Huskers start strong at NCAA championships
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BY KARL VOGEL / Lincoln Journal Star
ST. LOUIS — The Nebraska wrestling team nearly ran the table in the first round of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on Thursday, sending seven of its eight qualifiers into this evening's second round.
Nebraska's Paul Donahoe began his quest for a repeat national championship at 125 pounds with a dominating first-round victory on Thursday at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the ScottTradeCenter.
Donahoe scored a takedown in each of the three periods en route to a 9-0 win against Nikko Triggas of Ohio State. He advances to a second-round matchup with Brandon Zoetewey of Cal State Bakersfield.
Team Scoring
Through first round
1. Iowa 19, 2. Central Michigan 18, 3. Iowa State 16, 4. (tie) Nebraska and Minnesota 15.5, 6. Oklahoma State 14.5, 7. (tie) Ohio State and Penn State 13, 9. Missouri 12.5, 10. Wisconsin 11, 11. Northwestern 10.5, 12. (tie) Hofstra and Stanford 10, 14. Purdue 9.5; 15. (tie) Indiana and Michigan, 9; 17. Cornell 8.5; 18. (tie) Boise State, Illinois and Pittsburgh, 8; 21. Edinboro 7.5; 22. (tie) Bloomsburg and Navy 7; 24. (tie) Maryland and North Carolina State 6.0; 26. Pennsylvania, 4.5; 27. (tie) Arizona State, Gardner-Webb, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Rider, Virginia and West Virginia, 4; 34. (tie) Air Force, American, Cal Poly, Harvard, Michigan State, North Dakota State, Oklahoma, Old Dominion and Oregon State, 3; 43. (tie) Army, Cal State-Bakersfield, Cal State-Fullerton, George Mason, North Carolina-Greensboro, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Oregon and VMI 2, 52. (tie) Liberty and Lock Haven, 1.
Nebraska individual results
First round
125-Paul Donahoe, NU, maj. dec. Nikko Triggas, Ohio State, 9-0; 133-Kenny Jordan, NU, dec. Seth Ciasulli, Lehigh, 11-5; 149-Jordan Burroughs, NU, dec. Cesar Grajales, Penn, 4-1; 165-Stephen Dwyer, NU, maj. dec. Ryan Patrovich, Hofstra, 13-4; 174-Brandon Browne, NU, dec. Christopher Henrich, Virginia, 8-3; 184-Vince Jones, NU, dec. Andy O'Laughlin, Northern Iowa, 9-4; 197-Craig Brester, NU, tech. fall over Richard Starks, Army, 17-0 (4:07); 285-Ed Prendergast, Navy, pinned Jon May, NU, 5:19.
NU's Kenny Jordan parlayed five takedowns into an 11-5 win against Lehigh's Seth Ciasulli at 133 pounds. Jordan will face fourth-seeded Joey Slaton of Iowa in the second round.
At 149 pounds, fourth-seeded Husker Jordan Burroughs struggled a bit, but earned his 30th win of the season. Burroughs was tied 1-1 with Cesar Grajales of Pennsylvania late in the third period before scoring a takedown with 21 seconds left on his way to a 4-1 decision. His second-round opponent will be Edward McCray of Gardner-Webb.
Husker Stephen Dwyer, the fifth seed at 165 pounds, also earned his 30th win with an opening-round, 13-4 victory against Ryan Patrovich of Hofstra. Dwyer will face either Dave Rella or Penn State or 12th-seeded Jarrod King of Edinboro in the next round.
Brandon Browne, NU's No. 3 seed at 174, was never in trouble while taking an 8-3 opening win against Christopher Henrich of Virginia. Browne will face Aron Scott of Iowa State in the second round.
At 184, Nebraska's unseeded Vince Jones earned a 9-4 decision against Northern Iowa's Andy O'Laughlin. Jones will face third-seeded Tyrel Todd of Michigan in the second round.
Eighth-seeded Craig Brester had the most dominant performance of any Husker in the first round, beating Army's Richard Starks by technical fall (17-0 in 4 minutes, 7 seconds) at 197. Brester advances to face ninth-seeded Patrick Bond of Illinois in the second round.
NU's only loss of the opening round came in its final match as senior heavyweight Jon May, was pinned by Navy's third-seeded Ed Prendergast in 5:19. May will wrestle Friday morning in the consolation bracket.
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