LAS VEGAS — Isaiah White and Taylor Venz, first-year starters in Nebraska’s lineup, finished third in their weight classes Saturday at the Cliff Keen Wrestling Invitational.
They led Nebraska to a fifth-place finish in the 46-team event. Ohio State had three individual champions and won the team title with 155.5 points, followed by Michigan (140), Arizona State (113.5), Northern Iowa (104) and Nebraska (100.5).
White went 6-1 during his two days in Vegas. He lost a 3-1 decision in the quarterfinals to Ohio State’s Te’Shan Campbell, but rebounded to beat Campbell 4-1 in the third-place match. Five of his wins were against nationally ranked opponents.
Venz also went 6-1 at 184 pounds. His only loss was a technical fall to second-ranked Myles Martin of Ohio State in the semifinals. But Venz, unranked entering the weekend, defeated four opponents ranked in the top 11, including No. 6 Zack Zavatsky of Virginia Tech 9-3 in the third-place match.
Also finishing in the top six for Nebraska were CJ Red, who was fourth at 141, Tyler Berger (fourth at 157) and Colton McCrystal (sixth at 149).
Red’s two losses on the weekend were by one and two points. After losing in the semifinals, McCrystal took a pair of medical forfeits to finish sixth.
Nebraska is off until Dec. 15 when it hosts North Carolina State at the Devaney Center.
Top 10 teams: Ohio State 155.5, Michigan 140, Arizona State 113.5, Northern Iowa 104, Nebraska 100.5, Virginia Tech 89.5, Central Michigan 82, Cornell 62, Wyoming 61, Stanford 58.5.
NU records and placing: 125: Kris Williams 1-2, DNP. 133: Brian Peska 1-2, DNP. 141: CJ Red 5-2, fourth. 149: Colton McCrystal 3-3, sixth. 157: Tyler Berger, 5-2, fourth. 165: Isaiah White, 6-1, third. 174: Beau Breske, 1-2, DNP. 184: Taylor Venz, 6-1, third. 197: Eric Schultz, 3-2, DNP. HWT: David Jensen, 1-2, DNP.
