EAST LANSING, Mich. — Three Huskers finished in fourth place individually and Nebraska placed fifth as a team at the Big Ten wrestling championships on Sunday.
Senior Colton McCrystal (149 pounds), junior Tyler Berger (157) and freshman Taylor Venz (184) placed fourth to lead the Huskers, who finished with 72.5 points.
Ohio State had four individual champions and won the team title with 164.5 points, followed by Penn State with 148 points and three champs. Michigan was third with 118, while Iowa was next with 90.5.
Nebraska has finished in the top five at the Big Ten meet the past three years. This year’s conference meet featured 11 of the top 22 teams in the national rankings.
With their Big Ten finishes, six Huskers qualified for the national championships, which begin March 15 in Cleveland. McCrystal, Berger and Venz will be joined by Jason Renteria, who placed fifth at 133, CJ Red, who was seventh at 141, and Isaiah White, seventh at 165.
Freshman Eric Schultz also finished seventh at 197 for the Huskers and could receive an at-large berth into nationals on Tuesday.
McCrystal and Berger, Nebraska’s only returning starters from last year’s team, finished third at the 2017 conference tournament.
Iowa’s lone finalist, Brandon Sorensen, lost a 2-0 decision at 149 to Penn State’s Zain Retherford. Iowa’s only other top-three finisher was Spencer Lee, who was third at 125.
Team scores: Ohio State 164.5, Penn State 148, Michigan 118, Iowa 90.5, Nebraska 72.5, Wisconsin 67, Minnesota 66.5, Illinois 62.5, Purdue 59.5, Northwestern 55.5, Rutgers 42.5, Maryland 30.5, Indiana 10, Michigan State 9.5.
NU results (with records, placing): 125: Mitchell Maginnis (0-3, DNP). 133: Jason Renteria (3-2, fifth). 141: CJ Red (3-2, seventh). 149: Colton McCrystal (4-2, fourth). 157: Tyler Berger (4-2, fourth). 165: Isaiah White (3-2, seventh). 174: Beau Breske (0-2, DNP). 184: Taylor Venz (3-2, fourth). 197: Eric Schultz (3-2, seventh). HWT: David Jensen (1-2, DNP).
