Conhuskers have high hopes after finishing season in top 5
Dave Houfek
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
After a season-capping fourth-place finish at the NCAA tournament this weekend, the Nebraska wrestling team showed the nation it could be on its way to becoming an annual force.
But it was not only the team's five All-Americans or fourth-place standing that has the Cornhuskers looking at a bright future.
A 47-0 blowout over Wyoming and a number of solid tournament performances early in the year helped boost the Huskers' momentum heading into their Dec. 6 meeting with then-defending national champion Minnesota.
The Huskers, however, garnered respect in their 25-13 loss to the Golden Gophers, which featured two NU forfeits, including one that would have featured this year's third-place finisher at 125 pounds in Paul Donahoe.
After the Minnesota loss, the Huskers constructed a 7-0 winning streak that lasted into January. Throughout the team's midseason run, NU made handy work of South Dakota State, Dana College, Northern Colorado and Oregon State, with a combined advantage of 157-27.
Un-seeded Nebraska then rallied its way into the finals of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National dual tournament in Iowa, defeating then No. 9-ranked Northwestern, No. 1 Penn State and No. 6 Minnesota. The Huskers finally lost their second dual of the season in a 24-6 battle against then-No. 2 Iowa to capture second place at the tournament.
The 18-point deficit was not, however, what displeased NU Coach Mark Manning the most. After the tournament, Manning said the team wrestled poorly, and that the outcome should have been much closer.
Throughout the year, Manning showed little regard for the team's points, but instead focused on getting his wrestlers to wrestle their best and win individual matches.
"Talk is cheap," Manning said in a postseason press conference. "It's all about action, and that's how our team wants to be remembered; about our performance and about the mindset and attitude we take out on the mat and how we compete."
Manning said the points would work out OK as long as the team stayed focused on each match at hand. That philosophy helped Jordan Burroughs and his teammates rally late in the NCAA tournament.
But it was not only the team's five All-Americans or fourth-place standing that has the Cornhuskers looking at a bright future.
A 47-0 blowout over Wyoming and a number of solid tournament performances early in the year helped boost the Huskers' momentum heading into their Dec. 6 meeting with then-defending national champion Minnesota.
The Huskers, however, garnered respect in their 25-13 loss to the Golden Gophers, which featured two NU forfeits, including one that would have featured this year's third-place finisher at 125 pounds in Paul Donahoe.
After the Minnesota loss, the Huskers constructed a 7-0 winning streak that lasted into January. Throughout the team's midseason run, NU made handy work of South Dakota State, Dana College, Northern Colorado and Oregon State, with a combined advantage of 157-27.
Un-seeded Nebraska then rallied its way into the finals of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National dual tournament in Iowa, defeating then No. 9-ranked Northwestern, No. 1 Penn State and No. 6 Minnesota. The Huskers finally lost their second dual of the season in a 24-6 battle against then-No. 2 Iowa to capture second place at the tournament.
The 18-point deficit was not, however, what displeased NU Coach Mark Manning the most. After the tournament, Manning said the team wrestled poorly, and that the outcome should have been much closer.
Throughout the year, Manning showed little regard for the team's points, but instead focused on getting his wrestlers to wrestle their best and win individual matches.
"Talk is cheap," Manning said in a postseason press conference. "It's all about action, and that's how our team wants to be remembered; about our performance and about the mindset and attitude we take out on the mat and how we compete."
Manning said the points would work out OK as long as the team stayed focused on each match at hand. That philosophy helped Jordan Burroughs and his teammates rally late in the NCAA tournament.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Eric
posted 3/27/08 @ 9:43 PM CST
First and foremost, congrats on the top 5 finish this year in St. Louis. Secondly...I hope Dave Houfek, the writer of this article, will learn to use SPELLCHECK before running anything to print. (Continued…)
Eric
posted 3/27/08 @ 9:46 PM CST
First and foremost, congrats on the top 5 finish this year in St. Louis. Secondly...I hope Dave Houfek, the writer of this article, will learn to use SPELLCHECK before running anything to print. (Continued…)
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