoe had been keeping inside finally welled up and broke through. As his hand was raised at the end of his match, Donahoe screamed and wept. He sprinted into the waiting arms of his Husker coaches and began the celebration.
Nebraska coach Mark Manning remembers the immediate aftermath of Donahoe’s win as a turning point for the Husker program.
It was only the ninth individual national title in school history and, Manning said, served as an inspiration for the young Husker lineup that competed at the NCAA meet last season.
“When Paul walked back off the mat and came back into the warmup area, I’ll never forget the look on the faces of our freshmen — Craig Brester, Stephen Dwyer, Jordan Burroughs,” Manning said.
“They saw Paul do it, and it helped with their believing. They understood that they have a chance to do that, too. Sort of, ‘If Paul did it, I can do it.’”
Back home in Lincoln, Browne couldn’t contain himself either.
“We’ve been best friends since he’s been here, and I remember last year when he was down there winning it I was at home in our apartment watching,” Browne said. “When he won it, I was crying.”
Moments later, Browne said, Donahoe’s championship took on added importance.
“Seeing him do it gave me the confidence that I could do it, too,” Browne said. “It’s not just about what he did, but how he did it. He was so smart about everything, and wrestling’s so much mental and so much being smarter than your opponent. That’s what Donahoe did at nationals.
“It made me realize that I had to do those same things, too.”
From the beginning of this season, Browne has been the Huskers’ most consistently successful wrestler.
He compiled a 31-2 record, and his .939 winning percentage ranks ninth in school history. He joined Donahoe and Burroughs as Big 12 Conference champions, marking the first time in the league’s 12 years that the Huskers have had more than two in the same year.
Browne has come a long way from last year, when he didn’t wrestle any varsity meets and lost a year of eligibility.
He credits Donahoe with helping him keep a positive mind-set and in creating a foundation for this year’s success.
“I think he knew what I was going through and he tried staying away from subjects like that,” Browne said. “ Even though I wasn’t going on the trips. I told him, ‘You’re not allowed back in the apartment if you don’t win the gold medal.’
“Seeing him succeeding kept the fire going in me knowing I’d be there on the team with him this year.”
Manning said he’s seen that same intensity throughout his lineup this season and especially so in the weeks leading up to nationals. Even in Donahoe, who has a chance to become the first repeat champion in NU history.
“They’re doing well with their confidence in this calm before the storm. It’s a long tournament, but these guys are going to be ready for it,” Manning said.
“They see that Paul’s about winning another one and not trying to repeat something. It’s all about winning this one.”
Reach Karl Vogel at 473-7432 or kvogel@journalstar.com.
In fact, Browne, his teammates and his coaches say it still serves as motivation and inspiration for a Nebraska team that has put together one of the most historic wrestling seasons in school history.
Today, Browne and seven of his Husker teammates will take the mats in St. Louis and be among the teams expected to contend for the title.
It’s something that may not have been possible if it weren’t for the emotional ripples created when NU’s Paul Donahoe won the 125-pound national title last year.
Donahoe, then a sophomore, overcame his biggest nemesis — Oklahoma’s Sam Hazewinkel, who had dominated their three previous meetings — with an overtime takedown and earned college wrestling’s top prize only 30 miles from his hometown of Davison, Mich.
In the back of Donahoe’s mind was his longtime friend, Chase Metcalf, who had died during their high school years.
The emotion Donahoe had been keeping inside finally welled up and broke through. As his hand was raised at the end of his match, Donahoe screamed and wept. He sprinted into the waiting arms of his Husker coaches and began the celebration.
Nebraska coach Mark Manning remembers the immediate aftermath of Donahoe’s win as a turning point for the Husker program.
It was only the ninth individual national title in school history and, Manning said, served as an inspiration for the young Husker lineup that competed at the NCAA meet last season.
“When Paul walked back off the mat and came back into the warmup area, I’ll never forget the look on the faces of our freshmen — Craig Brester, Stephen Dwyer, Jordan Burroughs,” Manning said.
“They saw Paul do it, and it helped with their believing. They understood that they have a chance to do that, too. Sort of, ‘If Paul did it, I can do it.’”
Back home in Lincoln, Browne couldn’t contain himself either.
“We’ve been best friends since he’s been here, and I remember last year when he was down there winning it I was at home in our apartment watching,” Browne said. “When he won it, I was crying.”
Moments later, Browne said, Donahoe’s championship took on added importance.
“Seeing him do it gave me the confidence that I could do it, too,” Browne said. “It’s not just about what he did, but how he did it. He was so smart about everything, and wrestling’s so much mental and so much being smarter than your opponent. That’s what Donahoe did at nationals.
“It made me realize that I had to do those same things, too.”
From the beginning of this season, Browne has been the Huskers’ most consistently successful wrestler.
He compiled a 31-2 record, and his .939 winning percentage ranks ninth in school history. He joined Donahoe and Burroughs as Big 12 Conference champions, marking the first time in the league’s 12 years that the Huskers have had more than two in the same year.
Browne has come a long way from last year, when he didn’t wrestle any varsity meets and lost a year of eligibility.
He credits Donahoe with helping him keep a positive mind-set and in creating a foundation for this year’s success.
“I think he knew what I was going through and he tried staying away from subjects like that,” Browne said. “ Even though I wasn’t going on the trips. I told him, ‘You’re not allowed back in the apartment if you don’t win the gold medal.’
“Seeing him succeeding kept the fire going in me knowing I’d be there on the team with him this year.”
Manning said he’s seen that same intensity throughout his lineup this season and especially so in the weeks leading up to nationals. Even in Donahoe, who has a chance to become the first repeat champion in NU history.
“They’re doing well with their confidence in this calm before the storm. It’s a long tournament, but these guys are going to be ready for it,” Manning said.
“They see that Paul’s about winning another one and not trying to repeat something. It’s all about winning this one.”
Reach Karl Vogel at 473-7432 or kvogel@journalstar.com.
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