The No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team is set for its first road trip of the season, meeting top-ranked Iowa on Friday in Iowa City. The matchup starts at 8:10 p.m. (CT) and will be televised nationally on BTN.
The Huskers (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) enter the matchup following a win in last week’s season opener against Minnesota. Six Huskers won their matches, helping the team to a 22-14 win over the Golden Gophers. Liam Cronin (125), Brock Hardy (149) and Nathan Haas (184) won their first matches as Huskers while Mikey Labriola (174) and Eric Schultz (197) earned bonus points for Nebraska.
The Hawkeyes wrestle in their first dual of the abbreviated 2021 campaign on Friday. Iowa, who finished last season as the 2020 Big Ten Champions, returns nine All-Americans to the lineup this year. The team finished undefeated through 13 duals last season, including a 26-6 victory over Nebraska in Iowa City.
This weekend’s action features 17 ranked wrestlers scheduled to compete between the teams, including the potential for top-10 matchups at 141, 174 and 197 pounds.
Up Next: Following Friday’s road match, the Huskers return home to host a triangular dual with Northwestern and Maryland at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Nebraska’s Projected Lineup
125: #17 Liam Cronin • Sr. • Orange, Calif. (1-0)
133: Alex Thomsen • So. • Neola, Iowa (0-1) -OR- Tucker Sjomeling • Jr. • Delano, Minn. (0-1)
141: #7 Chad Red Jr. • Sr. • Indianapolis, Ind. (1-0) -OR- Ridge Lovett • So. • Post Falls, Idaho (0-0)
149: #20 Brock Hardy • Fr. • Brigham City, Utah (1-0) -OR- Jevon Parrish • So. • Olathe, Kan. (0-1)
157: Caleb Licking • Sr. • Norfolk, Neb. (0-1)
165: #18 Peyton Robb • So. • Owatonna, Minn. (0-1) -OR- Isaiah Alford • RFr. • Lincoln, Neb. (0-0)
174: #4 Mikey Labriola • Jr. • Easton, Pa. (1-0)
184: #7 Taylor Venz • Sr. • Farmington, Minn. (0-0)
197: #2 Eric Schultz • Sr. • Tinley Park, Ill. (1-0) -OR- Silas Allred • Fr. • Anderson, Ind. (0-1)
285: #16 Christian Lance • Sr. • Nixa, Mo. (0-1) -OR- Cale Davidson • Jr. • Wichita, Kan. (0-0)
*InterMat rankings used
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
Nebraska faces one of its toughest opponent of the season this weekend in the top-ranked Hawkeyes. The reigning 2020 Big Ten Champion Hawkeyes return 19 letterwinners to the roster this season, including nine of their NCAA qualifiers from last season. Big Ten Wrestler of the Year Spencer Lee returns to the lineup at 125 pounds for the Hawkeyes and is undefeated in Big Ten duals headed into his senior season.
Iowa’s Projected Lineup*
125: #1 Spencer Lee Sr. • Murrysville, Pa. (0-0) -OR- Aaron Cashman So. • Spring Park, Minn. (0-0)
133: #5 Austin DeSanto Sr. • Exeter, Pa.(0-0)
141: #1 Jaydin Eierman Sr. • Columbia, Mo. (0-0) -OR- Carter Happel Sr. • Lisbon, Iowa (0-0)
149: #8 Max Murin Jr. • Ebensburg, Pa. (0-0) -OR- Bretli Reyna Fr. • Homestead, Fla. (0-0)
157: #6 Kaleb Young Sr. • Punxsutawney, Pa. (0-0)
165: #2 Alex Marinelli Sr. • Miamisburg, Ohio (0-0)
174: #1 Michael Kemerer Sr. • Murrysville, Pa. (0-0) -OR- Patrick Kennedy Fr. • Kasson-Mantorville, Minn. (0-0)
184: Nelson Brands So. • Iowa City, Iowa (0-0)
197: #4 Jacob Warner So. • Tolono, Ill. (0-0) -OR- Connor Corbin Jr. • Des Moines, Iowa (0-0)
285: #3 Tony Cassioppi So. • Roscoe, Ill. (0-0)
*Individual rankings according to InterMat
