The No. 3 Nebraska wrestling team opened its season with a 28-9 victory over No. 20 Wyoming on Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Four Huskers made their debuts in the Scarlet and Cream, and all four won: Vincent Robinson (125), Lincoln Sledzianowski (141), Anthony Echemendia (149) and Meyer Shapiro (165).
No. 4 Robinson got Nebraska on the board first at 125 pounds, earning an 8-2 decision over Isaiah Harrison with two takedowns, an escape and a stalling point to give the Huskers a 3-0 lead.
Wyoming answered at 133 pounds, where No. 16 Luke Willochell edged No. 7 Jacob Van Dee, 5-4. Van Dee scored a first-period takedown and a second-period escape, but Willochell countered with two escapes and a late third-period takedown to even the dual at 3-3.
In his Husker debut at 141, Sledzianowski rolled to an 11-2 major decision over Derek Barrows, recording three takedowns, an escape and a ride-time point (3:05) to put Nebraska up 7-3.
At 149, No. 5 Echemendia extended the lead with a 17-4 major decision over Austin Collins. He scored three takedowns in the first period, added two more with an escape in the second and finished with 1:23 of ride time, pushing the Huskers ahead 11-3.
No. 3 Antrell Taylor followed with a 17-4 major decision over Antonio Avila at 157. Taylor tallied four takedowns, a two-second near fall, two escapes and 1:41 of ride time, and Nebraska led 15-3.
After intermission, Shapiro (165) made it five straight wins for the Huskers with a 19-3 technical fall over Manuel Rojas. He scored five takedowns, a two-second near fall, an escape and garnered a point for his 1:44 of ride time to stretch the lead to 20-3.
No. 2 Christopher Minto kept the momentum going at 174, topping No. 32 Riley Davis, 10-4. Minto scored two early takedowns, then closed with an escape and a takedown in the second period to make it 23-3.
At 184, No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach defeated Ethan DeLeon, 13-8, with three escapes, two takedowns, a three-second near fall and 1:41 of ride time. DeLeon countered with two takedowns and two escapes, and Nebraska still led 23-6.
At 197, No. 4 Joey Novak took a late win against No. 5 Camden McDanel, 4-1, after a Nebraska challenge overturned an early Novak takedown. Novak scored an escape and a takedown in the third period, cutting the Nebraska lead to 23-9.
No. 14 Cade Ziola sealed the dual at heavyweight with a 19-4 technical fall over Winston McBride, adding one escape and six takedowns to give Nebraska the 28-9 final.
Nebraska travels to No. 2 Oklahoma State on Friday, Nov. 13, for a top-three showdown. The match begins at 7 p.m. (CT) and will stream on ESPNU.
No. 3 Nebraska 28, No. 20 Wyoming 9
125: No. 4 Vincent Robinson dec. Isaiah Harrison (8-2) (NEB 3, WYO 0)
133: No. 16 Luke Willochell dec. No. 7 Jacob Van Dee (5-4) (NEB 3, WYO 3)
141: Lincoln Sledzianowski major dec. Derek Barrows (11-2) (NEB 7, WYO 3)
149: No. 5 Anthony Echemendia major dec. Austin Collins (17-4) (NEB 11, WYO 3)
157: No. 3 Antrell Taylor major dec. Antonio Avila (17-4) (NEB 15, WYO 3)
165: Meyer Shapiro tech. fall Manuel Rojas (19-3) (NEB 20, WYO 3)
174: No. 2 Christopher Minto dec. No. 32 Riley Davis (10-4) (NEB 23, WYO 3)
184: No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach dec. Ethan DeLeon (13-8) (NEB 23, WYO 6)
197: No. 4 Joey Novak dec. No. 5 Camden McDanel (4-1) (NEB 23, WYO 9)
HWT: No. 14 Cade Ziola tech. fall Winston McBride (19-4) (NEB 28, WYO 9)
