Alumni night attracts Husker wrestling legends
Dana Ahrens
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Sports
It was alumni night at the NU Coliseum on Saturday evening.
The Cornhusker wrestling team improved its dual record to 11-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference as it clinched the win against Missouri in front of former NU wrestlers. Some wrestlers in attendance who deserved recognition were Jacob Klein and Matt Murray, two national placers. Another wrestler, who came as a color commentator for Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Television, was NU's own legend Tolly Thompson.
In 1995, Thompson won the national championship in the heavyweight division. In '96 and '97, Thompson placed third as a Husker at the NCAA Championships. He became the school record-holder with the most wins in a career. In his junior and senior years combined, Thompson lost only six matches.
As a Nebraska alum, Thompson said he still enjoys watching matches at the Coliseum. He said being a former Husker is a big part of him.
"This place is great to me," Thompson said. "It's a great atmosphere and great environment. It is also a good place to go to school."
Less than a decade after competing for Nebraska, Thompson competed in Budapest, Hungary at the 2005 World Championships. He won the bronze medal.
Thompson has worked with radio and now television. He said he enjoys it because he is able to see the matches and keep himself around the sport. Thompson also continues to compete at a high level in freestyle wrestling.
In order for the No. 2-ranked Huskers to be successful throughout the rest of the season, Thompson said they have to continue to wrestle as they have been in the last month, when they downed five top-11 teams in six tries. He said the experience will help every wrestler on the team because they have seen a fellow teammate, NU junior Paul Donahoe, win the title last year.
"They need to stand out there and wrestle," Thompson said. "If they keep on building from the last time, they are all very capable."
When the Huskers competed in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in mid-January, Thompson attended. He said Saturday he can tell how much the potential has grown for the team in the few weeks since Nebraska began its hot stretch.
"Wow, I watched them at the National Duals and they have really made improvements," Thompson said. "They are going in the right direction. This is going to be a great place with great times to watch in the next couple years, with the young guys they have got out there."
danaahrens@dailynebraskan.com
The Cornhusker wrestling team improved its dual record to 11-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference as it clinched the win against Missouri in front of former NU wrestlers. Some wrestlers in attendance who deserved recognition were Jacob Klein and Matt Murray, two national placers. Another wrestler, who came as a color commentator for Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Television, was NU's own legend Tolly Thompson.
In 1995, Thompson won the national championship in the heavyweight division. In '96 and '97, Thompson placed third as a Husker at the NCAA Championships. He became the school record-holder with the most wins in a career. In his junior and senior years combined, Thompson lost only six matches.
As a Nebraska alum, Thompson said he still enjoys watching matches at the Coliseum. He said being a former Husker is a big part of him.
"This place is great to me," Thompson said. "It's a great atmosphere and great environment. It is also a good place to go to school."
Less than a decade after competing for Nebraska, Thompson competed in Budapest, Hungary at the 2005 World Championships. He won the bronze medal.
Thompson has worked with radio and now television. He said he enjoys it because he is able to see the matches and keep himself around the sport. Thompson also continues to compete at a high level in freestyle wrestling.
In order for the No. 2-ranked Huskers to be successful throughout the rest of the season, Thompson said they have to continue to wrestle as they have been in the last month, when they downed five top-11 teams in six tries. He said the experience will help every wrestler on the team because they have seen a fellow teammate, NU junior Paul Donahoe, win the title last year.
"They need to stand out there and wrestle," Thompson said. "If they keep on building from the last time, they are all very capable."
When the Huskers competed in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in mid-January, Thompson attended. He said Saturday he can tell how much the potential has grown for the team in the few weeks since Nebraska began its hot stretch.
"Wow, I watched them at the National Duals and they have really made improvements," Thompson said. "They are going in the right direction. This is going to be a great place with great times to watch in the next couple years, with the young guys they have got out there."
danaahrens@dailynebraskan.com
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